New Desktop: Amd 64 Or Intel 64?

[bost_]

Hi guys, this is my first post here, I wanted your feedback on a new computer I'm going to be building in the next few months. I have a fast laptop, but I'm looking to build a kick-butt gaming desktop. I'd like a processor that's fast and 64bit, because I'd like this computer to last me a few years. I'm currently looking at a Pentium 4 660, which is 3.6 ghz I believe, and an AMD Athlon 64 3800+ with a Newcastle core. I don't know a lot about Athlon chips, so I was first wondering the difference between the Newcastle and the new Venice cores? Also, which one of these chips is going to stay cooler? I'd prefer to not have the processor fan running at full speed at all hours. This is going to be installed in a standard mid tower case, not a Shuttle, etc, micro case, so airflow shouldn't be a problem. I believe that the AMD will be slightly faster than the Intel in gaming, but which will be a better performer in multi-tasking? (I guess on the topic of multitasking I do plan on putting in a 1gb of RAM at least) Any feedback is greatly appreciated, I've been lurking on this forum for a few months now and you guys really seem to know your stuff. Thanks again.

[r_target]

The new Venice chips should run cooler than Newcastle. As for your decision about whether to go AMD or Intel, you kind of answered your own question-Intels are great for that multitasking stuff, AMD not so hot. But if every last FPS counts and you don't mind waiting a couple of seconds longer when you've got a busy desktop, AMD would be the ticket.

 

Personally, I'm pretty happy with my AMD, but I sure miss my Hyperthreading.

[Sovek]

Go AMD for gaming, Intel for heavy graphic programs.

 

Since you dont want the HSF to running full blast all day I would def go AMD since the new Venice cores are much cooler than the Prescott core.

[Shadowfactor]

THe venice cores are going to be cooler , but There only out in 3500+ right now. I would get a Amd 64 4000+ if you had the money there better than the 3800+. Amd's dont run that hot and you would never need the processor fan full ( after market heatsink ) unless you plan to do some heavy oc'ing

[bost_]

Thanks for the help guys. Is the consensus that the Intel is going to be better for multitasking? r_target, how badly do you miss your HT? This computer will be a workhorse for me, meaning I'll probably have a lot going on on it at any given time (Matlab, iTunes, Mathematica, GAim, Sunbird... etc) although I'll obviously shut things down when its time to game. I don't want to say money is no object, because it is, but I have a significant budget for this machine. I'm guessing I'll probably spend in the neighborhood of 400-500 for the processor, and another 200-350 for the video card. How significant of a heat difference will there be between the Athlon and the Pentium? Everyone says there will be a difference, but nobody has said anything concrete about it.

[drago]

AMD for sure, And i wouldnt go with venice, ive heard a lot of issues with teh venice, go with san diego . Socket 939 = a64 *which u prolly know*

 

Also DFI boards wont let you down

[markiemrboo]

AMD for sure, And i wouldnt go with venice, ive heard a lot of issues with teh venice, go with san diego . Socket 939 = a64 *which u prolly know*

 

Also DFI boards wont let you down

470976[/snapback]

 

and what issues might they be? I've only heard good things about the venice chips.. any links to the issues?

[drago]

Well, i aint sure, this could be a BIOS problem with the DFI board, but people have been having issues where they put the chip in..... next minute there pc just wont boot, or the memory stops working, but when they put there winchester back in, everything is fine.

[markiemrboo]

Maybe a BIOS problem. I know my board got a BIOS update to support revision E chips

[upok]

almost all of the mobo manufacturers are saying that the venice cores will require a bios flash for the board to recognize it. same thing happened when amd went from the 130nm to the 90nm architecture. lots of irate customers complained that the chips were bad, then bios flash and everything was fine.

[the11ama]

My 3800+ Venice AMD64 is already at the local Fedex center, so those are definitely available. Heatwise, Prescotts run hotter than anything AMD has put out in a long time... thinking PII/PIII/K6 days. As for the venice core problems... I haven't heard any, besides that all motherboards manufactured before the respective companies wrote new BIOSes to support the new chips will need a BIOS update.

 

And drago: a San Diego core (E4) is just a Venice core (E3) with 1MB cache. There are no other differences.

 

Bost, if you are willing to wait until June/July, the dual-core desktop AMD64s will be available, with two of the initially available chips priced under $600.

[Shadowfactor]

Gigabyte K8nsnxp-939 yes it's NF3 U but it's the most stable baord out there and does pretty well with oc'ing with the f8 bios. Also Amd's can mutitake very well , Intel's are better at rendering and high graphics programs like 3dsmax and higher.