Conroe v. Woodcrest

[GaryJohnson]

I'd like to know how Woodcrest stacks up against Conroe in both game and 3D workstation performance. I've got to pick a platform for my next rig and I don't know wether to go with 771 or 775.

I have a Pentium 4 2.4/2GB/6800GT gaming rig that's good for now (runs BF2 flawlessly, Oblvion 'ok') but I don't feel will handle what I consider to be the next-generation of PC titles like Call of Juarez and Quake Wars. It completely sucks at MAX/Lightwave/Maya rendering on the other hand so that's the principle reason I'm building a new machine. But, seeing as the new machine will likely offer all around better performance than the Pentium 4 box I'll probably end up gaming on it too (at least till I have the money to build another rig solely for gaming.)

NewEgg is listing:

Xeon 5130 Woodcrest 771 for $389.99,
2.0GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 2x2MB Cache.

Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 775 for $419.00,
2.4GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 4MB Cache.

or maybe a Dual-Core, Hyper-Threaded Dempsey might be the way to go?

Xeon 5060 Dempsey 771 for $344.00,
3.2GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 2x2MB Cache.

At those prices the Xeons look mighty appetizing (I realize I'll end up buying 2x if I go that route).

 

[RichUK]

Get the Conroe, the faster FSB does not warrant the extra price tag of the woodcrest especially as it is the same processor, with the only difference being the frequency of the FSB.

Also woodcrest?s main advantage other than the 1333FSB is the ability to work in 2P systems with the correct chipset and mobo, so unless this benefits you, go with the faster clocked Conroe.

If you require a Conroe on a Workstation class motherboard, then wait for ASUS?s new range of WS motherboards, these boards support more PCI-e lanes along with PCI-x support.

Even if you do desire the faster the FSB, this can be attained by just upping the FSB within pretty much any of the supported motherboards BIOS?s.