2x2400XP-M or A64?

[bob4432]

which would yield better performance for all around computing experience with gaming and encoding? the 2400xp-ms would be o/c to ~ 2.3GHz vs a single 3200a64, either 939 or 754. most of the programs i use are smp/smt aware and have read that the xp-ms are dual capable and totally unlocked. the prices wouldn't be far off for m/b and cpu/s and i could probably pick up a dual skt a board used for a better deal. what do you think?

 

[thirdlegstump]

Depends. Even if software is SMP aware, it may simply be utilizing one CPU for one task while the other is for GUI stuff rather than balancing it out evenly. In that case, a single CPU that does a better job at the main task would be quicker but with sluggish GUI. On the otherhand if you're multitasking, SMP in your case would definitely be faster IMHO.

 

[Cha0s]

i vote for amd64.

 

[DanDaMan315]

Go 64, then you can go 64-bit, and you don't have to deal with dual cpu software.

-edit- and you can get PCI-E on the 939

 

[Chaotic42]

Once you go dual, you won't go back.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

My vote is s939, which should let you go dual core later on down the road

 

[daveybrat]

1 Vote for Athlon64! You cannot beat the sheer horsepower they offer even over dual processors. I'd be willing to bet a socket 939 3500+ cpu with dual channel ram would beat out any dually XP setup even in SMP enabled applications.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: daveybrat
1 Vote for Athlon64! You cannot beat the sheer horsepower they offer even over dual processors. I'd be willing to bet a socket 939 3500+ cpu with dual channel ram would beat out any dually XP setup even in SMP enabled applications.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm very skeptical. What makes you so sure?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: daveybrat
1 Vote for Athlon64! You cannot beat the sheer horsepower they offer even over dual processors. I'd be willing to bet a socket 939 3500+ cpu with dual channel ram would beat out any dually XP setup even in SMP enabled applications.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm very skeptical. What makes you so sure?

1. bob4432 asked about a 64 3200 not a 3500.
2. Yes, I'm thinking dual XP-M's @ 2.3GHz would take a stock 3200 (2.2/754, 2.0/939).
3. Spend the SMP difference on OCing & cooling a 3200, and I believe it would pull ahead.

 

[dguy6789]

In single threaded apps, the Athlon 64 3200+ would be a good margin faster, in multitasking, the dual 2400s would completely DOMINATE over the 3200.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Once you go dual, you won't go back.

the reason i ask this is because i had a 2xp3 1GHz machine and it was equally as fast in what i did compared to a xp2000, i then had a 2xp3 733MHz machine that held its own against the xp2000, although a little bit limited in some instances...

thanks for the input


as far as pci-e i am not too concerned as i just recently (september i thing) bought a 9800pro (before the agp 6600gts were out) so if i cool it properly i can push it to atleast 9800xt speeds and when i game i don't usually play stuff higher than 1024x768, i play a lot of fps and if i go any higher the text is too small for me, even on a 19" monitor.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: daveybrat
1 Vote for Athlon64! You cannot beat the sheer horsepower they offer even over dual processors. I'd be willing to bet a socket 939 3500+ cpu with dual channel ram would beat out any dually XP setup even in SMP enabled applications.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm very skeptical. What makes you so sure?

1. bob4432 asked about a 64 3200 not a 3500.
2. Yes, I'm thinking dual XP-M's @ 2.3GHz would take a stock 3200 (2.2/754, 2.0/939).
3. Spend the SMP difference on OCing & cooling a 3200, and I believe it would pull ahead.

you can usually pic up used dual a boards for ~$140 and 2xp-m would be ~160, so ~$300. a skt939 3200 is ~$195 and a the cheapest 939 nv4 ultra board i can find is ~$105 so price is pretty equal. either way i would need a new p/s and need some decent skt a coolers, but other than that i have everything else...

 

[dheffer]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Once you go dual, you won't go back.

I beg to differ
One vote for A64 - overclock that 3200 as much as the xp mobile and it's no contest, IMO

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: bob4432
you can usually pic up used dual a boards for ~$140 and 2xp-m would be ~160, so ~$300. a skt939 3200 is ~$195 and a the cheapest 939 nv4 ultra board i can find is ~$105 so price is pretty equal. either way i would need a new p/s and need some decent skt a coolers, but other than that i have everything else...

Dual 760MPX MBs may be able to be had for $140. But you must be careful which ones you buy if you want OCing. Some just can't pull it off.
For good OCing, you need to be able to adjust core voltage, multiplier, RAM voltage, etc.
The Iwill MPX2 is just about as good as it gets for dual Athlon OCing. :laugh:

 

[SUOrangeman]

Dual CPUs likely won't help you a bit in gaming. However, you could see a boost if you choose your encoders carefully. My home dual-Athlon 2400+ system blows away my P4-3Ghz, particularly when mutli-tasking with "heavy" apps or compiling source code (Gentoo Linux). There is just a creamy smoothness with SMP that I do not feel on a single-CPU system.

-SUO

 

[Hajime]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Once you go dual, you won't go back.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: SUOrangeman
Dual CPUs likely won't help you a bit in gaming. However, you could see a boost if you choose your encoders carefully. My home dual-Athlon 2400+ system blows away my P4-3Ghz, particularly when mutli-tasking with "heavy" apps or compiling source code (Gentoo Linux). There is just a creamy smoothness with SMP that I do not feel on a single-CPU system.

-SUO

these are my thoughts too, thus o/c the xp-m to ~ xp3200 speeds which would yield about 4.5GHz of processing power when using smp apps and gaming should be good with the use of the single o/ced xp-m and the 9800pro...

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: bob4432
you can usually pic up used dual a boards for ~$140 and 2xp-m would be ~160, so ~$300. a skt939 3200 is ~$195 and a the cheapest 939 nv4 ultra board i can find is ~$105 so price is pretty equal. either way i would need a new p/s and need some decent skt a coolers, but other than that i have everything else...

Dual 760MPX MBs may be able to be had for $140. But you must be careful which ones you buy if you want OCing. Some just can't pull it off.
For good OCing, you need to be able to adjust core voltage, multiplier, RAM voltage, etc.
The Iwill MPX2 is just about as good as it gets for dual Athlon OCing. :laugh:

thanks, will keep my eye open for that iwill board...