AMD Athlon 64 3200+ vs. Intel Pentium 4 HT Processor 630

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Which Processor Would You Choose?

  • Intel Pentium 4 HT Processor 630

    Votes: 19 35.2%

  • AMD Athlon 64 3200+

    Votes: 35 64.8%
  • Total voters
    54
S

Shadowfox

Distinguished
Jun 14, 2006
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18,510
Hey guys, I got a few questions here... I don't have any IT background so to speak and I need your expert opinion on the subject. I am planning to acquire a 64-Bit Multimedia PC through the Do-It-Myself route on a $1,800.00 budget. I intend to use the rig for medical transcription-related applications and some PC gaming on the side. I want it to be fast enough so that I don't have to upgrade in the next 3 years or so and yet still be able to run future applications with performance to spare. Right now, I am intially considering the AMD Athlon 64 3200+ given my $1800 budget.

Listed below are the specs and peripherals I had in mind...

SPECS
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ or Intel Pentium 4 HT 3.0GHz Processor 630 EM64T
ASUS A8N-SLI SE or ASUS P5ND2-SLI Intel Edition motherboard
Kingston 1.0GB (2 x 512MB PC3200 Dual Channel DDR 533MHz)
Seagate 120GB SATA 7200rpm HDD
Sony 1.44MB FDD
Sony Internal Card Reader/Writer Drive
Sony DRU-820A 16x EIDE/ATAPI DVD-Writer
Nvidia GeForce 6600LE 256MB/128-Bit GPU (PCI-E)
Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Platinum Soundcard with I/O Drive
Viewsonic E72f+SB 17-inch pure flat CRT display monitor
Viewsonic KU-306 USB Multimedia Keyboard
Logitech MX518 Optical Gaming Mouse
Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2.0 game controller
Epson CX4100 multifunction printer/scanner/copier
ATX Form Factor CPU Chassis with 500W/12V PSU
Termaltake TR2-M6K8 CPU Cooler Fan
APC Back-UPS CS650VA Uninterruptible Power Supply
Windows XP Professional Edition with Service Pack 2 OS

So okay, here are my questions...

1. If you're gonna build a PC, which processor would you choose and why?

2. Is a 500-Watts Power Supply Unit sufficient enough for my setup, as listed above?

3. For surge protection and power back-up, I'm thinking about getting an APC Back-UPS CS-650VA UPS. Will it be capable enough to handle the power requirements of the setup specified above?

4. I've heard about the heating problem issues experienced before with the previous generation of AMD processors. With this in mind, do I need to install an aftermarket CPU cooler fan if I get an AMD Athlon 64?

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. Your feedbacks will be highly appreciated.
 
1) Go with the AMD 3200+. It consumes less power, generates less heat, and performs better in many games.

Look for yourself here(it is set on Wolfenstein, but change it to any other benchmark):
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=247&chart=51&model2=211

2) A 500 watt power supply should be plenty for that setup, just make sure it is a quality power supply. Antec is a good brand to choose from, as is Fortron.

3) Not sure about the battery backup, don't have one personally. But I do know tigerdirect has a good deal on one here(1000VA for $80):
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=770423&Sku=ULT31502

4) There are no longer any heat problems with AMD processors, their retail heatsink and fan will do you fine. AMD processors also run a little cooler then their Intel counterparts, though this may soon change with Conroe(Core 2 Duo) coming out.

On a side note, the 6600LE is junk for gaming, and will severely hinder your systems performance. If you can swing the extra cash, I highly recommend you go with at least a 6600GT if you want to game. If you can spend a little more than that, you can get yourself a 7600GT(not GS).

Here is a link to a 6600GT($119 after rebate):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130251

7600GT($158.99):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133150

If you need any more help, feel free to ask.
 
OMG! you heard that the AMD ran hot? Well, you should have heard that the "prescott" line architecture. that brough down the Name "Pentium" So i absolutely don't recommend you going for the Pentium in this case. It'll bring in anywhere from 70-90*C. while the 3200+ is gonig to keep around mid 30 to low 40*c and speed wise Pompeii has already given you the tomshardware chart. You'll be best with the 3200+ in every matter =heat, watts, speed, realiablilty.
 
Why don't get one 930. It cost you only a little more before AMD have again competitive prizes.

And AMD at the end of one serie run very HOT. See the latest K7, and the FX 60. AMD have termal issues in the top of line Opterons etc.

Low end Athlon have no issues but aren't as good as fanboys believe.

Prize war start and you have to see prize/performance not raw force.
 
I'm running above FX60 specs on a stock heatsink and my idle temps are between 24-25C, 100% load 37C. :?
Click to expand...

bad temps reading for sure....
Are you really beleiving those temps?



If you plan to overclock/encode/multitask go with the P4
If you just want to play games go for the Athlon
 
Hmm, As stated earlier get the 6600GT or preferrably the 7600GT, just a little bit more but much better performance then the 6600LE.

Hmm, an $1,800 budget is more then enough for a great PC, however your setup seems to be running below even the $1k mark. CRT Monitor? 6600LE/ 3200+ AMD? All fairly cheap now, which items are sucked away so much cash?
 
3200+,No contest here!
Click to expand...

Usefull post

explane your opinon
I had the chance to use a 3000+ and a P4 3GHz
and the P4 was more responsive by far under heavy load.
It's a fact.


