Cache matters

[Ken g6]

Well, my 6+ year old Athlon XP finally bit the dust yesterday. So I'm finally going to get myself a new rig. In fact, I'm doing it the way Rudy did it; the only original parts will be the case, one DVD-ROM, and one fan!

But I suddenly realized as I was lining up parts to buy on Newegg that I have a processor choice to make. I was planning on getting a Q8400, with 4MB cache for 4 cores, but for $35 more I could get a Q9400, same speed, same cores, but 6MB cache. It seems Anand's done some benchmarks, and it's nearly a wash. But he didn't benchmark anything BOINC.

So has anyone here used both processors? I'm particularly interested in prime projects results (PrimeGrid, Seventeen or Bust, etc.)

Thanks!

 

[Assimilator1]

Afraid I can't help you with those projects mate, I can tell you with DPAD it makes no difference (from benchmarking thread), but with SETI I think it does help IIRC. Sorry I can't be much more help than that.

 

[Ken g6]

Come to think of it, for now I'm planning to go with stock speed and the stock cooler. For $35 I could probably get a good heatsink and overclock somewhat more than the 6% Anand's article talks about. So unless someone comes up with a project that is 10% or more faster on the Q9400, I think I'll go with the 8400.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

I wonder if there are any temperature differences associated with more cache.

 

[Ken g6]

Based on Anand's power numbers, I'd expect that more cache = more heat, though only 5-9 Watts.

 

[bryanW1995]

I would actually go with the 9400. c2 cpus are very cache-dependent. I know that the jump from q9400 to q9450 is pretty substantial in DC apps, though I don't know as much about the 8400 vs 9400.

 

[Philippart]

many folding/medical project require a large cache, sadly I don't know about prime searches...

 

[PCTC2]

If you want to drive to Denver, you can pick up Q9400's at Microcenter for $180 right now.

 

[Ken g6]

Originally posted by: PCTC2
If you want to drive to Denver, you can pick up Q9400's at Microcenter for $180 right now.

Thanks! That is the best idea I've heard so far! I'm not as close as my profile says I am, but even with ~$30 "shipping" and tax, that's still a good deal.

Now I just have to reconsider my motherboard and memory choices, since they don't sell what I was looking for from Newegg...

 

[salvorhardin]

I bought one in april from the tustin microcenter, I'm running it at 3.4GHz with a gigabyte ep45-ud3p, 4gb of 800mhz corsair memory and a xigmatech S1283. My temps under load are in the mid 40s.

 

[Soulkeeper]

I vote for more cache
more is better !

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: salvorhardin
I bought one in april from the tustin microcenter, I'm running it at 3.4GHz with a gigabyte ep45-ud3p, 4gb of 800mhz corsair memory and a xigmatech S1283. My temps under load are in the mid 40s.

I just went today to that MicroCenter and bought that Q9400 for my EP45-UD3P and 4GB of Patriot memory on watercooling....

 

[Ken g6]

I went there yesterday, too. Which MicroCenter did you go to, again?

Anyway, my Q9400 is up and running, and I'm posting from it!

Now I just have to:
* Wait for my other HDD from Newegg to get here, so I can load a permanent Linux.
* Order the good memory from Newegg. I got a cheap extra 1GB stick from MicroCenter for $15 so I could get up and running today, rather than pay $15-25 for fast shipping and still not get running until Tuesday or so.

So the good stuff might not get here until next week, but I should be able to get BOINC going today. Thanks, guys!

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Ken g6
I went there yesterday, too. Which MicroCenter did you go to, again?

Anyway, my Q9400 is up and running, and I'm posting from it!

Now I just have to:
* Wait for my other HDD from Newegg to get here, so I can load a permanent Linux.
* Order the good memory from Newegg. I got a cheap extra 1GB stick from MicroCenter for $15 so I could get up and running today, rather than pay $15-25 for fast shipping and still not get running until Tuesday or so.

So the good stuff might not get here until next week, but I should be able to get BOINC going today. Thanks, guys!

Tustin/Orange, California. I ordered the rest of my stuff from newegg and I should have my new HTPC up and running by Wednesday... with a brand new 40" Samsung LCD.