AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+: Competing with Aggressive Pricing
by Anand Lal Shimpi on February 20, 2007 3:37 PM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
Media Encoding Performance
Although DivX was one of the first areas we saw performance gains with when moving to 64-bit years ago, our codec and encoding front end are both still 32-bit applications. We've moved to DivX 6.5.1 but our test settings remain the same. We use the codec in its unconstrained profile, using a quality present of 5 in 1-pass mode. Enhanced multithreading is enabled and we report encoding frame rate for our 1080p source file.
The Core 2 Duo E6700, the closest price competitor to the X2 6000+, delivers significantly better performance in our DivX test. The Core 2's 22% performance advantage more than makes up for its $70 price premium. The E6600 continues the trend by offering better performance at an even closer price to the Athlon 64 X2 5600+. The same is true for the E6400 and the X2 5000+, the clear win goes to the Core 2 processor even when you take into account price.
Windows Media Encoder is available in a 64-bit version and thus we used that here as one of our encoding tests. Our test remains the same as we've run it in the past, only using the 64-bit version of WME instead of the 32-bit version. Performance is reported in frames encoded per second:
The performance advantages aren't nearly as high as they are under DivX, but our WME tests agree with what we just saw. At equal or similar price points, the Core 2 Duo is a much better performer than the Athlon 64 X2. We've known this to be true ever since the Core 2 launch, but we're re-affirming it after the last round of price cuts.
We also looked at encode time using Windows Movie Maker, a 64-bit application that comes with Windows Vista. We measured the time it took to encode content recorded off of Media Center into a format for posting on YouTube. Encode time was measured in seconds:
Performance under Windows Movie Maker falls somewhere in between what we saw with DivX and WME; the Core 2 family gets the clean win here.
H.264 encoded content is still not mainstream yet, but the benefits of storing your content in the new format are numerous. We measured H.264 encode performance using Quicktime and report the results in frames encoded per second:
The tables turn a bit under Quicktime, with the Athlon 64 X2 6000+ actually coming out on top. The 5600+ also manages to outperform the E6600 and the 5000+ is faster than the E6400. The results here are a bit different than under Windows XP, but we're unsure of whether that is due to Vista or the 64-bit version of Vista.
We conclude our look at Media Encoding performance with a simple conversion from a 304MB wav file to a 192kbps MP3 using iTunes. The conversion rate is reported in MB/s:
MP3 encoding performance shifts the balance once again over to Intel; the E6700, E6600 and E6400 each hold an advantage over their respective AMD counterparts.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
34 Comments
View All Comments
leexgx - Thursday, April 19, 2007 - link
ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxeare you useing the older corsair XMS2 sticks 1.2v as i cant get my 2.1v sticks to even POST some times in my pc
allso this test is 2 months old other review good thing is your useing an 8800GTX to test the limits of the CPU, other web site was still useing and ATI X1950 and fiding that thay was GPU limted (dono why thay still bother testing them with that x1950 as the test will be GPU limted not CPU)
photoguy99 - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - link
I've been critical of AMD's chances, but they do have a shot - The problem is their chance to catch up depends on Intel slipping up.AMD needs a perfect storm to happen:
1) Barcelona needs re-capture performance/watt leadership
2) Barcelona neees to re-capture performance/watt be damned leadership
3) Barcelone needs to ship in big quantity during calendar Q3 07
4) Intel needs to slip Penryn ramp up to Q2 08 and slip their next micro-architecture to 09
If any one of these doesn't happen it's going to be rough going.
yyrkoon - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - link
Well, the big question, WHY Vista 64 bit ? The other question WHY AMD 6000 + ?For me, personally, testing on Vista 64bit, is a bit odd, and perhaps is used to confuse the real subject: Why pay a $200+ premium for a CPU (direct comparrison to the E6600), that only does better in video related applications ? Oh, and in case anyone is interrested, I am NOT a fan boy, but if I were to pick a preffered platform, it would be AMD / nVidia. Currently I'm using an AM2 system, with the best budget motherboard on the market period(this is my opinion of course: the ABIT NF-M2 nView).
