I think it's just another article written by someone who needed to write "something". It doesn't bother me anymore, because the situation is clear enough: the Athlon core is hands-down faster and cheaper than P4, even if it was designed in the old days competing with the PIII. Of course you cannot compare a 1.93 GHz CPU with a 3 GHz...and yet the race is pretty close. Come on guys, just look at the title: XP 2300+ vs. P4 3 GHz...it's kind of ridiculous.

I don't understand why you can't compare the two, I figured that since those are the "top of the line" from both companies, then you might as well compare them. AMD has been selling their CPUs at speeds closer to their max rate than Intel has for a long time, and this just shows that their architecture isn't ready for the jump yet.
 
My point is that these comparisons have always been about benchmark numbers for most of these guys, and even when the AMD is losing they are being hailed as the victor. I don't follow that logic at all, and I wanted to see if someone here did.

So basically all the benchies are still saying that the P4 is a slooowww piece of hardware compared to the lower clocked Athlon.
 
Looks like the Athlon wins again!

Ohhhhh!!!! I get it! If the Athlon *could* be clocked higher, then it *could* beat the P4, right? That's the point, right? I mean sure, it's slower now, but in the future it could beat that same P4. I get it! Oh wait, wouldn't there be a faster P4(5, 6^, 9#, etc.) to compete with? That's ok! If the Athlon is clocked slower, but can come close, it'll still win because it's better! Woohoo! Thanks Dos...
 
:D

 
I love this:
 

Quote:In comparison, today the average system is equipped with a 900 MHz processor as well as an MX2000 graphics card. 
Yeah...in like 3 years. :wtf:
 
(I'll clock my XP 2000+ tonight up to 2300+ levels ;( and do a couple of benches)
 
Just put this rig together yesterday and it is FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

NEW RIG
 
Monitor =Sony E500 21"
Speakers =Creative Soundworks DTT3500 Digital
Mouse =Microsoft Intellimouse Optical SE
Joystick =Microsoft Precision Pro
Gamepad =Microsoft Sidewinder Original
Keyboard =Generic 104k Keyboard
Case =Coolermaster ATCS-110 w/Enermax EG651P 550W PSU
Motherboard=Abit KR7A-RAID
Processor =AMD Athlon XP 2000 @1666mhz 133X12.5
Cooling =Alpha PAL8045
Memory =Corsair 256MB DDR XMS2400 CAS2 (2 DIMMS)
Video =Asus v8200 T5 Deluxe (Geforce 3 Ti500) 240C/500M v3.20.00.18 Bios
Floppy =3.5"
MOBO Controller
PMIDE1/Pioneer 16X Slot DVD-106S DMA/66 1.22 Bios
PSIDE1/Empty
SMIDE2/IBM 60GXP 61.5GB DMA/100 (BACKUP2)
SSIDE2/Plextor 24X10X40A CDR DMA/33 1.01 Bios
HPT370 CONTROLLER
PMIDE3/Maxtor L080J4 80GB DMA/133@133 (OS)
SSIDE3/IBM 60GXP 61.5GB DMA/100 (BACKUP1)
SMIDE4/Maxtor L080J4 80GB DMA/133@133 (GAMES)
SSIDE4/Maxtor L080J4 80GB DMA/133@133 (IMAGES)
PCI1/EMPTY
PCI2/Soundblaster Audigy Ex
PCI3/EMPTY
PCI4/NetGear FA310TX NIC
PCI5/EMPTY
PCI6/Hauppauge WINTV Theatre
Windows 2000 Pro slipstreamed SP2/Windows XP Pro (2000 Main OS)
Nvidia 27.20 Reference Drivers
DirectX 8.1 Build 881 /Windows 2000
Directx 8.1 Build 810 /Windows XP
Via 4.37 4-in-1
 
OLD RIG SOON TO BE MY FILE SERVER!
 
