FELLOW MASSASSIANS!

So I'm going to build a new computer in the next couple of weeks, and I can't decide whether I should go Intel or AMD. At one point in time, I was on top of such things, buy my living in Korea for 2 years put me a bit behind the times (though it has been over a year since I've been home) and so I ask for your help. Vote for the chip you'd get, and if you have a reason why, let me know below. All responses are appreciated.

Oh, I should probably mention I only have $200 to spend on a processor. I'd love to get one of the higher end ones, but right now, it doesn't look like that is an option.

(Admins: Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I figured it would be ok here, but if not, feel free to move it)

AMD64 > P4 anytime

Pentium M's? Well that's still up in the air. But desktop versions of Pentium M's are rare, and expensive.

What I find funny is that the AMD64 FX-55 is faster than a dual-core P4 EE. By a lot. Now that's what I call "owned".

But even better are the new AMD64 X2 chips coming out, with dual cores. The AMD64 X2 4200+ should be arriving soon, and all current speed tests show awesome results.

Mind a dual core is usually only faster, if you have two intensive programs running at the same time.
But anyway, my next CPU will be dual core, so that I can really push Gothic 3 to the limit.

Haha, this poll wins.

Bam.

Athlon 64. More bang for about the same buck.

Aye, little need for speculations.

Well if you get an AMD64 don't plan on doing any 3D modeling or animating. Programs like Maya, 3D Studio Max and XSI require raw CPU MHZ which AMD just doesnt have. I unfortunitly learned this the hard way. My Intel 3.2ghz began to overheat so i changed out to an AMD64 3500+ wich I will say ran VERY cool and ran games very well but when it came to Rendering it was ridiculous... Like 15 render times for things it took my previous CPU less than a min. So I switched out a 64bit Intel and it runs fine.

A Nice little site to tell you about software compatability with AMDvsINtel is here:
http://216.92.52.205/index.html?modelx=33&model1=17&model2=113&chart=27

Select the Intel CPU you would buy and then the AMD and then the program and it will tel lyou how they compare.

Then again if you are just a casual gamer who doesnt do any editing of any kind the AMD might be a little cheaper.

Thanks for the help. I just ordered an Athlon 64 3400+. I've just got to order the rest of the components tonight.

P4's still spank AMD's on video stuff and all that craziness.

And the dual cores are actually supposedly worse than singlecores...meh, we'll see.

Uh, AMD for gaming, P4 if you do a lot of video stuff or modelling...really that's it. Also, how the hell does living in Korea make you behind the times...they have like 20 people a year die of not eating or sleeping because of videogames. o_O

Great choice on the chip--what core though?

Not really sure what core I got. The site I got it from doesn't list it. I'll have to look it up when I get it.

As for the Korea thing, yeah, Koreans have all the tech and all, but I wasn't allowed to really check out, or surf the net (which is where I would've found out about such things. I was serving an LDS mission and we weren't allowed to.) and so I blame it on that. It's a 2 year gap I'll always be trying to fill.