I am looking to built a new computer and i need to know which CPU Processor is better? Here is the info for both CPU’s both made by AMD

—->
#1 CPU
AMD ATHLON II X4 QUAD CORE 630 2.8 GHZ

CPU Socket Type Socket AM3
Multi-Core Quad-Core
Athlon II X4 630
Operating Frequency 2.8GHz
Hyper Transports 4000MHz
L2 Cache 4 x 512KB
Manufacturing Tech 45 nm
64 bit Support Yes
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Virtualization Technology Support Yes
Voltage 0.90-1.425V
Thermal Design Power 95W
CPU BENCHMARK–>3360 from [url]http://www.cpubenchmark.net[/url]
PRICE: 8

#2 CPU
AMD PHENOM II X4 QUAD CORE 925 2.8GHZ

CPU Socket Type Socket AM3
Multi-Core Quad-Core
Frequency 2800MHz
System Bus 4000
Operating mode 32/64 bit
L2 cache 512KB x 4
L3 cache 6MB
CMOS Technology 45nm SOI
CPU BENCHMARK–>3420 from [url]http://www.cpubenchmark.net[/url]
PRICE: 2
______________________________________…

Ok so lets get this straight.

The similarities are:
They both are AM3
They both are quadcores
They both are 2.8GHZ
They both are 4000 system bus
They both are 64bit
They both are 512KB x 4 L2 Cache
They both have similar CPU benchmark scores. The Athlon II is 3360 and the Phenom is 3420 (pretty close)

Now the difference:
The Athlon II does not have a L3 cache and the Phenom has a 6MB L3 cache
The Athlon II is cheaper 8 and the Phenom is more expensive 2

Ok, so from my understanding is i’m paying more for the 6MB L3 Cache??? What is so great about the L3 cache? And why do both CPUs score almost the same in the CPU benchmark test. I don’t understand this. I am pushing to go to the Athlon II since it’s cheaper, i need to know what’s so good about the cache. what cpu should i go for? i’m confused

What do these specs mean?

Operating Frequency(GHz)
Hyper Transports
L2 Cache
L3 Cache
64 bit Support
Hyper-Transport Support
Virtualization Technology Support

Operating freqeuncy is the measure of raw processing power right? As in the number of operation it can perform in a second. A 1ghz cpu can perform 1 billion operations per second right?

What are hyper transports?

What does each level of cache do? Is it where data is stored before being processed by CPU? If so, is data only stored there when there is too much data being given to the CPU for proccessing that it has to wait there, or is data always transfered into the cache. What is the difference between the different levels of Cache?

I understand that 64 bit architechture gives you 2^64 memory adresses rather than 2^32 increasing the amound of RAM that can be used. Are there any other advantages of 64 bit? And disadvantages?

What is Virtualization Technology?

What is the difference between GFLOPS and GHz? What does each mean, and how does it affect performance? What other factors affect processor performance, other than raw GHz? I know that old pentium CPUs clocked at like 4 Ghz, but they suck compared to modern 2.1 GHz CPU’s.

Also how can the PA semi CPU clocked at like 700 mhz used in the iPhone render 3D graphics better than the 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU? Is it because the PA semi chip has a better onboard graphics controller?

Do all CPUs have an onboard graphics controller or just ones meant for crappy computers?

I know these are a lot of questions, but i would really appreciate it if you gave me a somewhat in depth explanation, suitable for a 9th grader, or atleast a link to a good site. Im not stupid, so please dont dumb it down too much.

Intel Core 2 Duo T7600 Merom 2.33GHz 4M shared L2 Cache Socket M 34W Dual-Core Processor

Core: Merom
Multi-Core: Dual-Core
Name: Core 2 Duo T7600
Operating Frequency: 2.33GHz
FSB: 667MHz
L2 Cache: 4M shared
Manufacturing Tech: 65 nm
64 bit Support: Yes
Hyper-Threading Support: No
Virtualization Technology Support: Yes
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4, EM64T
Voltage: 1.0375 – 1.30V
Thermal Power: 34W
Cooling Device: Cooling device not included – Processor Only

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor

Core Windsor
Multi-Core Dual-Core
Name Athlon 64 X2 6400+
Operating Frequency 3.2GHz
Hyper Transports 2000MHz
L1 Cache 128KB+128KB
L2 Cache 2 x 1MB
Manufacturing Tech 90 nm
64 bit Support Yes
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Virtualization Technology Support Yes
Multimedia Instruction MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional
Voltage 1.35/1.4V
Thermal Power 125W
Cooling Device Heatsink and Fan

Phenom 9000
AM2+
Quad-Core
Operating Frequency 2.2GHz HT 3600MHz L1 Cache 4 x 128KB L2 Cache 4 x 512KB L3 Cache 2MB Manufacturing Tech 65 nm
64 bit Support Yes
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Virtualization Technology Support Yes
VS

Name Athlon 64 FX-74
CPU Socket Type CPU Socket Type Socket F (1207 FX)
Tech Spec Core Windsor Multi-Core Dual-Core
Operating Frequency 3.0GHz HT 2000MHz L1 Cache 128KB+128KB L2 Cache 2 x 1MB Manufacturing Tech 90 nm
64 bit Support Yes
Hyper-Transport Support Yes
Virtualization Technology Support Yes

Which should I go for and why this is for my pc upgrade I currently have
2, BFG 7800 256mb Video cards SLI
3, 500 GB hard drives
1, ASUS Motherboard < —- being replaced after processor decision
2, DVD/CD drives
1, AMD Athlon 64 4600+ < — Being Replaced
4 GB of RAM
which is better which one would you choose and for all you “Intel is better people just know I favor AMD and am going this way only please no harassment” thanks everyone

Intel Specs:
Operating Frequency: 2.0GHz
FSB: 800MHz
L2 Cache: 1MB
Manufacturing Tech: 65 nm
64 bit Support: Yes
Hyper-Threading Support: No
Virtualization Technology Support: No
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, EM64T

AMD Specs:
Operating Frequency: 1.9GHz
Hyper Transports: 2000MHz
L1 Cache: 128KB+128KB
L2 Cache: 2 x 512KB
Manufacturing Tech: 65 nm
64 bit Support: Yes
Hyper-Transport Support: Yes
Virtualization Technology Support: Yes
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, 3DNOW! Professional
The reason I’m asking is because the computer I’m selling has the AMD, and the computer I plan on buying has the
Intel.

Specs of computer selling:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600
2 GB DDR2 667MHz
256mb Geforce 7600GT
250Gb Sata 7200RPM

Specs of Computer buying:
Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2180
2 GB DDR2 667MHz dual-channel
256mb Geforce 8600GT
320GB Sata 7200RPM

So do you think that the dual-channel RAM, slightly better video card, and larger hard drive will make up for the slightly less powerful processor?