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Intel or AMD CPU?

G

Gibrril

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Apr 17, 2015
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Hi,

Upon researching which CPU to use for my new system, it turns out that Intel can "only" offer an 8-Core CPU, while AMD can offer 16-Core technology. However, it would seem that somehow Intel's hardware is more powerfull. If I check system requirements for various software suites, they mention Intel i5 (which is a quad-core) or an AMD 8-core as recommended... What can explain this difference?
Does this hold true for Server CPU's aswell?
As I've said, AMD can offer 16 core CPU's, Intel (as far as I've found) is limited to 8 cores.
I'm planning on using my system for 3D graphics creation, music production and gaming.
So, which CPU should I use?

Thanks a lot for your feedback,
Gibrril
 
Upon researching which CPU to use for my new system, it turns out that Intel can "only" offer an 8-Core CPU,

More Research needed you missed the Xeon range of CPU's

If you Go Intel Xeon you can have both Power and even more cores

Such as Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2699 v3
(45M Cache, 2.30 GHz) 18 core's

check out the intel Xeon range
 
Intel Xeon processors go all the way up to 18 cores and 36 threads, on dual socket boards you can use up to 72 threads, dunno if your video editing software will scale linearly with so many threads, but, yeah, from a sheer IPC point of view, you'll get more performance from Intel almost guaranteed
 
Gibrril said:
Upon researching which CPU to use for my new system, it turns out that Intel can "only" offer an 8-Core CPU, while AMD can offer 16-Core technology.
Click to expand...
AMD markets its CPUs as "xx-core", which should rather mean "xx threads". An AMD "16-core" is the same as an Intel 8-core with Hyper-threading. Clever way of marketing.
dorsetknob said:
More Research needed you missed the Xeon range of CPU's

If you Go Intel Xeon you can have both Power and even more cores

Such as Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2699 v3
(45M Cache, 2.30 GHz) 18 core's
Click to expand...
-drool- You picked a nice one, there... :cool: 18 cores / 36 threads. So, if it was an AMD, it would probably be marketed as a "36-core" ! ;)
@Gibrril , I'd recommend an Intel CPU, perhaps a modern i7 would be your best choice. They have very decent power and - up to 16 threads ("cores") :)
 
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the one i illustrated with has 18 core's + Hyper threading

Thats 18 Core's + 18 virtual Cores total = 36 core's as seen by your O/S
 
ebay, whether you like it or not, is a good source for reasonably priced 2nd user Xeon chips. well worth a look if its threads you are after for 3D graphics creation and music production.

Hyper-Threading Technology
Hyper-Threading technology creates two virtual processing cores for each physical core present in a CPU. The physical core powers the virtual cores, which then share the responsibility of task processing. Each virtual core is identical to the other, and though neither is as powerful as the physical core, together they far exceed the physical core's power when HT isn't enabled. The use of these virtual cores enables the CPU to delegate tasks between cores in real time.

Advantages of Hyper-Threading
The workload created by a CPU-intensive operation, such as running two demanding programs at the same time -- an operation that would slow down a single, physical core regardless of its raw power -- is split between the virtual cores in a processor that utilizes HT technology. With two virtual cores tackling tasks at the same time, processing times are shorter, programs open faster and your computer will stay more responsive during multi-tasking. In a nutshell, Hyper-Threading increases processing efficiency.

I stand to be corrected but i think that it is not necessary to have more than 4 cores or threads for gaming at present, though as ever this will no doubt change.
 
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Gibrril said:
I'm planning on using my system for 3D graphics creation, music production and gaming.
Click to expand...

with the OP saying the above
More core's should be better for his intended use
In the end it will all come down to budget
 
Thanks a lot,

How do I tell virtual cores (threads) from real cores? There are Xeon CPU's with 20 cores and more... Are these actual cores or threads?
Also I found Xeon CPUs with ten and twelve cores and Ghz that is virtually identical to the i7 haswell extreme, yet these Xeon are significantly cheaper... So what (combinations of) specifications do I realy need to look for when deciding on a CPU?

