Review- AMD Athlon XP 2000+ vs. Intel Pentium 4 Northwood
Techware Labs gratefully recognizes AMD's support in making this review possible!
Review by Edward Chang, call sign: Big_E
May 7, 2002
Conclusion:
The AMD Athlon XP puts up some stiff resistance. Our tests have shown that the XP 2000+ has its strengths and weaknesses when juxtaposed to the new Intel Northwood processors. In games and 3D-intensive benchmarks, the Athlon XP devastates any competing Intel CPUs, including the new Northwood. Even the extra cache on the Northwood cannot give Intel the upperhand here. However, AMD loses to Intel when it comes to memory-handling and overall performance. In the SiSoft Sandra Memory and the PCMark2002 tests, the default Northwood 1.6 GHz processor scores a little higher than the Athlon XP 2000+. On another note, the AMD Athlon XP also exhibits better processing power than the Intel Northwood in the Sandra CPU Arithmetic benchmark. Hence, if one is a gamer, go AMD. Lastly, please keep in mind that the overclocked Northwood 2.0A will yield higher than normal results.
Perhaps one reason how a lower clocked AMD Athlon XP 2000+ can outperform an Intel Northwood running at 2.0A is the utilization of the 133 MHz FSB. Although Intel claims their CPU supports a 400 MHz FSB, tests do not show a performance gain of 4X. Our overclocking of the Intel Northwood 1.6A to 2.0A via a 124 MHz FSB clock represents the potential of an Intel Processor using a FSB closer to a true 133 MHz. Therefore, the scores in the test are not indicative of how an actual Northwood 2.0A would perform. The actual 2.0A should perform lower than our results because of a 100 MHz FSB, rather than 124 MHz.
Pricewatch shows that an OEM Athlon XP 2000+ is available for around $165. Priced about $25 lower is the Intel Northwood 1.6A. An Intel Pentium 2.0A is priced at an exorbitant average price of $270. It is evident that AMD remains extremely competitive with its pricing. They have positioned a capable, fast processor over one-hundred dollars below its 2.0 GHz Intel counterpart. However, if one will definitely overclock, the Intel Pentium4 1.6A offers a huge overclocking potential, as our review has shown.
There is not doubt that the Athlon XP could easily contend against an Intel Pentium4. Now, with the introduction of the Northwoods, AMD has an even tougher competitor in the ring, but still manages to match its capabilities fairly well.
Hardware Pub awards AMD for fighting an excellent fight with their Athlon XP 2000+ and AMD's continued excellence and technological achievement.
Thank you for reading. Please bookmark us as your source for new computer hardware.
Questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome.
Edward Chang, call sign: Big_E
9/10 Beers
Approximate Price:
$165- AMD XP 2000+
$140- Intel Pentium4 1.6A
$270- Intel Pentium4 2.0A