Also. personally, I would have rather seen the data done in XP, because this would give us a real idea of how this CPU would compare to previous tests, and again, in my opinion, was very bad timing on anandtech's behalf if this was not intentional. I've done my own testing in Vista as well, so I KNOW pretty much where the performance differences lie, although I have not personally tested Ultimate 64bit. I, not unlike many others, will not see the need for Vista for at least a while longer, and Directx 10 games become mainstream . . . XP Pro performance data PLEASE!
The main reason that I havent moved to C2D, or intel as of yet, is simply, because of the motherboards availible for this platform, and I simply do NOT like what the Intel side of the camp is offering, period. Motherboard features / cost, is nearly the only thing keeping me from switching sides ATM, and I for the life of me, can not figure out how AMD gets off charging a $200 price premium for a CPU that isnt very good overall. Now, if some manufactuer, made a motherboard that was both attractive in features, and cost, I personaly think AMD would be in serious trouble, which would be very bad for everyone, not just AMD.
Based on these 'scores' you've given, I would think the CPU to buy from AMD would be the 5600+, and perhaps that what your conclusion said ? I wouldnt know, I make my own 'assumptions', based on the test data (IE, I didnt read the conclusion) ;)
DigitalFreak - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - link
Thanks for the good laugh!yyrkoon - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - link
You show me, a good C2D capable motherboard, for $80 usd, that is as feature rich as the AM2 ABIT NF-M2 nView, and perhaps I'll laugh with you. Until then, your comment isnt / wasnt even nessisary.strikeback03 - Thursday, February 22, 2007 - link
That $200 price premium on the AMD processor you mention plus your $80 motherboard budget will get you almost any board in the C2D camp.yyrkoon - Thursday, February 22, 2007 - link
Except, that you completely missed the whole point. $80 budget board, does NOT mean, someone is going to go out and purchase a sub $500 CPU for it, thats just silly. However, I also wouldnt stop them from upgrading to that CPU, when the prices drop over time. Also, not everyone wants SLI, or crossfire GPUs, so by the time, you find a board with as good features, be it i680, or one of the Intel chipsets, you gain, SLI, dual GbE, and a very good chance of other goodies, but you lose, integrated graphics, which if you're building a very low budget PC, this can save you a good amount of cash. Also, this motherboard will accept just about any aftermarket CPU cooler you could care to put on it, but honestly, IMO, this isnt a board I'd use to OC anyhow, but it will OC well compared to the cost you put into it.There are lots of motherboards out there, that have some very cool features, personally, I really, really like the Workstation line from Asus, 2x 16x PCIE, 2x 133 PCI-X, and 2x PCI 2.3, and I beleive they make them for either AM2, or C2D, but the plain simple fact of the matter is, they also cost more than $300, thats nearly as much as an E6600 . . .
Take a look at the $80, and under Intel CPU capable motherboards, and tell me you can find one that is as stable, with as many features as this one. Then realize just how many of those, actually supports C2D . . . Trust me, I've looked, because I really want to move away from AMD atm, but it does not make sense, if you have to compromise, on what you get stablity/support/feature wise.
defter - Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - link
New A64 6000+ actually performs slightly worse (loses more benchmarks) than E6600. However, A64 6000+ costs $459 while E6600 costs only $316. Worse performance for 45% higher price??? Is that a good deal? Reasonable price for A64 6000+ would be about $300.sprockkets - Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - link
That $102 dollar 3600 chip and a new AMD HDMI chipset or the Abit 6150 board. For more performance, sure, C2D, but hey, can't beat $102 for good dual core performance.I wonder how Fusion will push prices lower...
anandtech02148 - Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - link
At idle and load do these charst include 8800gtx power consumption too?Is this the whole system powerconsumption including the graphic card?
I thought 8800gtx power consumption alone is 245wtts.