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AMD's dual core Opteron & Athlon 64 X2 - Server/Desktop Performance Preview
AMD's dual core Opteron & Athlon 64 X2 - Server/Desktop Performance Preview
Date: April 21st, 2005
Topic: CPU & Chipset
Manufacturer: AMD
Author: Anand Lal Shimpi, Jason Clark &
Ross Whitehead
 
 

Multitasking Scenario 5: Compiling

Our final non-gaming multitasking scenario is quite possibly our most strenuous. It involves the following background tasks: iTunes playing a playlist, Firefox with the same 13 tabs open as in our other tests, and Newsleecher updating newsgroup headers. On top of those tasks, we compiled Firefox as well as ran our DVD Shrink operation on the "Star Wars Episode VI" DVD. Firefox remained the application in focus during the test.

The results were fairly interesting. First, let's look at how long it took us to compile Firefox:

Compiling + Multitaking Environment

The Athlon 64 X2 4400+ was stronger than either of the Intel CPUs in compiler performance, so it is no surprise that it is faster here. You'll notice that the single core Athlon 64 FX-55 isn't present in this chart - you'll find out why in a moment, but first, let's look at the performance of our DVD Shrink task that also ran in the background:

DVD Shrink + Multitasking Environment

Once again, AMD is ahead of the competition, thanks to better general performance as well as all of the benefits of their low latency architecture. As for why the single core Athlon 64 FX-55 wasn't included here, well in this particular test, the DVD Shrink operation would have taken over 13 hours - which doesn't exactly fit with our graph's scale. The compiler operation also took significantly longer to complete. Whichever task completed first would eventually have let the other finish sooner, but we didn't care to find out as it was already ridiculously longer than any of the dual core solutions.

Gaming Multitasking Scenario   Next Page

 
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144 Comments - Last by Opteron, 1615 days ago
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No Subject by linkgoron, 1674 days ago
not bad... but AMD should make <500$ athlon 64 X2 CPUS

Reply
No Subject by Chunkee, 1674 days ago
Nicely done. The price will be a factor as usual. Does the performance gain justify the cost? For the enthusiast yes, but I will wait a bit. My 754 setup with a raptor still rocks plenty enough for me. The technology improvements are great. I will always be a big AMD Fan.

jC

Reply
No Subject by LX, 1674 days ago
How will the bandwidth limited X2 be affected by overclocking?

Reply
No Subject by StrangerGuy, 1674 days ago
I find it strange why AMD did not release <2.2GHz A64 X2s? Maybe due to manufacturing issues?

Reply
No Subject by filterxg, 1674 days ago
Nice article. AMD has obviously awoken a sleeping giant, and Intel is fighting back on the pricing front. Hopefully the gamble that AMD single cores can hold their own versus Intel Duallies is true on the mid-low end (at least for the near future). I won't be buying an Intel chip anytime soon (unless I need a laptop).

Either way I figure I got 2.5 years before I need a dualcore, and by then who knows. So bravo to both companies for this innovation.

Reply
No Subject by blackbrrd, 1674 days ago
#4 AMD probably wants you to buy their single core cpus instead, as they are much cheaper to produce and easier to produce in quantities. AMD would probably have problems delievering a lower cost dual core in quantities .

Who doesn't drewl for a A64 X2 after seeing this review??? I certainly do.

The dual core intel wouldn't be so bad either, except for the amount of heat it produces off.

Reply
No Subject by Zebo, 1674 days ago
Slobber:P

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No Subject by Zebo, 1674 days ago
It's a wonderful article Anand, always love yours.. very in-depth But you're forgetting mem timings??? Arr.:)

Reply
No Subject by blckgrffn, 1674 days ago
Awesome...I wish we could have seen a 4 socket 8 processor system rocking out with those four way xeons though, that would really illustrates some differences ;)

I agree with the previous sentiment on the x2's, I hope they bring out a sub $200 1.8 ghz or so model. I will be sticking this in my desktop box, not my gaming box, so if they can't bring anything out under $200 I will probably have to go with Intel. Boo for that ;)

Nat

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No Subject by AnnihilatorX, 1674 days ago
hm hope fab36 would increaswe production capacity of AMD and lower the cost down a bit

Reply
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