Anand: PII vs. Q9550 vs. i7 crossfire, Phenom II = smoother

[iandh]

Hmmmm:


http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3506&p=1

During testing, the Intel systems would generate minimum frame rates at this resolutions about 23~24fps on a couple of runs and then jump to their current results on the others. We noticed this in game play also; the Intel systems would hitch and pause at times. We would shutdown the game, clear the prefetch folder, and reboot. The game would operate fine in the next series of testing although we still had stuttering in intensive ground scenes at times. We tried new images, different CPUs, memory changes, and the Sapphire HD 4870 cards with the same results. The Phenom II 940 had extremely stable frame rates in each test and action was very fluid during game play.

After playing through the several levels on each platform, we thought the Phenom II 940 offered a better overall gaming experience in this title than the Intel Q9550 based on smoother game play. It is difficult to quantify without a video capture, but player movement and weapon control just seemed to be more precise. Of course, if you have the funds, we would recommend the i7 platform for best possible performance.

The Phenom II is slightly ahead of the Q9550 when overclocked although it is at a 7% clock speed disadvantage. We have noticed the CryEngine 2 will respond to improved memory bandwidth and latencies as we clock up the processors. The i7 holds a 14% advantage in average frame rates while the Phenom II once again impresses us with the best minimum frame rates when overclocked. However, not having a 20fps minimum frame rate is a disappointment with our multi-GPU setups. The NVIDIA 260/285 solutions scale better in SLI than the ATI HD 4870 products. We hope that ATI can improve their drivers for this game.

Looks like Anand agrees with what I have been saying all along... my AMD platform (in some cases) offers me smoother gameplay with more framerate stability and higher minimum framerates than my intel system, and in some titles my intel system hitches and stutters.

Discuss.

[Titan7171]

Hmmmm:


http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=3506&p=1









Looks like Anand agrees with what I have been saying all along... my AMD platform (in some cases) offers me smoother gameplay with more framerate stability and higher minimum framerates than my intel system, and in some titles my intel system hitches and stutters.

Discuss.

AMD ftw

[Final8ty]

Im staying out of this, its hot in here already.

[iandh]

AMD ftw

What cracks me up is anandtech actually used the term "smoother"

You know, the one that AMD users on this forum have been chastised repeatedly for using... and Anand is generally considered an Intel biased site.

(I personally have found them to be fair in most cases btw)

[Titan7171]

Im staying out of this, its hot in here already.

why? this is the AMD section we cant be happy about good performance??.....Not my fault if AMD bashers come here to lurk in the shadows

I particularly like this little nugget

Now that we have discussed the numbers, what about game play experience? As we alluded to earlier, the Intel platforms had problems with minimum frame rates throughout testing, not just in the benchmarks, but also during game play in various levels and on-line. We have not nailed it down yet, but we have noticed this problem consistently. In the meantime, the Phenom II X4 940 had rock solid frame rates and offered the smoothest game play experience.

discuss even more.

[Final8ty]

why this is the AMD section we cant be happy about good performance??.....Not my fault if AMD bashers come here to lurk in the shadows

I particularly like this little nugget



discuss even more.

I like it to, but its AMD Basher attractant.

[Titan7171]

I like it to, but its AMD Basher attractant.

You know I dont lurk in the Intel section waiting around for someone to say something about AMD which when they do it, its just nonfactual nonsense bashing.

Here we have some legitamacy to the claims of many people saying the system just runs smoother. I dont think we should have to downplay the fact that not only have people been saying it for a while but tests have been run and Anand agrees.

Not saying thats the case with every syystem but..........my games play buttery smooth

[Final8ty]

You know I dont lurk in the Intel section waiting around for someone to say something about AMD which when they do it, its just nonfactual nonsense bashing.

Here we have some legitamacy to the claims of many people saying the system just runs smoother. I dont think we should have to downplay the fact that not only have people been saying it for a while but tests have been run and Anand agrees.

Not saying thats the case with every syystem but..........my games play buttery smooth

There is an Intel section!

[Titan7171]

There is an Intel section!

What im trying to say is I dont secretly read threads in the Intel section waiting for someone to say something about AMD just so I can be there to protect it. And people shouldnt do that here either. If they do then they really got some issues about their own self confidence in their purchasing decisions

Anyhow I understand what you mean, not good to lure someone into a flamewar.

Still though its nice to see some positives about these cpu's

[Smartidiot89]

There have been rumors about this all along.

Now lets wait for the Intel faboys to find this thread and we will have a flamewar GO GO GO!

