blackaeronaut Wrote:Kurisu, one other thing that the others didn't mention directly:
You'r better off with an AMD solution over an Intel.
It's not just because my Dad was part of the K-7 project that yielded the Athlon processor. I've kept tabs on things and time and time again, AMD has managed to put out products that perform better than Intel's at gaming apps and usually cost less as well. My own Toshiba is packing an AMD Turion 64 x2 Ultra and I can't say that I'm displeased with the little champ - just the lackluster driver support from Toshiba (probably the last laptop I'll buy from them if they don't get their act together).
Wrong. Or rather, out of date.
This was true when it was Intel Pentium D vs AMD Athon X2s. In the days of the Core, or even the I7s, it is not true. Basically, since the short-lived Core 1 line (replaced by the Core 2), Intel retook that crown, and has maintained it since, especially with the I7.
The current Athlon X2 QL line has been pretty good, but there's a reason the no one uses AMD in performance laptops right now. Intel's offerings are not just better, they're quite a bit better.
(desktops are another matter)
Re: Hyperthreading
I'm of mixed opinion on hyperthreading.
In my to-be-built new computing node for work, I'm planning on taking advantage of the hyperthreading, because it works well for the types of calculations they do really take advantage of it - so being able to run 16 simulations at once instead of 8 can save us a mint.
However, for home use, I just don't know. I mean, really, all the I7 procs are Quad Core ANYWAY, do you really need to fake another 4 for home use? Seriously, what takes advantage of that? Most games barely take advantage of 2 cores, let alone 4.
I'm currently looking at getting a new machine. Something with a nice beefy proc, 4-6GB RAM, one of the 200 series Geforces, all good. I'd like to go Intel for the performance (the I7's show wicked game performance) but I'll probably get a Phenom II (one of those new AM3 ones). It depends on what things are like when W7 hits. Of course, my main aim is to get something QUIET. Maybe water cooling.