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The Performance to Cost Ratio

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Submitted By Dagradt
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Performance to Cost Ratio:
AMD vs. Intel United in the race to revolutionize the way computers drive our era, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Integrated Electronics (Intel) stand as beacons in the ever changing mist of intuition and unmeasured evolution. No matter whether you choose AMD or Intel the question at hand never changes, “What quality for what price?” Quality and expense derive the fundamental balance of performance at a reasonable price. The performance to cost ratio, even though consciously imperceptible, maintains the scales of reasonability in the grand compendium of computer structure. History has shown us that moving forward is the only way to succeed. With the founding of AMD in 1969 and Intel in 1968, these two corporations have gained strength and have shown immense prowess in the computer industry. Both companies, in their own way, have given society the best in our radically changing era. With Intel providing their products with end-user ease in mind, and AMD opening new doors to end-user personalization, both of these companies give a wide range of specialized products. With a price range as vast as the products each produce, there is a plethora of potential component combinations to match all socioeconomic classes. Keeping in mind the components each of these companies produce, to say one is better than the other is an opinion I do not wish to convey, rather I would give each of these giants the dues they deserve.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) – Brings a new user defined way of computer construction with a price range to make even the economically suppressed happy to dish out the cash. With industry leading products in graphics, video, and multimedia (amd.com), AMD has captured the eye of many computer enthusiasts. AMD lets the end-user define the basics and fundamentals of how a component will work. By giving unique system applications, AMD gives the end-user the ability to redefine almost any component process to the users own unique specifications. With this new innovation, computer builders are given the chance to create enhanced end products at a price that surprisingly is cheaper then Intel’s more structured components. In doing this, AMD has not only gained a vast community of clientele, but has provided end-users a new and more personalized experience that won’t break the bank. “Performance at a price that is more than reasonable seems to be a way of life at AMD” said Steve Svoboda, computer consultant. According to Svoboda, AMD may not hold the bar when it comes to flat out performance. Intel has and most likely will always hold this bar, forever taunting AMD. Yet in doing this Intel is giving AMD the fuel to achieve more and more as AMD strives to take the lead.
Integrated Electronics (Intel) – Being the most common name in the computer community has brought their best to the table time and time again. Proven against the repetitious wear and tear of the user, Intel gives little room for error when it comes to component use. While Intel is more geared towards networking and communications (intel.com) it has not stopped this company from branching into new horizons. Intel’s components tend to be aimed for the end-user who wants an “out of the box” system. Each component comes pre-configured to the companies or clients specs, ready to be used without any tweaking. With this being said Intel’s prices tend to be higher and in some cases up to a four hundred percent increase over AMD’s components. Please don’t get me wrong when I say that “AMD will give you more bang for your buck”, this is only true for the fact that in the hands of an experienced computer enthusiast AMD’s components can and in many cases will surpass those of Intel’s. As Intel is the more costly of the two it also gives the best raw performance without the need to change the factory issued settings.
So what do these two leaders have to do with the balance of performance and cost? The answer is everything. While Intel is tailored for the use of an individual with little to no computer knowledge, AMD is more tailored to the individual that wishes to expand his or her know how and push the mechanics of the device to new heights. Thus it comes down to this, performance for what cost? Basic knowledge says that in order to have a high performance part one must pay a reasonably high cost. In response to this Svoboda stated, “As this thought is common in many cases, it is not always the truth. With Intel you get the guarantee of performance right out of the box, AMD also gives this comfort but at a lessened value. With a component purchased from AMD you get a base performance value with the ability to exponentially increase performance.” So your choices are clear, will you pick Intel’s out of the box components, or will you venture the road of infinite options? Infinite options may sound like heaven, but not everyone knows the inner workings of a computer system. On the other hand Intel’s out of the box components come in a wide variety of prices, but you may not be able to afford the system you want or need.
So where is the happy medium in performance and cost? AMD and Intel both revolve around one primary thought, processing performance. With a purchase from either company you get the same basic end result, a component built to closely provide the performance that will meet your needs. Many components in today’s market will have a processor from one of these two companies, or a processor that was derived from one. In a pre-built system the user gets, based off the price at which it was purchased, both good and reasonable quality parts, and in some cases parts that should not have ever left the factory. You many still get components that allow you to tweak and modify, but the options will be limited as not all the components will be compatible in the modification. With a system built from scratch the user can choose to select components from either company, making sure that modification will be compatible with all components. This is where the performance to cost ratio really comes into play. As a user selects the components needed, he or she can match performance and part quality with their budget to even out overall system performance. In pre-built systems the overall cost goes up as more modifiable parts are added to the system.
In the end the choice is ultimately yours, with infinite possibilities and a price to match, the foundation of performance will always be coupled with price, these cannot exist independent of each other and must be accounted for. So whether it be a new component, car, or choosing which variety of apple at your local grocery store, I urge you to take the time and think of your options. The performance to cost ratio can be seen in all aspects of our daily life, I have merely chosen one point of view to share with you.

Works Cited
"AMD Corporate Information." AMD. Web. 30 May 2011. <http://www.amd.com/us/aboutamd/corporate-information/Pages/corporate-info.aspx>.
"FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS." Intel. Web. 30 May 2011. <http://www.intel.com/about/companyinfo/FAQ/index.htm?iid=subhdr+info_faqs>.
Svoboda, Steve. "AMD vs. Intel." Telephone interview. 11 May 22011.

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