AM2 a step backwards for AMD?

**Sir Robin** · June 12, 2006, 09:27 AM

Been looking around for a new PC and doing research to make sure I make the best pick of components possible. Looking at processors I found this article, AMD Reinvents Itself and am I reading this right? Do the "mid-range" processors actually have worse performance with AM2 + DDR2 than plain old DDR?

Please just point me to the right thread if this has been discussed before or shoot me down if I am reading this wrong. 4200+ AM2 + DDR2 has better performance than 4400+ AM2 + DDR2?

**OTZ** · June 12, 2006, 11:14 AM

You're not reading it wrong. The performance difference between the two is almost unnoticeable. Not that AMD promised anything other than support for DDR2. However, since AM2 will be supported going forward, there is more liklihood that perfomrance will increase once support for higher bandwidth DDR2 comes into play. Wait and see...until then I'll stick with my 939. If you are shopping for a brand new system though, there aren't too many reasons to not go with an AM2 platform. Lots of promises coming out of the Intel camp though - should be an interesting summer for CPU pricing/availability.

**Incinerate_IV** · June 12, 2006, 11:22 AM

Yup, I agree with OTZ, the performance difference is pretty unnoticeable, and all the future AMD processors is going to be on AM2.

**Basileos Leandros I** · June 12, 2006, 11:31 AM

How come? The Athlon FX-62 on AM2 socket rocks t3h place.

**Sir Robin** · June 12, 2006, 12:11 PM

In comparing the practical memory bandwidth value against Intel's Northbridge solution, AMD appears to have made a blunder. Intel's memory interface is clocked at a constant 200/266 MHz and scores, no matter what the CPU speed, almost always the same values of 6.3 GB/sec (200 MHz) and 8.4 GB/sec (266 MHz). The bottom line is that the introduction of DDR2 erases the advantage of the faster memory interface in the CPU.

It appears that the magic speed is 2.4 GHz. There and beyond the AM2 + DDR2 can really get moving. However the mid-range chips don't get the kind of boost the 2.4's and up get.

So while the 4000 to 4600 are still better than Intel's versions it looks like AM2 + DDR2 actually weakens the lead instead of strengthening it. While it still looks like I will go AMD, discovering this really caught me by surprise.

With Intel's Conroe push starting in July, or soon after, its going to be an interesting summer.

Edit: I agree we could be on the edge of a price war here. While that would be good for us it may not be good for AMD. I doubt they have the financial strength to come out of a price war as healthy as Intel could.

**fatsheep** · June 12, 2006, 12:48 PM

I am still sticking with my 939 socket for probably a year more or so. DDR2 will start to show fruit around then me thinks...

**Erik** · June 12, 2006, 04:13 PM

The weak performance is caused by the DDR2 standard that has higher maximum data rates than DDR but much slower access times.
So it's not realy that surprising and IIRC Intel systems didn't get a big performance boost from DDR2 either.

But AFAICT you don't pay anything extra for a AM2+DDR2 system over a S939+DDR system.
I even think the AM2+DDR2 system would be a little cheaper.
And AM2 has more room for future upgrades (better processor, faster memory).
So I don't see any reason to choose S939 over AM2 if you are going to buy a complete new system (including new RAM sticks)

**fatsheep** · June 12, 2006, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Erik

The weak performance is caused by the DDR2 standard that has higher maximum data rates than DDR but much slower access times.
So it's not realy that surprising and IIRC Intel systems didn't get a big performance boost from DDR2 either.

But AFAICT you don't pay anything extra for a AM2+DDR2 system over a S939+DDR system.
I even think the AM2+DDR2 system would be a little cheaper.
And AM2 has more room for future upgrades (better processor, faster memory).
So I don't see any reason to choose S939 over AM2 if you are going to buy a complete new system (including new RAM sticks)

That's true but I see no reason to upgrade from my sk939 and DDR in the near future.

**OTZ** · June 12, 2006, 05:54 PM

Definitley not worth switching for a while. Until there are significant gains to make our 939s a thing of the past, then I don't see the point.

**Hadrian** · June 12, 2006, 07:44 PM

The switch to Vista may logically happen at about the same time as well. Imagine that, the total of all our systems upgrade needs, OSs, platforms,processors,memory configs, possibly coinciding at about the same time! Now is the time to be collectively watching the bleedin edge so we can concure as to roughly the optimal time to make the jump to light speed....

**Sir Robin** · June 15, 2006, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Hadrian

The switch to Vista may logically happen at about the same time as well. Imagine that, the total of all our systems upgrade needs, OSs, platforms,processors,memory configs, possibly coinciding at about the same time! Now is the time to be collectively watching the bleedin edge so we can concure as to roughly the optimal time to make the jump to light speed....

Yep, its a conspiracy.

Vista, DX10, Conroe, and even Dell's newest, the XPS 700, has two PSU options. 750W and 1KW!

**vizi** · June 17, 2006, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Sir Robin

Yep, its a conspiracy.

Vista, DX10, Conroe, and even Dell's newest, the XPS 700, has two PSU options. 750W and 1KW!

Insane, you will never use 1KW of power, my friend who works for Anadatech tested out power usage and it is stupid to buy a PSU that is that powerful. Most of the time you never go above 200w on a single GPU system. I dont know what it is for SLi but still.

**Shaun** · June 17, 2006, 06:15 PM

Well then, I am building a completely new system, should i go with the newer AM2, or stick with 939?

**Hadrian** · June 17, 2006, 06:36 PM

AM2 is the future, so if you just happen to be upgrading now, then do AM2, and don't look back. For all of us with 939s, no panic, we've many years of service left in our platforms. When our 939 platforms inevitably become untenable, then we'll make the switch also....OTZ is just saying don't run out and buy an AM2 to replace your 939 as a performance upgrade, because there is no gain/benefit unless you just happen to be starting a new build at this time....
Erik was just stating that there is no reason not to if your building a new system, and I think we all agree on that....

**OTZ** · June 17, 2006, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by Hadrian

AM2 is the future, so if you just happen to be upgrading now, then do AM2, and don't look back. For all of us with 939s, no panic, we've many years of service left in our platforms. When our 939 platforms inevitably become untenable, then we'll make the switch also....OTZ is just saying don't run out and buy an AM2 to replace your 939 as a performance upgrade, because there is no gain/benefit unless you just happen to be starting a new build at this time....
Erik was just stating that there is no reason not to if your building a new system, and I think we all agree on that....

Bingo