AMD's secret weapon.

[Incinerate_IV]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=32589

An interesting article I just found, apparently all AM2 processors are outfitted with Reverse-HyperThreading technology, which pretty much combine the power of both cores into one, increasing the performance of single threaded programs. I'm guessing this technology is for dual core only, since I don't know how they can do it with single core. But anyways, with this new feature current AM2 processors is suppose to perform better at single threaded applications than their Conroe counter parts. This feature is suppose to be enabed with drivers, very intresting indeed. Just more reason to go AM2.

[Lee1026]

Doubt it, really.
http://www.overclockers.com/tips00983/ Read this.

[Incinerate_IV]

Hmm, that article got a point too, but we'll wait and see. I mean look at graphics cards, if they can make 2 graphics cards (or 4) combine power and render the same image, they should be able to combine 2 processors and let them perform the same task.

[Lee1026]

Well, programming in general is a very linear thing, whereas graphics is a very parallized thing.

[Custor]

Just more reason to go AM2.

What are the other reasons?

AMD64s are cheaper for the exact same rating X2s.
AMD64s outperform the corresponding X2s significantly for the same ratings.
Mobos and DDR2 is significantly more expensive than DDR and socket 939.

[Hadrian]

Give AM2 some time Custor, cause if your going with AMD, then its the path of the future. Its brand new. In time the prices will fall, bandwidths will increase, etc. and its cheaper now than skt939 and AMD 64 ever was in the beginning (thanks to Conroe and duo core...) Incinerates point about reverse HT is that its really a cool feature, especially until applications start to utilize dual core processors. Just a little more hidden performance....maybe?

Both articles are interesting to say the least. From the Inquirer's description of how reverse HT would work, it doesn't seem like you would need applications that were coded for it, but that seems to be the OC reviews opinion so.....

[Custor]

In some time they 'might' be worth recommending. They also may not be.

Compared to the current competition they are crap. Not just by a couple of % but woeful in games. As this is a gaming forum I presume we are interested in current games. AM2 and X2 are aweful - now. AMDs rating system for X2s is a joke.
If anyone comes in with "future proof" line then they can have my cupboard full of future proof kit i've got.

So why they are being recommended now is quite beyond me. Is it a magpie thing?

Edit
See bright shiney thing - must have.

Overclockers is a techie forum. TWcenter is a games forum.

Should I add that in some cases folks have to turn one core off to get a game to run without crashing?

[Hadrian]

Whats a magpie thing?

And no, this isn't a gaming forum, its a technology forum, BTW....

[Lee1026]

Also, with some overclocking, AM2 can get you the much needed bandwidth. Sky high GHZ need the DDR2 ram to back it up.
Also, DDR2 ram is cheaper.

[Incinerate_IV]

How could you not see the advantage in dual core? Better muti-tasking, better performance. Drivers and certain games are starting to get optimized in dual core already, in the future, more and more application are going to take advantage of dual core and thats when they really shine. And, who wouldn't think burning a CD while playing RTW at the same time is extremely cool.

Oh yea, AM2 mobos are about the same price as 939 mobos, and AM2 CPUs are the same price as 939 CPUs, and DDR2 is actually cheaper, as Lee1026 stated.

One more thing, the dual core problems is with AMD dual cores only, not Intel's. And I think Microsoft already fixed that problem a long time ago.