Now, I know that the xp 3200+ is only 2.2 ghz but it seems to be the fastest athlonxp+ processor AMD are offering.

Now to my question, Which one should I use in my new computer, the Athlon xp 3200+ or the 3hz intel.

To help you help me, I am looking to use it for gaming.

Thanks all

Tom

Well, as you said you should go with the Athlon. Compare below

Amd = 2200hz
Intel = 3hz

I think you mean GHz, Dani_17.

And, I hope your not comparing AMD vs Intel by their clock speeds. Actual clock speeds will vary greatly but does NOT necessarily have to do with performance.

In theory an AMD 3000+ would be the same speed as a Intel 3GHz processor, hence the reason for AMD using the 3000+ PR-rating. (Because the actual clock speeds vary they needed a way to show how the processor "should" measure up to an Intel).

I would go for the 3200+ because obviously 3200+ means AMD is saying the processor should perform like a 3.2GHz Pentium 4.
Also, if you compare the prices it is a no-brainer. You just have to ask yourself "Am I going to pay a LOT more money for a small performance increase" (in most cases your paying about $200 for 5% performance difference). And this performance increase usually depends on what kind of application you are running.

Now if you are rich like some people here are (even though they wont admit it) then it wouldnt matter.

cheers, but I have an xp 2000+ at the moment. And, tel me if i'm misunderstanding but, surely that would mean it performs like intels 2ghz, but its only a 1.7ghz processor. Am I getting this right???

Seeing nowbody saw the 3hz - 2000hz joke, i'll now put my opinion.

Go for the XP, its cheaper and hotter. Intel gets expensive in the high performance processors. and in case you wondered, acidosmosis is partialy wrong, the 3000 is not the same as a 3ghz intel cause AMD had problems with the pr rating system and the 3000 is slightly slower than a 3ghz pentium.

Instead of paying more for and intel processor, get the amd and spend the bucks you saved in a gfx card, sound card or whadever-makes-you-feel-good.

it all comes down to your budget and the level of performance you want. there are many ways that can make your pc faster in games than just the processor, so explore those other options as well.

yah the amd athlon xp 3200+ gets spanked by the 3.0C

This is what I was thinking of, tell me what you guys think

athlon xp3200+
512mb 400mhz ddr ram
128mb fx5200 (until xmas)
xp professional

i will porbally upgrade the ram some time aswell

That sound like a good set up to me, force, but what about the sound card? You may want to consider making some room in your budget for a soundblaster audigy as they have great sound quality and some pretty cool features(mixer, environmental effects, soundfonts,if you like to write music). Of course, you could use on-board sound, but I have found the sound quality is usually not as good as with a soundblaster, IMHO.

balls, forgot to put the sound card in, I had sorted it out. Just a basic creative sound blaster 5.1. BTW, will this card be able to handle surround sound? Thanks for reminding me:grinthumb

Anyway, I think that wraps it up. I will go for the xp 3200+, seeing as I will be running it on 512mb ram and soon a relatively decent gfx.

Cheers all

Tom

the 5.1 means the card can handle 5 speakers to 1 sub. so that will make some sort of surround sound. looks like you'll have a fine setup force.

Throw the fx5200 away and get a radeon 9600. You'll appreciate that. Of course, if your budget permits it.

The fx 5200 is being taken from my old computer, it will soon be replaced

Step 1) Buy AMD.
Step 2) Overclock.
Step 3) CPU faster than Intel (for less money).

may do, but this processor is expensive. If it burns out then I'm completely screwed

if you must go for athlon xp, get an nforce2 mobo and ditch the sb live as the integrated sound is better than the audigy and almost as good as the audigy2