Desktop PC's aren't really that big of a thing in Japan though, are they?

for some of us who are yet to buy AMD what has been the biggest drawback to owning an AMD cpu?

lumireleon
for some of us who are yet to buy AMD what has been the biggest drawback to owning an AMD cpu?

There aren't any drawbacks.

kalniel
There aren't any drawbacks.

I'm slowly acquiring parts for my new AMD build. It's my first AMD build since my very first PC back in 2000. (I missed the athlon X64 era, had I had funds and opportunity I might have done AMD then too). It was fine. I kept getting BSODs then, but that was due to not enough RAM and inadequate cooling. That machine was awful but I didn't know any better at the time.

lumireleon
for some of us who are yet to buy AMD what has been the biggest drawback to owning an AMD cpu?

the draw backs are zero. £ vs £ they rock the hell out of everything Intel has. I have a Ryzen 1700 (first series Ryzen, 8 core, 16 thread) and it's a power house.
2nd Gen (start with a 2) were better, but nnot enough for me to swap up.
3rd Gen are notably better than 1st Gen.

I'd not even blink at an Intel right now tbh

You cant say there are no drawbacks.

One that I can think of is that a lot of high CPU usage (e.g. game engines) software are usually optimised for Intel, doesnt mean AMD cant run it or will run slow but that it will run very adequately and future software updates should improve this.

My view had always been “Intel if you can afford it, else AMD for a cheap pc” but with all the security flaws (spectre, meltdown etc) and general failing to achieve what they say I now am fully behind AMD… just need to save up now for a series 3…

I have the 1700X and it powers through everything.

As my mainboard supports the new Ryzen's I am looking at a new one when prices drop a bit, not for any particular reason, just because :)

I was Intel all the way up to when I got my Ryzen, haven't looked back

With the PC CPU market having a decent level of competition we have a choice of processors and technologies, and the manufacturers are compelled to continue investing in R&D to truly innovate. The drawback is that you now have to get beyond lazy assumptions, crude prejudices or sheer ignorance to choose wisely.

lumireleon
for some of us who are yet to buy AMD what has been the biggest drawback to owning an AMD cpu?

Has been or is? Right now there are no major drawbacks unless you are using software which is heavily optimised for Intel. I did find some HDCP stuff supported by Intel chips but not AMD but this was mostly outdated information combined with decent AMD CPUs not coming with integrated GPUs.

Previously there have been large issues with way higher TDP, low IPC, low single threaded performance and them just throwing loads of cores at the problem. The end result was that they had to sell CPUs way cheaper than Intel to make them viable but if you wanted anything better than low end stuff, you really had to go for an Intel. Now, that has changed and they're hovering around the same performance as Intel at a lower price point as well as having forward looking features like PCI-e 4.0 on boards and promises about sockets being compatible for so many generations.

This kicks the hell out of Intel's anti-customer repeated socket changes and finally gives decent competition in the market. For the vast majority of users, there are no major drawbacks to AMD anymore. There are some quirks and some pros and cons to each platform but if you're using something so specialist it doesn't work properly on one of the two, then you're likely to know about it already.

rabidmunkee
One that I can think of is that a lot of high CPU usage (e.g. game engines) software are usually optimised for Intel

You say ‘a lot’, can you qualify that? I don't believe there is any significant drawback to gaming on AMD.

kalniel
You say a lot, can you qualify that? I don't believe there is any significant drawback to gaming on AMD.

Good point, well presented, I admit I must be a bit out of date with my knowledge here.

I never meant to cause you any sorrow, I never meant to cause you any pain.

2 drawbacks come to mind, though both are pretty unlikely to be a problem:

1) Apart from the 2200G/2400G/3200G/3400G APUs, none of the Ryzen range has a built in GPU - a problem if your GPU fails or you want a desktop with good CPU power that doesn't require a discrete GPU. Obviously if building a gaming rig it's a non-issue - but taking my UK based desktop, I removed the GPU and sold it as I'm now in the US and don't need it, but I can still perfectly use my computer when I get home - which wouldn't be an option on a Ryzen build with any non-G Ryzen CPU

2) Motherboard choice, especially on mATX, is pretty much non-existent. Intel doesn't exactly shine there either but at least there are options - there's just one mATX X570 board. Personally speaking, I'm after a mATX board for my 1st American build and I can't find one AMD mATX board with the features I want so will likely stick with Intel even though it's more expensive.

philehidiot
…and promises about sockets being compatible for so many generations.

While true, it causes problems with buying an older AMD motherboard with a new CPU if the BIOS hasn't been updated to support it - which generally doesn't appear to be happening. Intel's changing of socket every 2 years makes sense in that it limits the issue to just one CPU refresh per socket.

rabidmunkee
You cant say there are no drawbacks.