[fellix_bg]

The problem here is, can the smoothness be measured in a convenient way, so AMD would finally get some high numbers and long stretched graph bars right in the face of the audience!

If this is really an decisive advantage, AMD should change to a new slogan, like Smoother choice!

[informal]

There have been rumors about this all along.

Now lets wait for the Intel faboys to find this thread and we will have a flamewar GO GO GO!

T minus 15 minutes and counting

Anyhow,AT clearly saw the effect of smoother gameplay ,now we can quote a generally intel biased website and provide the link to amd haters when they engage AMD users over smoother "argument"

BTW,the AT quote from above was so amusing to me that I put it in sig

[G0ldBr1ck]

everyone rate the thread now before the usual suspects come and 1 star it lol.

[iandh]

why? this is the AMD section we cant be happy about good performance??.....Not my fault if AMD bashers come here to lurk in the shadows

I particularly like this little nugget

Now that we have discussed the numbers, what about game play experience? As we alluded to earlier, the Intel platforms had problems with minimum frame rates throughout testing, not just in the benchmarks, but also during game play in various levels and on-line. We have not nailed it down yet, but we have noticed this problem consistently. In the meantime, the Phenom II X4 940 had rock solid frame rates and offered the smoothest game play experience.


discuss even more.

Damn I missed that one...


This whole article pretty much screams: AMD = Smoothy McSmooth Smooth

T minus 15 minutes and counting

Anyhow,AT clearly saw the effect of smoother gameplay ,now we can quote a generally intel biased website and provide the link to amd haters when they engage AMD users over smoother "argument"

BTW,the AT quote from above was so amusing to me that I put it in sig

Finding this article is like the AMD section just successfully completed a test detonation of the first atomic bomb

[Particle]

Smoother? Uh-oh!

Yes, I agree, but Intel people won't let us have that.

[G0ldBr1ck]

come on now guys, you all know that we are all out of touch with reality and need a Intel user to come fix our heads.

[MrMojoZ]

What im trying to say is I dont secretly read threads in the Intel section waiting for someone to say something about AMD just so I can be there to protect it. And people shouldnt do that here either.

Yeah those guys are a sorry group. They really drag these forums into the mud.

[BenchZowner]

Damn I missed that one...

You seem to miss this one as well

However, looking through the performance results and game play experiences, we have to mention just how fast Intel's Core i7 is right now. It’s results were just remarkable in Far Cry 2 and it consistently scored at the top in CrossFire mode in the other games even though it has the lowest core clock speed. If platform pricing were better, then the Core i7 series would have a clear recommendation for an upgrade if you were considering a multi-GPU setup.

At least AMD is doing a great job against the Core 2 finally.

[iandh]

You seem to miss this one as well





At least AMD is doing a great job against the Core 2 finally.

I'm not worried about highest average framerate, only framerate stability...

i7's massive power didn't seem to do squat for intel's stuttering issues.

[keithlm]

At least AMD is doing a great job against the Core 2 finally.

HEY I guess you didn't get the memo:

It no longer matters if you can overclock higher and "win" a benchmark. The only important thing now is a "clock per clock" comparison.

I think this was put out in an Intel fanboy all points bulletin.

[informal]

I'm not worried about highest average framerate, only framerate stability...

i7's massive power didn't seem to do squat for intel's stuttering issues.

Exactly!Frame rate stability is much more important than a e-pen number in the form of max. fps.Couple of frames higher max fps. means jack if you stutter at times..

[gallag]

Out of context, All the quotes in the op are from one game, You guys already know this, Go on yell Intel fanboy. Seriously, Read the whole thing, In some Intel win min frames and in others AMD win, It does not support the whole slower but smother argument.

[G0ldBr1ck]

come on now guys, you all know that we are all out of touch with reality and need a Intel user to come fix our heads.

Out of context, All the quotes in the op are from one game, You guys already know this, Go on yell Intel fanboy. Seriously, Read the whole thing, In some Intel win min frames and in others AMD win, It does not support the whole slower but smother argument.

Ah, thank you.

[iandh]

Out of context, All the quotes in the op are from one game, You guys already know this, Go on yell Intel fanboy. Seriously, Read the whole thing, In some Intel win min frames and in others AMD win, It does not support the whole slower but smother argument.

Maybe you should read the whole thing... they mention the PII getting higher minimum frames several times in the article.

Not to mention which, the game I quoted is one that shows an intel logo when you start it up...

[BenchZowner]

Did you check the charts ?
Most of the times ( I only gave it a quick read though ) the i7 had the highest min fps.