 
Monitor =Sony E500 21"
Speakers =Creative Soundworks DTT3500 Digital
Mouse =Microsoft Intellimouse Optical SE
Joystick =Microsoft Precision Pro
Gamepad =Microsoft Sidewinder Original
Keyboard =Generic 104k Keyboard
Case =Coolermaster ATCS-110 w/Enermax EG651P 550W PSU
Motherboard=Abit VP6 w/ YT Modified Bios with HPT370 2.3 Bios
Processor =Dual P3-1000@1166Mhz v1.85 155Mhz bus X 7.5 1/4
Cooling =2X Alpha FC-PAL6035MUC Heatsinks
Memory =3X256m=768 Corsair PC150 @150mhz
Video =Asus v8200 T5 Deluxe (Geforce 3 Ti500) 240C/500M v3.20.00.18 Bios
Floppy =3.5"
MOBO Controller
PMIDE1/Pioneer 16X Slot DVD-106S DMA/66 1.22 Bios
PSIDE1/Empty
SMIDE2/Plextor 24X10X40A CDR DMA/33 1.01 Bios
SSIDE2/IBM 60GXP 61.5GB DMA/100 (BACKUP2)
HPT370 CONTROLLER
PMIDE3/Maxtor L080J4 80GB DMA/133@100 (OS)
SSIDE3/IBM 60GXP 61.5GB DMA/100 (BACKUP1)
SMIDE4/Maxtor L080J4 80GB DMA/133@100 (GAMES)
SSIDE4/Maxtor L080J4 80GB DMA/133@100 (IMAGES)
PCI1/EMPTY
PCI2/Soundblaster Audigy Ex
PCI3/EMPTY
PCI4/NetGear FA310TX NIC
PCI5/Hauppauge WINTV Theatre
Windows 2000 Pro slipstreamed SP2/Windows XP Pro (2000 Main OS)
Nvidia 23.11 Reference Drivers
DirectX 8.1 Build 881 /Windows 2000
Directx 8.1 Build 810 /Windows XP
Via 4.37 4-in-1

So you actually got an AMD system? What mobo did you get? If someone can point me to a truly stable motherboard I would consider it. I like the processors, but the last system I worked with (Abit KG7 w/ 1600+) has already had one bad proc, and is about to have the motherboard go in for return. We have wasted 2 weeks on it already with setups and return shipments and are now getting an i845D-based system (probably an ASUS P4B266-C mobo). I knew better than to get it, but this guy at that office has one other that worked OK so I figured I'd try it. Everytime it booted up (well, that was questionable since it wouldn't reboot either) it would re-detect the Via Southbridge. BTW, did I ever mention that I hate Via?

Damn, scratch the request on the system specs then...
 

I've had good results from Asus, AOpen, MSI and Tyan. Any of those are highly recommeded. I'm not as impressed with Abit as they seem to be overly hyped and then don't live up to their reported greatness. If it is AMD you seeketh, jump over to AMDMB. It's the best site out their on any and all things AMD, without being a zealot-nut site.
 
Tom's: woopdeedoo. There reports, along with anand's, are good as far as the shows like comdex go, but I typically don't hit their sites up too often, much less put a lot of stock in their reviews. They tend to get too damn long. What's good about it, what sucks and just show us a few benchmarks. Cooler roundups are one of the few things I've really appreciated that they do.

I've only had this computer together for the past 2 days. Finally got 2000/XP installed last night. Still gota install NT4. Only problem I had so far with it is that if I enable the SHUTDOWN COMPUTER WHEN CPU FAIL FAN option then the computer crashes and I have to wipe the CMOS. Leaving it at default clock I have had no crashes whatsoever throughout the install of 2000/XP. Although I did notice an abnormally longer install of Windows XP (due to the Firewire on my Audigy card) In fact although 2000 found the Firewire on the Audigy just fine, XP didn;t find it and actually disabled it! Figures. I'll probably shuffle around some PCI slots tonight. I also installed both OS'S in ACPI without any troubles and the IRQ's allocated as they were supposed to (IRQ 7 most of 'em). No extra VIA patches or 2k/XP patches for VIA. Just the Via 4-in-1 4.37 drivers and I have not experienced any lockups or crashes.

Look at my specs, it is rock solid stable, even running 2 raid cards and 6 hard drives. And performs well too

Dunno if you guys saw this but this was the greatest thing ive ever seen on shardware.
 
Tom on overclocking the p4 and the AthlonXP....
 

Quote:The days of easy overclocking are long gone, at least with Intel. With the introduction of a fixed multiplier (burned into special SRAM registries of the CPU), the manufacturer has put the clamps on ever since PIII 'Coppermine'. So the only possibility left for overclocking the Pentium 4/2200 is to overclock the FSB. Still, this makes little sense, because the chipset usually increases the clock speeds of PCI-ports and the AGP as well, putting them out of spec. This frequently results in the system sporadically showing signs of instable behavior with the operating system. For this reason, we did not overclock the Pentium 4/2200.  
And then about 1 line later
 

Quote:Still, most cases are beset by strict limitations. With the use of a water-cooling system, we were able to increase the CPU clock to 1850 MHz, simply by raising the FSB clock from 133 MHz to 147 MHz. This clock speed would correspond an Athlon XP 2300+.  
Good ol tom.
 
