I have always gone the Pentium route, but current pricing makes me wonder about the AMD’s.
Opinions?
Well I’m a Product specialist at CC, and the general opinion about the AMD processors for laptops (The Turion 64) is “smokin’ fast!” Regardless if it’s the single core, Turion 64, or the Dual core, Turion 64x2, the general public seems to like AMD now.
Before Intel released the Intel Core 2 duo, AMD was was pacing foward, and now the Intel core 2 duo is dominate. It’s one of the fastest processors currently, but, as you’ve said, the pricing is a little high.
So… IMHO, if it’s price then AMD processors will do you right, they’re still fast… It isn’t like you’re buying a celeron or a sempron, ya know? 
And if speed is your domain, Intel core 2 duo :rolleyes:
-Rameez
Usual consensus: gamers choose AMD, businesses choose Intel.
As stated before, Intel doesn’t make the Pentiums anymore (YAY!) Instead they moved to the more effecient and powerful Core Duo/Solo design, which is a supperior processor.
I’d say right now Core Duo 2 > AMD, but again, that’s RIGHT NOW.
I’d go with Core 2 Duo, hands down. Its a newer technology and the current AMD chips can do nothing but play catch up. Also, the motherboard you buy for Conroe (C2D) will continue to be upgradeable.
I would type out my list of reasons, but I am in class. I own an AMD x2 system now, and I still recommend you stick with Intel.
The Intel Core2 Duo is what I would get now. The Core2 Duo is different than the Core Duo, the Core 2 is much more power efficient.
A year+ ago, I got the AMD Turion, because it was the more efficient chip AND 64 bit, but a year+ is a long time for processor design.
Core 2 Duo is an awesome chip with a decent price when you go towards the lower end of them which is still more than most people need.
Wetzel
I agree with that. I have always been an amd guy and i have a turion 64 as well as an athlon 64. but i do have to say the core 2 duo is pretty sweet! 
After watching this same question for the past few years its very interesting to watch the results (my choice, which is usually price/performance)
- 2007 (based on company road maps and some tech sites) AMD
- 2006 Intel
- 2005 AMD
- 2004 AMD
- 2003 Intel
- 2002 Intel
But as Adam said, Businesses always go with Intel, Gamers love AMD. If you are looking at portability as in laptop/notebook, it’s been Intel (because of centrino - the 3 headed processor, graphics, and wireless monster), but AMD is getting much better at their battery life, mostly because AMD bought out graphics card powerhouse ATI.
My best advice, forget this dilemma and just get a Mac, the software is designed around the hardware so it’s more reliable and most efficient. (although Macs would be insane if they had an AMD chip)
If you are going for bleeding edge top of the line then that will change a few times a year. For me its about whats the most bang for the buck. I have found AMD to be a better price for what I get out of them.
Same. I’ve also found that AMD chips tend to run cooler than their equivalent Pentium chip (especially while overclocked).
As for C2D, I’ve never owned one so I’m afraid I don’t know much about them. From what I heard though, C2D OC’ed are still amazingly cool for such a fast processor.
I use a Core 2 Duo and its alright but the MotherBoard it goes to can be very picky about which RAM to use :(. Nevertheless its a decent product my next chip will probably be an AMD just so I can see how much more better it is than Intel.
If you look at total cost MB and processor, AMD still has price performance. Most stable Intel boards are based on the 975 chipset. The 965 express chipset has some stability issues that should be corrected in the next stepping, bring Intel into the price, performance, power leader. If your building your own system, spend a good chunk of money on a real good power supply. It’s amazing how many stability issues I’ve corrected just by changing a power supply. I need to upgrade a few of my computers and I’m waiting to after the first of the year. By then prices should come in line.
Intel has the performance crown right now with the Core 2, but AMD will come back with Fusion.
GET BACK, YOU MANGY BLOODSUCKING INTEL FANBOYS!!!
i’ve had a AMD sempron (1.5 ghz … the super slow class) and its fine for what i do… until i started video editting 
I’m still a fan of AMD, even though Intel seems to have caught up…
I still have my Sempron 1.6 ghz and love it. It was cheap and perfect for what I need.
Ive had computers with a variety of intel and AMD Chips, now depending on what chip from the companies (core solo/duo, Xeon, Viiv- Intel or Opteron, Sempron, Turion64/X2, Athlon 64/FX/X2- AMD). Now if you have or are running a server of course the view on the processors would once agian be different…
I have had my best experiences with AMD. Their chips run cooler for the most part and they are a little bit cheaper. Im not sure if all but most of their newer chips will only run at the speed required for what is currently being done, right now as i am typing this my Athlon64 is running at 984 Mhz, it can run at a maximum of 2.19 Ghz. It basically comes down to what you need it for, i.e. gaming, modeling, animating… as well as your personal preference, but id have to reccomend AMD as a processor.
and most people have this opinion…DONT use a celeron processor!
Here is a link to AMD Processor Pricing:
Processor Pricing effective october 30th 2006
Just to go off topic but not to far off. I have had the following chips in these computers and in which years i owned them.
Intel Celeron - Packard Bell - (From 99 - 02 When the Computer went bad I saved the Board & Chip and built a brand new computer so the parts lasted for another year or 2 after. Not bad for a Celeron eh?)
AMD - Emachines - (From 02 - 04)
Intel 486 - Compaq - (From 99 - 00)
Intel Pentium 100 / 133Mhz - Custom Built Computer - (From 01 - 02)
Intel Pentium II 233 / 266Mhz - Dell GXi - (From 02 - 03)
Intel Pentium 4 2.8Ghz - Custom Built Computer - (From 03/04 - 06)
Inter Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz - Custom Built Computer - (From 06 to Current)
Intel Mobile Pentium 4 2.2Ghz - 2 Dell Laptops (From 04/05 - Current)
Intel Mobile Celeron 2Ghz - Dell Laptop (From 05 - Current)
I think the AMD socket design will have more potential for the future. The current Intel socket has been the same one for awhile now, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they changed it soon. The current AMD AM2 sockets will be backwards compatible with the AM3 sockets coming out next year, so you should be good for awhile.
Also keep in mind that AMD has their memory controller on-chip, and has plans to add graphics capabilities to the chips as well.
Something I was surprised about when I worked at an Air Force Base, when they gave me a workstation, it had a brand new computer. As in right out of the box and plopped it on my desk. It included an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ and an ATI video card (don’t remember which one). But I thought it was kind of odd for the government to go AMD.
This is just another rat race. Each takes the lead in different fields but overall I think that AMD is better. Of course I am a gamer and I do look at speed/$ along with cooling and other facters but I am a fan of AMD. Intel is good but over priced tbh and its not worth it to me.
Pavan