Pentium 4 1.8GHz. Review

Intel's Pentium 4 1.8GHz. Processor
Yielding additional gains in performance

By, Dave Altavilla
July 2, 2001

3D Winbench is another Ziff Davis benchmark and in this test we selected only the Processor Tests in an effort to isolate the performance results, focusing solely on the host processor.

3D Winbench Processor Test and Quake 3 Arena Synthetics and the real world...

As in the other Ziff Davis tests, the Pentium 4 is left behind. Clearly on legacy software not optimized for the P4 or SSE2, the Athlon leads with ease.

Finally, the ever perennial Quake 3 Arena Time Demo Benchmark.  Don't leave home without it!

One notable here is that GeForce3 cards were used for testing.  As a result, these numbers will not correlate with the testing done in our 1.7GHz. P4 review from a couple of months back.  However, relative to this testing platform, which is representative of the latest in desktop system technology, you can see that the P4 still holds the frame rate crown in Quake3 Arena.

And the moral of our little story here is?  There really isn't too much mystery here.  Intel's flagship processor marches on with steady progress in clock speed and system level performance.  In addition, AMD has taken the fight to the once totally dominant semiconductor giant and the battle is far form over.

On one hand, no one can deny the value and price/performance ratio that the Athlon brings to the table.  On the other hand, Intel's brute force clock speed drive towards 2GHz. and beyond, is nothing short of amazing.  Not to mention the fact that optimizations at the 3rd. party software and OS level, are now really just beginning for the Pentium 4.  At 1.8GHz., the Pentium 4 is the fastest CPU money can buy in many applications.  You'll just need to decide which is best for your own personal needs.

Price wars between the two chip giants continue and the MHz. and GHz. just keep coming.  It's shaping up to be a very interesting late summer/fall season in Computing Technology.  Stick with us here and we'll help you sift through it all. 

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