Comparison of $400 processors

[dakotagts]

I have been looking at Newegg and found these two processors:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCo...3546%2CN82E16819116006&SubCategory=343

I want to know, which one is using more future proof technology. I know Vista is coming out sometime this summer and many games are going to take advantage of that. Also is hyperthreading going to beat a dual processor in speed tests for general gaming and video editing?

But is the socket type for both of these chips going to be used for a while? or will 64bit really be needed in the next year or so.

If these have been answered in another post I have not been able to find it, so sry in advance.

 

[stevty2889]

Dual core will beat hyperthreading in everything. HT is about 20% of a true dual core. Both have 64bit, so thats not going to matter. Socket 939 is being replaced by AM2, but Intel chips require a new chipset 99.99% of the time even if they have the same socket so again, that doesn't matter much. I would go with the X2 over the single core, especialy if you are doing video encoding. My X2 @2.618ghz kills both of my pentium-d's(@3.4 and 3.7ghz) in everything, let alone the single cores.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Which is more future proof? 4400+ without a doubt no contest period. However the Socket it uses is soon dead (starting June) Wait for AM2 if you can. Then that will outlast the Intel in all areas. As for 64 bit. We wont need that for a long time to come still.

And welcome to the forums

 

[Rock Hydra]

X2 is better, though that's like a 400 dollar vs almost 500 dollar CPU. But anyway, x2 is definitley better.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Which is more future proof? 4400+ without a doubt no contest period. However the Socket it uses is soon dead (starting June) Wait for AM2 if you can. Then that will outlast the Intel in all areas. As for 64 bit. We wont need that for a long time to come still.

And welcome to the forums

No, a Conroe compatible motherboard is more future proof than dead-end Socket939 board.

 

[SDPlissken]

There is really no such thing as futreproof the best you or anyone could do is use what they are building for a long time upgrading only when needed no when they want something better.

 

[Henny]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Which is more future proof? 4400+ without a doubt no contest period. However the Socket it uses is soon dead (starting June) Wait for AM2 if you can. Then that will outlast the Intel in all areas. As for 64 bit. We wont need that for a long time to come still.

And welcome to the forums

AM2 is nothing. Go with Conroe if you can wait 2 months. It'll be best in class by a wide margin.

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: Henny

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Which is more future proof? 4400+ without a doubt no contest period. However the Socket it uses is soon dead (starting June) Wait for AM2 if you can. Then that will outlast the Intel in all areas. As for 64 bit. We wont need that for a long time to come still.

And welcome to the forums

AM2 is nothing. Go with Conroe if you can wait 2 months. It'll be best in class by a wide margin.

You will be lucky to get one in 2 months unless you buy a Dell....BUt I do agree stay clear of AM2 and if you have sometime ( more like end of July) wait for Conroe...

 

[dakotagts]

thanks for all the info, I am a long time gamer that started on a Dell 4550, and was happy with learning through many gamers and computer gurus like you all.

This is going to be my first build, and I can wait till the conroe comes out, but I am paralized with making the desisions on how to setup the rig.

 

[SDPlissken]

dakotagts what ever you go with build it around the videocard. x2 conroe wont matter if your card is not upto the banwidth.

 

[dakotagts]

at the moment that video card will most likely be the 7900GT or 1900XT, unless someone has some feedback on that.

 

[SDPlissken]

Those are both damn fine cards, and alot of $$$$$ but still cool....

 

[dakotagts]

yeah my thinking is that in 3-4 months those will drop in price... ?

 

[pcoffman]

Hi

I am paralized with making the desisions on how to setup the rig.

Your motherboard will dictate many of your decisions--e.g. SLI vs. CrossFire, type of memory, hard drive technology supported--so be careful in your choice of mb. Once you have your motherboard, you can go to town building.

 

[dakotagts]

yeah I realize that about the motherboard, I meant that I am having a hard time choosing which route to go, Intel or AMD, Nvidia or ATI, from what it sounds I should go with the Intel, which would open up the memory speeds i could use.
I dont plan on doing SLI, just one card, so do I really need SLI boards if I go the Nvidia route?

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: dakotagts
I have been looking at Newegg and found these two processors:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCo...3546%2CN82E16819116006&SubCategory=343

I want to know, which one is using more future proof technology. I know Vista is coming out sometime this summer and many games are going to take advantage of that. Also is hyperthreading going to beat a dual processor in speed tests for general gaming and video editing?

But is the socket type for both of these chips going to be used for a while? or will 64bit really be needed in the next year or so.

If these have been answered in another post I have not been able to find it, so sry in advance.

Try comparing the Pentium D 950 and the Athlon 64x2 4400+, that is actually a bit more fair as both are Dual Core.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: dakotagts
yeah my thinking is that in 3-4 months those will drop in price... ?

Not by a huge amount, probably by a few % but don't expect them to halve in price.

If you're going to wait for one part then there is no real point in planning any other others yet. A lot can change in 4 months.

 

[pkme2]

I got the 4400+ on AT for my graphic workstation for a very decent price.
THat X2 CPU is perfect for my work and I'm very satisfied that I read the AT threads, before getting it.
I plan on getting a 4800+ for my other rig later.

 

[pcoffman]

Originally posted by: dakotagts
do I really need SLI boards if I go the Nvidia route?

I would think that any gamer would be interested in SLI. Heck, I'm not a gamer, and even I am itching to build one.

You could buy an SLI board and just use one card initially. This would give you the option of SLI, should you want to do it in the future. I'm sure that I shall be corrected, in short order, if you can't run just one card on a SLI board.

 

[dakotagts]

So the problem I see with the SLI is that is a high cost compared to the boost in performance. With the realease of the new Phsx card in the dell XPS does that mean all gaming is going to use that technology? and will that kill the SLI idea? Hmm just a thought,

and yeah I am not building this rig for around 3 to 4 months, so It looks like I will be waiting for conroe! and then some other things...

 

[TanisHalfElven]

ok first of all get a x2 3800+ use the remaining cash for a x1900xt (or a 7900 gt sli) but i would prefer the x1900xt if only for image quality. get the ASrock esata s939 mobo (an x2 class processor should be enough for about 3 years for gaming and when you upgrade a $60 mobo is the least of your expenses.)

 

[pcoffman]

Originally posted by: dakotagts
I am not building this rig for around 3 to 4 months, so It looks like I will be waiting for conroe! and then some other things...

I hear you. Alot could change in 3 to 4 months.

 

[Golgatha]

Buy a Pentium D 920 and overclock it to 3.73Ghz or better and save yourself some money if you want an Intel processor. I'm currently testing mine running Folding@Home on one core and Prime95 torture test on the other at 4.0Ghz using a Zalman 7700Cu cooler. I can still use the computer to surf the web and do other things as well while all that is testing.