Why AMD?

[chopin1810]

I know that there are some very pro-AMD people on this forum. I'm just wondering why exactly. What is better about AMD than Intel?

[borromini]

1. It is the underdog (you can relate this easily to many users preferring Linux over Windows).
2. AMD has the best technology on the market nowadays. Faster, quieter, cooler, more bang-for-buck.
3. Related to 1: as a geek, you can't go with the flow - you have to stand out. So you pick a computer brand you know is good but that is not bought by regular customers. That sets you apart from the noobs yelling 'intel all the way' just because AMD back in the days did have some faulty CPUs .

[deek]

While I won't disagree with any of that, I have always chosen AMD because their CPU's were cheaper...I haven't built a system in a few years, but back when I was, a "comparable" AMD chip was close to $150-$200 cheaper than the Intel chips...

Also, at the time, AMD chips usually ran games a bit better. Meaning some higher benchmarks in the graphics department...nowadays, the video card is so much more important for games, that it doesn't mean as much as it once did.

I would still say, cost is probably the biggest pull towards AMD...they perform just as well as Intel, sometimes better, but cost less...

[borromini]

I know especially in the past the cost issue was important. But I think, by profiling themselves as a real alternative to Intel, they also increased their price, so according to me, the price difference for comparable cpu's has decreased.

[deek]

With that being the case (as I said, I haven't looked at CPU prices in a long time) you have:

1) People wanting to be different and going against the flow, or
2) Performance

I don't put much importance to option one, cause I could care less about that. So, with price being about equal, it comes down to performance, and apparently AMD still has better performance in some areas...

The only downside I have ever experience with AMD, is some funky compatibility issues with certain drivers and OS's...but I think most newer (meaning last 2-3 years) CPUs, don't suffer from those issues either.

Generally speaking though, I would say AMD to Intel is going to get you the same argument as GNU/Linux to Microsoft...people tend to dislike the big guys:)

[godmachine667]

I like amd's because they don't require those stupid 12 volt connectors, aren't power-hungry like p4's, don't make as much noise/heat, and they do more work per clock cycle instead of making more ticks per clock cycle... my 2.08 ghz 2800+ is rock solid.

[anomie]

Cheaper. And they do the job.

[LondoJowo]

I've used both over the years, there's not that much difference between the two. Go with what you can get the best deal on at the time.

[bigtomrodney]

A friend of mine always says Amd is like a big wheel turning slow, while intel chips are little wheels spinning faster to do the same amount of work but noisier and using more energy. Not 100% accurate but you get the gyst. Plus Intel made a jock of their 64bit plans, AMD just did it right, and sooner at a lower cost too...

[winter]

more performance per clockcycle and the 64 bit amds run alot coller..even if you dont need 64bit suport get a amd 64 since there cooler and less power hungry than intel