Thermal question:

The P4 6xx Series generate less heat than the 5xx (speedstep)...
I have a P630 and it NEVER goes over 50C under load with the stock cooler and the crappiest Micro-ATX case ever...

So yeah Prescott runs hot but not as hot as the 5xx series
 
bad temps reading for sure....
Are you really beleiving those temps?
Click to expand...
Actually, yes; the new heat sinks AMD gives are much better, my case is well vented, and my climate is not very hot. (Plus I have my AC on when it is)

As to the thread's question, don't even consider the 630; for $2 more, you can get the 631 which would be a better overclocker and should run cooler in general.
 
3200+,No contest here!
Click to expand...

Usefull post

explane your opinon
I had the chance to use a 3000+ and a P4 3GHz
and the P4 was more responsive by far under heavy load.
It's a fact.


Thermal question:

The P4 6xx Series generate less heat than the 5xx (speedstep)...
I have a P630 and it NEVER goes over 50C under load with the stock cooler and the crappiest Micro-ATX case ever...

So yeah Prescott runs hot but not as hot as the 5xx series

I mainly care about renderings and if coupled with 64bit software, my 3000+ (@2.1G) is far more better than the P4 3.0E I have at work. I have also noticed that some apps start faster on the 3000+.
However, intels hyperthreading gives unmatched multitasking by any single core, that's sure.
Thermally, the prescott (it's a 530) reaches 61°C and you could use the auxilary to dry your hair 8)
 
OMG! you heard that the AMD ran hot? Well, you should have heard that the "prescott" line architecture. that brough down the Name "Pentium" So i absolutely don't recommend you going for the Pentium in this case. It'll bring in anywhere from 70-90*C. while the 3200+ is gonig to keep around mid 30 to low 40*c and speed wise Pompeii has already given you the tomshardware chart. You'll be best with the 3200+ in every matter =heat, watts, speed, realiablilty.
Click to expand...

Where did you found such info???
can you prove it??
my Prescott 640 idles at 25ºC and at full load goes to 54ºC max with stock cooler
70-90ºC man???
you must be a stupid AMD fanboy trying to get some attention
 
I was looking at the Tomshardware CPU Charts
and I found out that the P4 630 is way faster in multitasking against the 3200+

Some benchs 630 loses.. others he wons

I would go for the 630
but the money is yours, take a look at CPU charts and see whats better for you
 
I have to disgree with these stupid temp calims with the 630. I have one in my pc and it certainly does not run a 70oC when under load. I have average case cooling(2 front intakes and one rear exhaust fan). When idle mine is around 30-35oC and under load it averages 40-45oC. Where do these stupid claims come from. I know prescott's run hot but they dont run that hot.
 
Is it? 8O
In Tom's Multitasking II (Winrar, Lame, ogg,WMV) 3200+ is winning.



I was looking at the Tomshardware CPU Charts
and I found out that the P4 630 is way faster in multitasking against the 3200+
Click to expand...
 
$1800 seems a bit high for that system, but I guess if you are including monitor and printer and OS it might be about right. For that budget you should be able to go dual core, which would agree with your 3 year future scenario.

Loose the seperate floppy drive and card reader and install this instead:
click here

Don't overclock and you can loose the 3rd party CPU cooler and just use the stock fan/heatsink.

Sounds like you are going to do some work on this system, so definitely spring for a second hard drive. Install your OS and apps on one drive, and save all your data and downloads and whatnot on the 2nd drive.
 
IMO, I would choose the 630 or 631 as the better general all around processor, and on the Intel 975 or ATI's RD-600 chipset, with the intention of a CPU upgrade path to Conroe later.
And a quality 500watt PSU is plenty, my choice would be and is the Antec True Power 550 watt costing around $90 USD.
 
Is it? 8O
In Tom's Multitasking II (Winrar, Lame, ogg,WMV) 3200+ is winning.



I was looking at the Tomshardware CPU Charts
and I found out that the P4 630 is way faster in multitasking against the 3200+
Click to expand...

Are you blind???
P4 631 is almost 2mins faster then 3200+ in that
 
you must be a stupid AMD fanboy trying to get some attention
Click to expand...
8)

I have to disgree with these stupid temp calims with the 630. I have one in my pc and it certainly does not run a 70oC when under load. I have average case cooling(2 front intakes and one rear exhaust fan). When idle mine is around 30-35oC and under load it averages 40-45oC. Where do these stupid claims come from. I know prescott's run hot but they dont run that hot.
Click to expand...

Sometimes it looks like an urban legend which AMD fanboys pass from generation to generation...

Heyyou27 also got an excelent point, get a 631.
 
I will personally guarantee you are getting a bad temperature reading. Not because I like intel, or amd thats not the concern, I have a Zalman CNPS 7700 cu, on my single core 3200 + @ 2.4 ghz and I get upto 32 degrees, with my stock hs I used to get over 40 degrees at that frequency. You have a dual core fx 60 running at 2.6 ghz, higher frequency, more power consumption=higher temp. And my 3200 + is only a few months old, so I have the newer hs, plus I do have a good case, the Thermaltake Soprano, 2 120 mm fans, with a single 90 on the side.
 
I have one northwood 2.8C running at 42º C idle and 50 after 24h at full load. . And my Athlon 64 X2 3800 is 50-55 idle-load. My room is at 35ºC and processor are with stock cooling in coolermaster stacker 810

It's summer in Spain.
 
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