Athlon XP or Pent 4? Differences?

[Coroloro]

I haven't been paying attention to the computer market for a while, and recently come back to find things flip-flopped about some. I read AMD's website to see that they are saying that CPUs shouldn't be measured in just megahertz, but by broader standards such as "instructions per clock cycle", or IPC. Thus, according to their benchmarks, an Athlon XP 2000 at 1.6 gigs, is as faster and faster than an Intel Pent 4 at 2.0 gigs. So... my question is, what is the accuracy, from more unbiased experts, on this information? What are the pro's and con's of the two processor brands, and is IPC truly a better way to measure a processor's performance? This is an avid computer-watcher trying to understand computers better, and thus be able to make more informed choices for purchasing (or helping others purchase) equipment.

-Pat

[sea69]

"instructions per clock cycle", or IPC

seems to me to be a much more valid measurement than just mhz.

**from a happy athlon owner**

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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sea1_69@hotmail.com

homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)

[This message has been edited by sea69 (edited 02-17-2002).]

[YODA74]

Don't know if you could ever get a non bias opinion between an Athlon and Intel? Have you read this from Tom's hardware?

TOMS HARDWARE HERE (http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/02q1/020107/p42200-01.html)



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Death has come to our windows.

-- Jeremiah 9:21
(undoubtedly a Biblical reference to a Microsoft product!)