Dual Athlon or Xbox?

Getting $500 for a side job I did and plan on burning it. Mulling over the following

Tyan Tiger MP - $200
512 PC 2100 DDR - $100
2 Athlon 1.4GHz 266 FSB - $200

or

Xbox preorder $300
DVD remote $30
S-Video kit $20
3 Games $150

FYI, I already have a dual P3 700. I am considering the Xbox to replace my Dreamcast. Also I gave a lot of money to the Red Cross last week, if not I would just give the cash to them.

 

[StageLeft]

If I were in your place I'd buy the seXbox.

You're not really going to enjoy the dual upgrade from an already decent enough computer as much as you will a brand new console.

 

[Viper GTS]

Tiger MP is that cheap?

Damn...

I've been thinking of giving AMD another shot with one of their own chipsets instead of VIA's sh!t.

Tiger MP + a couple of Morgans with 16 db fans sounds like a nice upgrade.

Viper GTS

 

[LAUST]

I think all the games that go to X-box will port right over the the PC in a flash... I honestly think the entire purpose of the X-Box is to make it so more company's program for the X86 is all.

As far as duel do you run a lot of duel proc apps? if so I know that 760 chipset sounds awesome, I got a friend who does Auto CAD and says it's great.

 

[777php]

that is a tough one....won't the dual Athlon system cost more than $500 w/ video card, sound card, etc....or are you using old parts?

I'd go for the X Box....

 

[LordThing]

Nah, screw the dual athlons unless your running linux or the like. I don't believe that Win2k Or XP really shows enough benefit from dualies.....go for the Xbox

 

[Sugadaddy]

depends if you use your computer for something else than gaming and internet. If you're a gamer, then get the XBOX.

 

[Looney]

Personally, i would go with the dually. I'm not a big console fan, and i believe almost all the games will be ported to the PC anyways.

 

[yakko]

Go with the dual Athlon.

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Viper: Yeah the Tiger MP goes for $200 - $250. I am sure if I go to the Market Pro show tomorrow I can get everything off of one vendor for $500 cash flat.

LAUST: I don't run many SMP apps, but I will never go back to a uniprocessor system just because I am so used to the added "snappines" it adds.

777: Going to upgrade my current box so I don't need video/audio.

 

[royaldank]

The world of home computing is not exactly built around dual boards. Most apps wont gain anything running in a dual setup.

By the time dual boards are in mainstream products, prices will be lower.

I'd get the XBOX...it looks like it's going to be sweet. And anyone thinking that the entire XBOX library will be at your PC fingertips are going to be disappointed. Anyone thinking of buying the XBOX and converting it into their game computer will be disappointed too. It's a video game console, pure and simple. MS has also said that no games will be ported directly from PC to XBOX.

It's a game system, and it's by far the best value on the market. You'll be able to invite your PS2 friends over to drool.

 

[StageLeft]

My l ast system was a dual celeron system and although it was nice I think its going to be years before I go with a dual rig for home use again. This is because for me personally if my single CPU is fast enough to kick butt in the most recent games anything else I'm doing is a joke for it and the second CPU just seems superfluous (yes I had to use that word).

 

[Ameesh]

<< Tiger MP is that cheap?

Damn...

I've been thinking of giving AMD another shot with one of their own chipsets instead of VIA's sh!t.

Tiger MP + a couple of Morgans with 16 db fans sounds like a nice upgrade.

Viper GTS >>



no viper dont turn to the dark side!

 

[matthewperry]

Dual Athlon cuz you know X-Box games will be ported soon enough.

 

I don't know, when I disable one CPU on my system games run slower. Maybe because system level stuff like audio and video drivers run on the other processor. Q3A is the only real SMP game I have and the FPS is no better when I run the SMP switch.

I can show some CPU graphs of after a gaming session. Both CPUs get a workout for some reason. Heck if I know why.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The OS will offload the work of I/O for video and sound to the other processor. Even if the game is not designed for MP, the OS makes some adjsutments.

When NT first came out I put a dual 486 system together and could see a 10-15% improvement in performance across the board for games and apps.