Dual-core desktop duel: AMD vs. Intel

By Rich Brown, Special to ZDNet
12 December 2005 12:02 PM
Tags: amd, intel, processor, chip, microchip, cpu, round, athlon

Round 4: Photo editing
Shake it like a Photoshop filter.

AMD

AMD
Depending on your level on interest in the hobby, photo editing might mean anything from a simple edge crop of a shot from your daughter's wedding to running a wedding photo business of your own. Our Photoshop test represents a task common to many photographers: converting large-size images to Web-appropriate file sizes.

Photo editing test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
 Adobe Photoshop CS  
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
146 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+
151 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
154 
Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840
156 
Intel Pentium D 840
163 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
164 
Intel Pentium D 830
168 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
168 
Intel Pentium D 820
176 

The results of this round mirror those of the first round with our SysMark application test. AMD has a clear advantage with the higher-end chip, and the results get closer as you move down into the mainstream and lower-end chips. AMD's top three X2 chips finished at the top, but Intel and AMD exchanged even blows when we looked at the Pentium D 840, 830 and 820 chips matched up against the Athlon X2 4200+ and 3800+ chips. The round still goes to AMD for the showing by its top three X2 chips, but at least Intel was competitive in this round -- unlike the last two.




Winner: AMD


    Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7  
  AMD X X X X        
  Intel                

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Talkback 10 comments

    AMD crushes Intel chips across the board Anonymous -- 13/12/05 (in reply to #120125044)

    This is THE best article I have seen showing that AMD processors are dominant across the board - no ifs ands or butts. Its amazing to me this data isnt more well known and more importantly why a Dell doesnt take notice and ship AMD processors.

    The reason AMD X2's are faster Kym Busby -- 13/12/05

    There is good reason that the X2's are faster than the Intel's. The 2 cores of an AMD X2 talk to each other directly using a 2GHz Hypertransport link, while the 2 cores of an Intel talk to each other via the north bridge on an 800MHz FSB. This, as well as the integrated memory controller is the decisive factor in the absolute flogging the AMD's give to Intel !!!

    AMD neo -- 13/12/05

    LiveSTRONG AMD, Baby!

    Curious use of memory Joel Friedman -- 14/12/05

    Maybe it's a misprint, but why was 400Mhz DDR memory used for the AMD system and the higher speed DDR2 memory installed in the Intel tester? An intentional handicap?

    memory difference david lee -- 14/12/05 (in reply to #120125104)

    I saw the memory speed to that is a 267Mhz difference and the amd still won

    Athlon doesn't support DDR2 Anonymous -- 14/12/05 (in reply to #120125104)

    The Athlon does not support DDR2 memory. DDR has lower latency than DDR2 and better suits the Athlon. It should have been noted in the article what memory timings were used, however, as this plays a not unsignificant part in the overall system performance

    Athlon X2 supports ddr2 Bobson -- 02/04/07 (in reply to #120125198)

    Athlon X2 supports DDR2 memory at 800mhz
    but the DDR mem. has a lower latency.

    Dual-Core blowout Anonymous -- 16/12/05

    I would like to see a control test using a single-core Intel EE and the AMD FX-55 or FX-57. Are the dual-core chips faster than their single-core cousins?

    AMD OR INTEL Colin Davies -- 10/05/07

    Im looking to upgrade motherboard and chip.Can any tell me which is the best for converting dvix to dvd.

    the best vic -- 06/06/08 (in reply to #320079144)

    if u wanna do multi-tasking in a good pace, go for amd without even a second thought................

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