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Intell 6600 quad core or AMD quad core?

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by dr dij

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Hi all

I was thinking of buying a new PC. Various things don't run or run too slow.. And I do some things that won't run without more memory and graphical transform stuff in big batches that I wish would finish faster.

Previously I had heard (I think it was on the TR build a PC blog) that the 6600 was good value. Poking around computerbrain, buy.com and outpost.com (Fry's) I see the 6600 and AMD quad core at slimilar price points (the AMD si a bit cheaper).

Anyone have experience which system would be better? would they be about the same? any other reasons to pick one over another? One has XP and the other the hated Vista premium on various brands (HP, ACER, Gateway emachine)

any brand preference too?

5 replies

by eduardo (pt)

Well, i'll try to explain my thoughts in a very brief way...
they do perform almost the same, (if we talk about the Core 2 Quad 6600 and the Phenom 9600). But, the Intel performs *almost* always better than that of the Amd. If the price difference doesn't bother you, go for the Intel. You won't regret it, because genereally it performs better than the Amd.
However, you do need to think what is the main use that your machine will have.
The Amd cpu DOES perform better than the Intel, on certain tasks, such as:
- HDTV playback on a Blue-ray disc
- HDTV video conversion
- Data compression
And that's all...
By the way, avoid buying a PC from Acer, theay are cheap, and that's all... their tech support is far from good. You are better of with a computer from Asus, Alienware, and stuff like that.

I hope my comments helped.

by oh smeg

If you prefer one over the other that will work better for you no matter what, so look at your personal preference and go with that. You'll be happier with it that's all there is to it.

As for the Quad Cores if you want to run Windows and use a Quad Core to all of it's potential you are stuck with Vista because XP Pro only supports 2 CPU's not 4 so if you load XP it's not making the best use of the CPU well at least not running it as hard/fast/whatever as it's capable of running.

The units could have XP Loaded because XP doesn't require as much RAM or other Resources as Vista does so that unit is a cheaper build with lower Spec-ed Components.

You'll find that both of these CPU's will also run 64 Bit Applications so the ideal would be a Vista 64 Bit OS to make full use or at least what Vista can use comfortably [i]as I understand it Vista it doesn't drive these CPU's to 100% capacity.[/i] Just what I've been told and I haven't tried it myself so I'm not 100% sure on that one.

I do have to agree about ACER as well, here they are terrible to deal with and don't honour their Warranty. I've seen shops told to do things and when they do the item is not accepted as Faulty because it's been tampered with at [b]Acer's Demand[/b] before they will accept it for return. They get around this by offering a Discount on a new product of the same type. Some customers even think that they are being looked after but I don't sallow their BS or as Palmetto would say Sheep S##t. X-(

Col

by dr dij

I bought an Acer veriton 6600 machine before I read your post. Oh well!

Thanks much both for your helpful posts.

by eduardo (pt)

Well, there are some stores that give you the possibility to switch the product in the first 15 days just in case you are not satisfied with the product quality. Some others give the money back guarantee. Check to see if the store where you bought the pc is one of those.
Good luck, and farewell.

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