One Technician's Opinion

by jayhawk13 - 4/21/12 7:25 AM

In Reply to: Poll: Do you care what brand the processor is and why? by Lee Koo (ADMIN) Moderator CNET staff

I do PC work for 100 or so local customers, split about equally between AMD and Intel. My customers are NOT gamers or graphic-intensive users. Either brand is fine for light surfing and general tasks. I'm currently recommending Intel (i3, i5, and i7) for replacements and/or new purchases because the Intel's run cooler and are less complicated from a driver maintenance perspective. The newer Intel line continues the evolution toward a single chip solution for processor, memory, and graphics. Simpler "usually" means less trouble, easier diagnosis, and faster fixes. The AMD multi-chip / multi-vendor approach can deliver better results in the right environment (gaming) but just adds another layer of complication for the general user. It definitely introduces the possibility of a driver "mismatch" down the road. Yes, the brand decision may add $50 - $75 to the price but one less service call over the 5-7 year life of the box should more than compensate for that.