As a former electronics/computer guy, I have found it difficult to follow the Intel marketing anymore and they really don't seem to want you to compare their chips too directly so they have these relative value numbering scheme. AMD seems more straightforward with an equivalent overall speed label.
To help me understand things a bit better I recommend you consider the Wikipedia chart at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Pentium_4_microprocessors This also will give you URL's to other tables including AMD. The units you mentioned are really pretty good for the "low" end though. All things being equal, it seems you often can expect to get the AMD for $100 or so less than comparable power for Intel. The AMD 64 X-2 3800+ is actually a fairly higher end product. The P4 HyperThreading 524 is pretty decent speed but I believe this is a 533 Front Side Bus. If I was going to buy a new machine today, I would opt for an AMD 64 X2 in the 4200+ range and with at least 1 but, probably 2 gig. Then again, after Christmas, and after Vista, who knows what will happen to the market:) A lot of "Vista Ready" machines might not work all that well with Vista, assuming you wanted to actually spend that much money a few months before it was practically free with a new computer. Of the three below, I would pick the AMD 64 X2 assuming they have similar HD's and DVD burners. We are at that point that at least one Gig of RAM is something you will want if there is not much of a price premium. 73, Rick, KV9U Andrew O'Brien wrote: >I'm out of the loop on the latest in CPU performance. I'm looking at a >three low end computer deals. One has a AMD 64 3200 + CPU, (basic PC >with 512 MK Ram for $289, no monitor) another a "64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+" >( 1 Gig of RAM , no monitor for $389), and one more ...the Intel® >Pentium® 4 HT 524 (no monitor , 512 Megs RAM) for $410. > >I wonder if people here would comment on these CPU's for digital modes >and the usual multi-tasking that hams do? I tend to run a logging >program, a couple of digital mode applications (like Multipsk and >MixW),Internet Explorer, email, all at the same time. > >Andy K3UK > > > > >Need a Digital mode QSO? Connect to Telnet://cluster.dynalias.org > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > >
