Core 2 now, or wait for AMD's new chips? Also: SLi worth it or not?

2007-05-16 15:25:06

#1

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7101|Washington, DC

I'm trying to figure out how much it'll cost me to upgrade my computer. I think I've got it figured out for all the other components, but the processors give me pause.

Will the Barcelona grab even the mightiest of C2Ds (Or C2Qs) and wipe the floor with them? Or will they simply be good enough to lower the prices, but overall be the same? I know it's not easy for anyone to give a clear-cut answer on this, but just an idea?

As for SLi/Crossfire, is it worth it? Or would one 2900XTX/8800GTS be more than enough for games like Crysis, Alan Wake, Frontlines, etc? Again, I realize it's hard for us to make solid statements on it, but just an estimate?

Thanks!

2007-05-16 15:28:28

#2

Cerpin_Taxt: Member; +155|6673

How much do you want to spend?

2007-05-16 15:28:41

#3

MECtallica: Member; +73|6975|jalalabad

well the XTX isnt out yet and itll cost more/less than the 8800GTX

2007-05-16 15:30:53

#4

CrazeD: Member; +368|7143|Maine

Hurricane wrote:
Will the Barcelona grab even the mightiest of C2Ds (Or C2Qs) and wipe the floor with them?

Yup.

I'm also waiting for it.

2007-05-16 15:32:28

#5

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7101|Washington, DC

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
How much do you want to spend?

I'm not sure. I want something that'll handle very nice eye candy on all those upcoming games. If I could, I'd get SLi 8800GTXes, a quad core, 8GB of RAM, RAID 0 150GB Raptors, and a 30 inch screen. But that's not happening!

2007-05-16 15:34:26

#6

jsnipy: ...; +3,277|6993|...

/me puts on fire proof suit.

I think any of the "new" cards out will be able to play Crysis.

How much do you want to spend, how long are you willing to wait?

Last edited by jsnipy (2007-05-16 15:36:41)

2007-05-16 15:35:39

#7

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7052|SE London

Personally I don't think the Barcelona stuff is going to be very special. I would like it to be, but I don't think AMD will manage to overtake Intel anytime soon. Intel have the resources to design and fabricate chips better and once the Barcelona core stuff comes out (65nm) then Intel's Penryn stuff will soon follow (45nm). AMD are going to be stuck one step behind.

Of course it would be great if they could suprise us with something amazing, but now that Intel are back onto the proper track and not continuing with the travesty of Netburst - marketing considerations have no place in CPU design - especially not evil schemes to dupe users into buying inferior products just because they run at higher clock frequencies. That's made me all angry now. I want an AMD CPU, shame they're all shit at the moment.

2007-05-16 15:38:17

#8

GR34: Member; +215|7016|ALBERTA> CANADA

Hurricane wrote:
Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
How much do you want to spend?
I'm not sure. I want something that'll handle very nice eye candy on all those upcoming games. If I could, I'd get SLi 8800GTXes, a quad core, 8GB of RAM, RAID 0 150GB Raptors, and a 30 inch screen. But that's not happening!

yea that rig would be pretty sweet if you could find a good set of 2gb ram sticks and had some wicked cooling in that beast! The only thing that could make it better is a 64 core 1024bit processor running at 3.942THz and 8TB of ram and a 1Eb of hard drive space(i think after a TB its and EB right???)

2007-05-16 15:38:23

#9

Cerpin_Taxt: Member; +155|6673

If AMD really wanted to get back into this they'd make use of their ATI investment and integrate the gpu directly into the x86 pipeline (something I believe Intel is already experimenting with). This is the future of the gpu, just a matter of when.

Last edited by Cerpin_Taxt (2007-05-16 15:38:48)

2007-05-16 15:47:41

#10

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7052|SE London

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
If AMD really wanted to get back into this they'd make use of their ATI investment and integrate the gpu directly into the x86 pipeline (something I believe Intel is already experimenting with). This is the future of the gpu, just a matter of when.

Whilst that could be great from a performance perspective, it may put off the bulk of users. Most people don't buy a PC with fancy graphics - I think Intel still have the biggest GPU market share - integrating the CPU/GPU would mean the CPU would be more expensive. The ability to mix and match is very handy and probably more profitable.

2007-05-16 15:51:38

#11

CrazeD: Member; +368|7143|Maine

Bertster7 wrote:
Personally I don't think the Barcelona stuff is going to be very special. I would like it to be, but I don't think AMD will manage to overtake Intel anytime soon. Intel have the resources to design and fabricate chips better and once the Barcelona core stuff comes out (65nm) then Intel's Penryn stuff will soon follow (45nm). AMD are going to be stuck one step behind.

Of course it would be great if they could suprise us with something amazing, but now that Intel are back onto the proper track and not continuing with the travesty of Netburst - marketing considerations have no place in CPU design - especially not evil schemes to dupe users into buying inferior products just because they run at higher clock frequencies. That's made me all angry now. I want an AMD CPU, shame they're all shit at the moment.

Um... AM2 = 65nm, Barcelona = 45nm.

2007-05-16 15:58:30

#12

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7052|SE London

CrazeD wrote:
Bertster7 wrote:
Personally I don't think the Barcelona stuff is going to be very special. I would like it to be, but I don't think AMD will manage to overtake Intel anytime soon. Intel have the resources to design and fabricate chips better and once the Barcelona core stuff comes out (65nm) then Intel's Penryn stuff will soon follow (45nm). AMD are going to be stuck one step behind.

Of course it would be great if they could suprise us with something amazing, but now that Intel are back onto the proper track and not continuing with the travesty of Netburst - marketing considerations have no place in CPU design - especially not evil schemes to dupe users into buying inferior products just because they run at higher clock frequencies. That's made me all angry now. I want an AMD CPU, shame they're all shit at the moment.
Um... AM2 = 65nm, Barcelona = 45nm.

No. AM2 90nm and 65nm. Barcelona 65nm - until they finish the upgrades to their fabrication centres, which are due to be completed mid 2008, then they will shrink to 45nm.

This is why AMD are fucked. They can't keep up with the miniturisation of fabrication.

At launch all Barcelona CPUs will be 65nm.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2007-05-16 15:59:50)

2007-05-16 16:00:21

#13

Cerpin_Taxt: Member; +155|6673

CrazeD wrote:
Um... AM2 = 65nm, Barcelona = 45nm.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 … 655,00.asp

First, Barcelona will be built on AMD's 65nm SOI process, which allows for lower voltage and thermal output while increasing circuit densities.

Again, we've already established that you know nothing about computers.

Look at your sig, "2x512mb L2 Cache"!?

2007-05-16 16:06:34

#14

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7052|SE London

CEO Hector Ruiz reiterated that the company's long-known plans to move to 45nm in mid-2008 is still on track. Recall that AMD and IBM are fab partners at the 45nm node, so all of the recent hubub around high-k dielectrics will benefit AMD directly.

AMD's 65nm Dresden fab is currently transitioning to the new 45nm SOI process, and IBM's two fabs in NY will join it at that node. IBM and AMD will arrive at 45nm a few months behind Intel, with the latter company gearing up to bring its 45nm Penryn products to market later this year. Speaking of New York and fabs, AMD is wrapping up work on the initial design for its forthcoming Fab 4X in Malta, NY.

The fab won't go online until sometime in 2009, and that's assuming that the company breaks ground on it relatively soon. And whether or not AMD starts building will probably depend on how their (currently troubled) financial outlook develops. A process shrink isn't the only weapon that AMD will use in its fight to regain momentum and marketshare.

If you were expecting 45nm chips at launch you're going to be bitterly disappointed. Penryn will destroy Barcelona, unless AMD can do something very special. But I'm sure that won't bother a fanboy like CrazeD.

Last edited by Bertster7 (2007-05-16 16:07:32)

2007-05-16 16:28:54

#15

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7101|Washington, DC

Alright, well regarding GPUs: After the drivers for ATi's stuff are updated, and the AA issues are fixed, will the 2900XT be a worthy opponent to the 8800GTS?

2007-05-16 16:31:40

#16

jsnipy: ...; +3,277|6993|...

Hurricane wrote:
Alright, well regarding GPUs: After the drivers for ATi's stuff are updated, and the AA issues are fixed, will the 2900XT be a worthy opponent to the 8800GTS?

Join the antics of this thread ...
http://forums.bf2s.com/viewtopic.php?id=73419

or this one

http://forums.bf2s.com/viewtopic.php?id=73601

Last edited by jsnipy (2007-05-16 16:33:25)

2007-05-16 16:33:12

#17

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7052|SE London

Hurricane wrote:
Alright, well regarding GPUs: After the drivers for ATi's stuff are updated, and the AA issues are fixed, will the 2900XT be a worthy opponent to the 8800GTS?

Maybe.

Too soon to tell really. The image quality on the 2900XT is supposed to be poor, whether drivers will resolve this I don't know. The AA modes offered by ATI are inferior to those offered by Nvidia, even after the frame rate issues are addressed.

I'd go with the GTS. Which also has way more OCing potential, since it doesn't run at like a million degrees C.

2007-05-16 16:44:36

#18

CrazeD: Member; +368|7143|Maine

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
CrazeD wrote:
Um... AM2 = 65nm, Barcelona = 45nm.
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1 … 655,00.asp

First, Barcelona will be built on AMD's 65nm SOI process, which allows for lower voltage and thermal output while increasing circuit densities.
Again, we've already established that you know nothing about computers.

Well apparently these PC stores don't know what they're talking about either then...jackass...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6819103778
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … p;NoMapp=0

I'm too lazy to look at more e-stores, but I'm sure they say the same.

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
Look at your sig, "2x512mb L2 Cache"!?

I'm describing my components, in case you're too arrogant to figure that out.

2007-05-16 16:46:20

#19

Cerpin_Taxt: Member; +155|6673

CrazeD wrote:
Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
Look at your sig, "2x512mb L2 Cache"!?
I'm describing my components, in case you're too arrogant to figure that out.

(He still doesn't get it)

2007-05-16 16:47:34

#20

CrazeD: Member; +368|7143|Maine

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
CrazeD wrote:
Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
Look at your sig, "2x512mb L2 Cache"!?
I'm describing my components, in case you're too arrogant to figure that out.

(He still doesn't get it)

Ah, I see. You're poking fun at the smaller cache size.

See, AMD doesn't rely on huge cache sizes like Intel does.

2007-05-16 16:49:26

#21

Cerpin_Taxt: Member; +155|6673

CrazeD wrote:
Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
CrazeD wrote:

I'm describing my components, in case you're too arrogant to figure that out.

(He still doesn't get it)
Ah, I see. You're poking fun at the smaller cache size.

See, AMD doesn't rely on huge cache sizes like Intel does.

Since you STILL don't get it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilobyte

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabyte

Once again, you have reinforced your status as computer illiterate.

2007-05-16 16:51:05

#22

CrazeD: Member; +368|7143|Maine

Haha...

Yes, a small typo means I'm computer illiterate....

Whatever makes you feel special buddy.

2007-05-16 16:54:13

#23

Cerpin_Taxt: Member; +155|6673

CrazeD wrote:
Haha...

Yes, a small typo means I'm computer illiterate....

Whatever makes you feel special buddy.

No, it's pretty much everything you post is comically wrong.

2007-05-16 16:55:32

#24

GC_PaNzerFIN: Work and study @ Technical Uni; +528|6885|Finland

there are two different versions of AMD cpus. normal versions are 90nm (windsor core) and the EE (energy efficient) models are 65nm (Brisbane core).

and ur sig says your cpu has 2x512MB catche, not 2x512KB like it really is.

edit: oh someone posted that typo before me...

Last edited by [69th_GFH]GC_PaNzerFIN (2007-05-16 16:59:28)

3930K | H100i | RIVF | 16GB DDR3 | GTX 480 | AX750 | 800D | 512GB SSD | 3TB HDD | Xonar DX | W8

2007-05-16 16:58:26

#25

Bertster7: Confused Pothead; +1,101|7052|SE London

[69th_GFH]GC_PaNzerFIN wrote:
there are two different versions of AMD cpus. normal versions are 90nm (windsor core) and the EE (energy efficient) models are 65nm (Brisbane core).

and ur sig says your cpu has 2x512MB catche, not 512KB like it really is.

Woah! Careful there. It does have cache on each core.

I love the way he's completely forgotten about his deluded claim that Barcelona would be 45nm - which one day it will, but not yet.

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:
CrazeD wrote:
Haha...

Yes, a small typo means I'm computer illiterate....

Whatever makes you feel special buddy.
No, it's pretty much everything you post is comically wrong.

It's quite entertaining really. But it could be disasterous if someone ended up taking advice from him.

Maybe he needs a technologically illiterate stamp over his sig to avoid people being taken in by his ravings?

Last edited by Bertster7 (2007-05-16 17:00:42)

BF2S Forums Core 2 now, or wait for AMD's new chips? Also: SLi worth it or not?

Hurricane wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

Hurricane wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Bertster7 wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Hurricane wrote:

Hurricane wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

[69th_GFH]GC_PaNzerFIN wrote:

Cerpin_Taxt wrote:

CrazeD wrote:

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