Here's a nice link:
AMD vs Intel benchmarks, as of today
you will see that the Intel chips far outweigh the AMD's, in fact AMD is no 12 on that list.
next link is tomshardware:
check the table of contents in that article:
the best web site for all things computer
The Core i7 processor, launched around this time last year is an all new architecture that followed the highly successful Core 2 Quad lineup. Major changes included the integration of a memory controller onboard the processor and as a consequence, the death of the (arguably) limitation inducing "Front Side Bus" link. In addition, support for Triple Channel Memory was incorporated and the Intel Core 2's huge pool of Level 2 cache has been replaced by small dedicated sets of 256kB per core and a shared bank of 8mb Level 3 cache. Last but not least, the Core i7 saw the return of Hyperthreading Technology, which by specification is meant to aid the processing of multithreaded computations, by treating a given core as two.
Upon face value, AMD's Phenom II architecture doesn't appear all too different. The "Deneb" core, used in the entireity of the Phenom II lineup sports 512kB of Level 2 cache per core and a shared pool of 6MB Level 3 cache. AMD does not have a Hyperthreading equivalent and while it has an integrated memory controller and a fast data link, memory will only function in Dual Channel mode and thus reducing the maximum achievable memory bandwith on the Socket AM3 platform.
So in general, the advantage that Intel claims in general processor speed looks real, although it manifests itself mostly in the kind of applications few people do often. Similarly, AMD's claims that its superior graphics help it compete on performance ring true for graphics and video encoding applications, though in general, the two are fairly equal.
Me? I coose Intel...always