Thanks a lot,

Gibrril
 
the specs of the chip will tell you how many cores it has, if it has hyperthreading enabled the number of physical cores is doubled.

http://ark.intel.com/products/47925/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5620-12M-Cache-2_40-GHz-5_86-GTs-Intel-QPI

here is a link to the Xeon chip i have, it has 4 physical cores, with hyperthreading this becomes 8 threads, in essence (though not identical to ) 8 physical cores.


Passmark is useful for comparing cpus
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel Xeon E5620 @ 2.40GHz

Intel Xeon E5620 @ 2.40GHz + CompareAverage CPU Mark
Description: Socket: LGA1366, Clockspeed: 2.4 GHz, Turbo Speed: 2.7 GHz, No of Cores: 4 (2 logical cores per physical), Max TDP: 80 W
Other names: Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5620 @ 2.40GHz
CPU First Seen on Charts: Q2 2010
CPUmark/$Price: 45.11 Overall Rank: 333
Last Price Change: $109.23 USD (2010-07-05)4927

Single Thread Rating: 1065
Samples: 47



Like has been mentioned before, you need to decide how much you are willing to spend.
 
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Seems like the main point was missed, the question asked in the OP.
Because intel CPU's are faster per core, and not all programs can use the extra cores.

If a game/program uses 2 cores, it doesnt matter if you have an intel quad core Vs. an AMD 32 core - all that matters is how fast those first two cores are.
At present, this is how most games and programs behave. With the exception of video rendering, we're just seeing quad cores truly being utilised now.

I dropped from an AMD 6 core (1090T) to an i5-2400 and had massive performance gains in games, because as far as those games were concerned the extra cores simply didn't exist.

DirectX12 coming out later this year may shift the focus to more threads, but no one is quite sure on that yet.
 
CAPSLOCKSTUCK said:
ebay, whether you like it or not, is a good source for reasonably priced 2nd user Xeon chips. well worth a look if its threads you are after for 3D graphics creation and music production.

Hyper-Threading Technology
Hyper-Threading technology creates two virtual processing cores for each physical core present in a CPU. The physical core powers the virtual cores, which then share the responsibility of task processing. Each virtual core is identical to the other, and though neither is as powerful as the physical core, together they far exceed the physical core's power when HT isn't enabled. The use of these virtual cores enables the CPU to delegate tasks between cores in real time.

Advantages of Hyper-Threading
The workload created by a CPU-intensive operation, such as running two demanding programs at the same time -- an operation that would slow down a single, physical core regardless of its raw power -- is split between the virtual cores in a processor that utilizes HT technology. With two virtual cores tackling tasks at the same time, processing times are shorter, programs open faster and your computer will stay more responsive during multi-tasking. In a nutshell, Hyper-Threading increases processing efficiency.

I stand to be corrected but i think that it is not necessary to have more than 4 cores or threads for gaming at present, though as ever this will no doubt change.
Click to expand...
6 Cores ;) (follows what's available in consoles for gaming as I have heard)

Mussels said:
Seems like the main point was missed, the question asked in the OP.
Because intel CPU's are faster per core, and not all programs can use the extra cores.
If a game/program uses 2 cores, it doesnt matter if you have an intel quad core Vs. an AMD 32 core - all that matters is how fast those first two cores are.
At present, this is how most games and programs behave. With the exception of video rendering, we're just seeing quad cores truly being utilised now.
I dropped from an AMD 6 core (1090T) to an i5-2400 and had massive performance gains in games, because as far as those games were concerned the extra cores simply didn't exist.
DirectX12 coming out later this year may shift the focus to more threads, but no one is quite sure on that yet.
Click to expand...

Hope so :( PC gaming needs more love :clap:


TheDarkLord said:
Thanks :) CPU has already been sold on OCN
Click to expand...
***Off Topic***
Epic Profile Picture :toast:
 
mroofie said:
***Off Topic***
Epic Profile Picture :toast:
Click to expand...

Why is this off topic i linked to his thread as an example of what was available on this site
dorsetknob said:
Keep an eye on the Buy / sell /trade thread you can sometimes find Xeon's for sale there such as for example

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/xeon-e5-2660-8-cores-16-threads-lga-2011-450.210799/

Remember that this is an example and not necessarily a recommendation to Buy
Click to expand...

@TheDarkLord was kind enough to inform people that the CPU i linked to was Sold
 
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