System Bus Speed

[internationalist]

Hi,

(I searched the forums and didn't find anything regarding "system bus", so I'm creating a thread for it.)

In searching laptops over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that most of the Intel boards have either 533mhz or 800mhz System Bus, while the AMD models I've seen are running a 1600mhz system bus. The number alone look as if they cannot be compared, but has Intel found a way to meet AMD's bus speeds?

According to http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_13909_13911,00.html, a chart says that AMD System Bus Technology (Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile's) are "up to 1600mhz, full duplex" where Intel is "800MHz Front Side Bus Half duplex". Am I not understanding something here or is AMD simply on their "A-Game" and out performing Intel?

Thanks

 

[lostandwandering]

AMD uses a different system for controlling memory. HyperTransport (what AMD uses) works in a different way than FSB. Long explanation, but the end result is that AMD ends up having faster memory access times. IN the grand scheme of things though, Intel is holding the performance crown. Tom's has a basic mobile CPU chart, it's a little dated and incomplete, but you get the idea: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_mobile.html?model1=701&model2=704&chart=259

 

[internationalist]

Thanks for the reply.

From your reply and chart link, I can see that Intel is winning the race in CPU power.

I want to talk about duplexes for a minute.

Regarding my quote from earlier: [According to http/www.amd.com/us-en/Processor [...] 11,00.html, a chart says that AMD System Bus Technology (Turion 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile's) are "up to 1600mhz, full duplex" where Intel is "800MHz Front Side Bus Half duplex".]

Even though CPU speeds have different numeric systems from AMD to Intel, they have got to be using the same method regarding duplex terminology, don't they? If so, then wouldn't "full" be better than "half"?

What am I not grasping here?

Thanks

P.s. there will be plenty of more questions to follow i'm sure.

 

[lostandwandering]

errrrr....... you may want to take those questions into the CPU section of the forum. I'm not exactly the smartest person regarding processors so you'd get a lot more help there.

The way I understand it is that on a Full Duplex, the system can both send and receive information from the memory at the same time. With a Half Duplex, it has to send and then receive. Resulting in longer memory access times. The difference between AMD and Intel is that AMD has the memory controller integrated into the CPU whereas Intel uses the SouthBridge on the motherboard.

Like I said, I'm not 100% positive on that, so check the CPU section for a better answer.

 

[internationalist]

Kickin' I'll head over there.

Thanks