AMD vs. Intel

There are many choices these days when it comes to buying a personal computer and with the ever-expanding technology of processor development it can be a difficult choice to choose between manufacturers. The two biggest names in the computer industry are AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.) and Intel Corporation, both of which are American based companies. With both manufacturers developing better and faster chips, the decision on which product to buy can be difficult.

Whether you are looking for the more traditional x86 (32-bit) processor, or the enthusiasts x64 (64-bit) processor technology, both AMD and Intel have multiple x86 and x64 CPU’s (central processing units) to choose from. Though AMD is known for taking the helm when it comes to x64 technology, Intel has decided they would like a piece of the x64 market as well. With Intel’s i7 Core and AMD’s Phenom II CPU’s, you can have both 32- and 64-bit technologies on a single chip.

The hottest CPU’s on the market today happen to be of very complex design. No longer are the days of being limited to a single-core CPU. There has been an influx of multi-core processors since the introduction of the first dual-core processors a few years ago. Say good bye to the antiquated Pentium 4 (P4) single-core CPU and say hello to the double-, triple-, quad- core CPU. The most common multi-core processor in use today happens to be a common household item, the Playstation 3 (PS3). The PS3 boasts an awesome 8-core Cell processor and its close rival, Microsoft Corporation’s Xbox 360 has a tri-core Xeon CPU.

Not only have processors doubled and quadrupled in core-capacity, they have also been getting smaller with each new progression. The Pentium 4 of 2002 was built on the 130nm process (nanometer) and today’s CPU’s such as the Intel i7 Core and AMD’s Phenom II are using the 45nm process. The next generation of processors will shrink even further in size as there is already a 32nm and 22nm process being developed.

It’s no wonder that Intel sits atop the hill known as the CPU market. No matter what AMD dishes out, Intel always one-ups them. Intel’s much faster; more intelligent multi-core technologies deliver higher performance benchmarks across the board when compared to AMD’s top chips. The i7 Core 940 packs a wallop at a blazing 2.93GHz per core speed; while the Phenom II x4 940 cleans up, ringing in at3.0GHz. Intel one-upped AMD with the release of their latest, the Core i7 Extreme Edition and it's lightning fast 3.20GHz per core speed.

When it comes to purchasing a computer, the price plays a big role in the decision of the consumer. Not every consumer is going to buy the same computer. Although most computers bought today have very similar features to each other, there is no “one size fits all”. Being one of the first chip suppliers in America, Intel capitalized on that and has all but cornered the market in CPU production. In order for AMD to stay afloat in today’s market, they have had to put smaller price tags on all their products. Thus forth, meaning, smaller prices equals bigger sales. Watch out Intel.