Dual-core desktop duel: AMD vs. Intel

Round 5: MP3 encoding
Now rootkit free.

AMD

AMD
If there's one modern multimedia task that affects the broadest swath of people, it might be MP3 encoding. Even though loading music into iTunes from a CD isn't exactly demanding, it's a common enough task that is easy to relate to the test results. iTunes also has the distinction of being a multithreaded application, which means that it's programmed to take advantage of multiple processor threads, making it ideal for dual-core CPU testing.

MP3 encoding test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
 Apple iTunes 4.7.1.30  
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
110 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+
115 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+
119 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+
125 
Intel Pentium D 840
129 
Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 840
132 
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
132 
Intel Pentium D 830
141 
Intel Pentium D 820
146 

The results from this round are second only to the 3D gaming results in terms of AMD dominance. The only AMD processor that's slower than an Intel CPU is the Athlon 64 X2 3800+, but even that CPU manages to outpace Intel's lower-end dual-core chips, the Pentium D 830 and the Pentium D 820, in ripping an album to MP3 in iTunes, by 9 and 14 seconds, respectively. If you think that's bad for Intel, the difference between the Athlon 64 X2 4800+ and the Pentium Extreme Edition 840 is even worse, to the tune of a 23-second difference, or a whopping 20 percent.

How much more of a beating can Intel take? Will the referee need to step in and stop the fight?




Winner: AMD


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

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Talkback 10 comments

  1. AMD crushes Intel chips across the board Anonymous -- 13/12/05

    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.

  2. 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 !!!

  3. AMD neo -- 13/12/05

    LiveSTRONG AMD, Baby!

  4. 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?

    1. memory difference david lee -- 14/12/05

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

    2. Athlon doesn't support DDR2 Anonymous -- 14/12/05

      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

    3. Athlon X2 supports ddr2 Bobson -- 02/04/07

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

  5. 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?

  6. 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.

    1. the best vic -- 06/06/08

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

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