AMD is working on a brand new x86 CPU core

[fatslob-:O]

Pemalite said:

I wasn't actually talking about IPC specifically. :P
Intel and AMD as well as to a lesser extent, via... Actually spend more transisters on trying to hide latency and bandwidth deficits with various technologies than actuall compute hardware.
And for a good reason!

When IBM had it's PowerPC based processors inside the Mac, there was allot of flamboyant chit-chat with enthusiasts of how superior IBM PowerPC based processors were when compared to x86, in the end, when Apple switched processor architectures, there was stupidly massive gains in almost every area.
Granted, that was many many years ago and architectures of both camps have changed drastically since then.

Unfortunatly, we can't run 3D mark to find out how they compare. :P

I know that you weren't talking about IPC specifically but I heavily interpreted it like that because of your past on placing high importance on it so sorry if I was being overly defensive/aggressive about it.

You are definitely right about Intel and AMD going to great lengths to increase interconnect capabilities.

Well on the brightside Intel has kept x86 especially relevant.