Is P4 Now a Viable Option?

[jwells11]

For the last couple of months I've been gathering product information on which to build a new PC based on the Athlon platform (waiting for the Palomino 1.5gzh). But with P4 and Rambone memory dropping in price, the 1.7 gzh P4 may now be a viable alternative to the Athlon. Furthering this possibility are the following considerations:
- I'm not a gamer
- Main interests are web-based stuff and video
- I want rock solid stability (my current computer crashes everyday and I'm real tired of it)
- I like a quiet PC (as P4 is cooler, I presume I could use a weaker fan)

Can anyone make a case either way? I don't particularly like Intel as a company as I find them condescending and I sort of feel like a traitor to AMD.

Also, what's the deal with P4 heatsinks....Directron sells a zillion for the Athlon and just a couple for the P4?

[jeff_harrison_344]

Well I am an AMD lover also, but with what you stated you need their, and if $$$ isnt a BIG problem, then you MAY want to go to the P4 1.7GHz, because you also mentioned that you need a ROCK solid system and that you dont do a lot of gaming, and thats what P4s are good at :)

The fan thing, there arent a lot of fans for the P4 because Intel doesnt Generate as much heat as the T Birds do, therefore not needing as powerful/as much fans

[phantom punisher]

i thought the p4s were good at gaming? jwells search the forum for old posts. people couldnt stop talking about those things a few monthes ago. i think there also soposed to be good at seti

[krakkat]

p4s are good at quake3. my personal belief is that intel designs their chips so that the perform like mad in that game because they know its used in benchmarks that can be used to fool the public.

[Placid]

If you are building a pc from scratch the the p4 prices now are not that much more than the 1ghz p3s.
They also currently hold the top 3dmark 2001 scores.

[jwells11]

Agreed.

krakkat (Jun 23, 2001 10:30 p.m.):
p4s are good at quake3. my personal belief is that intel designs their chips so that the perform like mad in that game because they know its used in benchmarks that can be used to fool the public.

[outhouse]

If you could hold out a while you'll be much happier for the money the p4 is not worth it, soon they will be coming out with the northwood and that is supposed to be a better CPU.