One that I can think of is that a lot of high CPU usage (e.g. game engines) software are usually optimised for Intel, doesnt mean AMD cant run it or will run slow but that it will run very adequately and future software updates should improve this.

My view had always been “Intel if you can afford it, else AMD for a cheap pc” but with all the security flaws (spectre, meltdown etc) and general failing to achieve what they say I now am fully behind AMD… just need to save up now for a series 3…

And that view has been incorrect since ryzen came out. There is no overwhelming benefit of intel over AMD, less cores, shrinking IPC lead etc. The old wisdom was AMD for cheep intel for good but intel will sell you a slower less secure CPU for the same money as AMD now, doesn't matter how much money you have worse for the same money is just worse. Its not 2014 anymore, you don't get an FX chip when you buy ryzen!

EN1R0PY
And that view has been incorrect since ryzen came out. There is no overwhelming benefit of intel over AMD, less cores, shrinking IPC lead etc. The old wisdom was AMD for cheep intel for good but intel will sell you a slower less secure CPU for the same money as AMD now, doesn't matter how much money you have worse for the same money is just worse. Its not 2014 anymore, you don't get an FX chip when you buy ryzen!

I'm stuck in the past, still rocking an Athlon 64 X2 5050e as my main pc atm, bought in 2009.

thewelshbrummie
2 drawbacks come to mind, though both are pretty unlikely to be a problem:

1/ Most of the interesting Intel CPUs atm (like 9400f) don't have integrated graphics either. I've been developing code for the last couple of months on a lowly 2200G, I only expected to be using it for a week but actually it was good enough that I kept it until the 3000 series were released. I imagine a 3400G would have done me very nicely for non gaming stuff. For high end desktop work though, you will probably want a DGPU just for the multiple displayport outputs to drive your monitors.

2/ Get an X470 board. You only really lose PCIe4, which you won't get with Intel either. Heck, get a B450 board and with the money you save get an Athlon 200GE to upgrade the BIOS with so you can drop in a 3000 series.

rabidmunkee
I'm stuck in the past, still rocking an Athlon 64 X2 5050e as my main pc atm, bought in 2009.

How much RAM do you have on that?

An Athlon 200GE on an A320 motherboard would give you jaw dropping performance upgrade for about £120

Edit:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASRock-A320M-HDV-Motherboard/dp/B06XNRWM3C/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-YD200GC6FBBOX-Athlon-Processor-Graphics/dp/B07HJWVJDN/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMK8GX4M1A2400C16-Vengeance-Performance-Desktop/dp/B019HVND88/

DanceswithUnix
How much RAM do you have on that?

An Athlon 200GE on an A320 motherboard would give you jaw dropping performance upgrade for about £120

Edit:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASRock-A320M-HDV-Motherboard/dp/B06XNRWM3C/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-YD200GC6FBBOX-Athlon-Processor-Graphics/dp/B07HJWVJDN/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMK8GX4M1A2400C16-Vengeance-Performance-Desktop/dp/B019HVND88/

full(ish) spec is
gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H rev2.0
Athlon 64 X2 5050e
gt 730 gpu (passive cooled)
8gb corsair xms2's I think (no idea on speed)
ssd for os, hdd for data blah blah
eva p2 semi-fanless psu
gamemax case

I want to upgrade but its a very low priority atm, I game on an xbox these days and the pc is just for media on the tv and the occasional browsing (when the tablet wont do)

and its low power so no noticeable noise.

My problem is that I don't like spending monies, but I also what the best, constantly configuring builds in the pc builder site as if money was no object, dreaming.

rabidmunkee
and its low power so no noticeable noise.

That old CPU is 10W higher TDP than the Athlon 200. That's before you chuck out the GT730 as even the low end Athlon IGPU is apparently slightly faster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oYDM1iAVz0

Supposedly the 3400G with its 65W TDP on the right motherboard can be told to limit to 45W, though I never found that option on my board's BIOS, but that would get you the same TDP as your 5050e but with integrated graphics and an 8 thread CPU.

RAM is a bit tricky though. I put a link to rather rubbish 2400 RAM above to keep the cost down, but a pair of 4GB sticks doesn't give much in the way of options. A few quid more gets you 2666MHz which is well worthwhile, but after that you need to get a pair of 8GB sticks really to get decent choice, like 16GB of 3000MHz for £75

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMK8GX4M2A2666C16-Vengeance-Performance-Desktop/dp/B0134EW7G8/

“Supposedly the 3400G with its 65W TDP on the right motherboard can be told to limit to 45W”
much vaunted but never seen, does ANY consumer board support this? waiting for the 3400Ge instead …(35w)