Think this may also have been posted here before, but its worth seeing again

@DosFreak;
 
I have installed WinXP on my workstation at home a few times with my Audigy Platinum, and haven't had any issues with my Firewire port. I wonder why you would have that issue. I am using an i815-based board (and I am looking for an upgrade, hence the questions) that's been awesome, but I need a bit more juice. I just want to reduce the chances of stupid compatiblity issues coming up. I was thinking about getting an MPX-based board, but the last I read they still have broken USB support, and I am not fiddling around with add-in cards.
 
@M4Carbine;
 
You think he's just getting paid by AMD now? Gotta love it...

Amd doent have to buy friends, whereas INtel does, they are really hurting in the IT market where they have been traditionally stong. The keep dropping the ball on a lot of major issues, and guys like me who have input on our compaies systems recommend AMD now instead of INTEL .
 
 
I am getting an ASUS P4B266 for my lan box soon (father in law works at ASUS) and like a 1.8 or something. I'll let you know how I feel when I get a p4 without the evil Ramb.... i wont even say it.

While they might not have to buy reviews from such a "respected" (*cough* *cough*) site, it is evident that they will favor the AMD line no matter what powers it. If someone could simply roll out a motherboard that would work properly, that means use all the features in a stable manner that it claims to have, out of the gate then I would have been using them a long time ago. I regularly hear that many Intel followers are "blind" to what they have been getting, but seeing reviews like that one and others that proclaim "this system is FAST as long as you don't try to use this feature, or use any of these major vendor add-in cards, etc" it just looks like people want Intel to be beaten SO badly that they don't care what they get in return as long as it isn't from Intel.

Clutch, totally agree It doesnt matter how fast a system is, if its not stable its useless.

I've never had any stability problems with my AMD system, and it's a damned sight cheaper than any Intel equivalent.
 
It does indeed "use all the features in a stable manner that it claims to have", and I haven't had any problems with my "major vendor add-in cards".

Congrats Xiven, but I am pretty sure you have seen enough issues posted here and elsewhere to know what I mean. I am holding out for the 760MPX USB issue to get fixed, as I would like a dual cpu system for my development box. I son't know if I am that patient though, but if the next revs come out soon I might order one for work to play with.
 

The Audigy problem is most likely simply ACPI screwing around again. Was detected and works fine in 2000 but in XP it is not. Didn't have time to fix it last night. My experience with VIA just listing the computers that I have personally owned:
 
SOYO SY5EMA MVP3 with K63-400
Busmaster drivers as usual would screw things up so I simplu never installed them. Had plenty of problems with getting AGP to work in 2000 when it first came out but playing around with different AGP GART drivers (requires booting into other OS to fix) fixed those. That's it.
 
My next VIA board was the Apollo Pro 133A chipset in my VP6. Again the busmaster drivers were a problem but those have recently been fixed by VIA (probly work for my old MVP3 now too but it's currently in th closet). Only other problem I've had with this board was the "infinite loop" errir which I still had until I switched the mobo for my:
 
ABIT-KR7A-Still pkaying around with this one and so far it's GREAT! Only problem so far was that BIOS option which was a real pain in my A$$ because I though I had a defective mobo/processor/ram until I figured it out. (Enabling the option would just shut the PC down and on reboot it would shut down again). Also the audigy problem. Since I'v only had this PC for 3 days now and I stuck it together rather hurriedly I would like to pat myself on the back for the little errors that I do have.
 
As for PCI card incompatibility....throughout these three mobos I have had all PCI cards filled on all of 'em. Except for the specific hardware problems with the cards themselves mostly not sharing IRQ's correctly I've had nary a problem. I've had ACPI problems on all boards however...except the KR7 so far...

My first was this AOpen (Via Apollo Pro 133a) AX34. It hated my GF2 Ultra and wouldn't function with it properly (well, didn't like it at all) despite 4 install attempts of Win2K Pro in ACPI and Non-ACPI mode. Also, it didn't care for my USB-connected APC UPS and would sometimes call it a HID, and other times just wouldn't see it. It would also have issues with my USB SanDisk reader and would tell me that I didn't properly stop the device if the system went into standby, so I had to disable that function altogether. This spanned throughout 3 BIOS revisions until I got rid of the board and went to my ASUS (Intel i815) CUSL2 and never had another issue.
 
The next one (and much more recently) was an Abit KG7 that had all kinds of fun. At first, it took a couple of attempts at getting Windows XP installed before it would complete, and with the first CPU (the vendor determined it was the CPU when we returned to them all the hardware that was purchased) we had issues with the monitor going into standby, and then not coming back on (GeForce2 MX 200). Also, it would intermittently freeze at boot up and when installation applications it would freeze as well. When we got the parts back with the new CPU, the first issue we had was the system not rebooting properly either from the OS or even from within the BIOS. After that, I was fed up with it and told them to send it back.
 
But other than those issues, Via has been great for me...