Dual Core Processors - why do so many people want them to game?

[remagavon]

Originally posted by: furballi
Have benchmarked a DC CPU with Prime95 and SuperPi at 1M digits. Also tested DVD ripping (10 to 12x) with SuperPi. There is at least a 19% hit in SuperPi when multi-tasking. DVD ripping time also increase with SuperPi running in the background.

Of course both of those tasks are using up the same bank of memory. That'd be why the opterons support NUMA.

The hit in a game is virtually nonexistant if you're doing something fairly intensive (or you leave a lot of apps open), and you play a game. Look at the benchmarks around the web (anand's are great).

Even itunes switching songs slows down a single core system. I have a hitch on my A64, whereas even on my P4 (w/ HT) I don't notice any slowdown whatsoever. It's all about minimums, not maximums. There won't be a significant boost in single app performance, but the amount of slowdowns will drastically be reduced, unless you're meticulous about closing apps etc. (which is fine)

 

[furballi]

People don't fill-up the gas tank and leave the filler cap out.

A few mouse clicks to save $300. It's a no-brainer deal.

 

[d2arcturus]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
I have more than 100 posts and I want an X2 proc. While I do play a lot of games, thats not the sole reason for my computers.

Second, it will not be long before there is lots of SMP/SMT software available. You've got to remember that both AMD and Intel are pushing the muti-core chips.

Yes, your OC'ed Venice will cost less and perform better now, but as time goes on and more software gets optimized, the DC is going to continue to pull ahead.

Same reasoning behind my decision to go DC.

 

[Valkerie]

Originally posted by: furballi
People don't fill-up the gas tank and leave the filler cap out.

A few mouse clicks to save $300. It's a no-brainer deal.

Even with a Pentium 4E @ +3 GHz w/HT, you can still do a lot of multitasking.

Someone said in the future as more apps take advantage of dual core, it will be worth it. I think right now, DC is for the enthusiast. Not every PC user has passion for this new kind of technology, as single cores do a great deal of CPU work.
Basically, if you like what it does, get it. If not, a single core isn't going to slow you down a whole lot compared to getting DC.

 

[designit]

Ok lets look at this senario
asuming you have home wireless network
you are in home office and doing a rendering project for your client
your son is in his room skipping homework and playing game on your nework(single pc)
your wife is in kitchen watching a cooking show and wants to download the recipe,
Your mother-in law is in the livingroom and watching a movie on dvd running on your home computer system that you downloaded for her while rendering for your project.
This is real situation and can happen as often as you can imagine.
Now tell me CAN your AMD fx55 handle this?

 

[furballi]

I run one CPU intensive application, browe the web, check my mail, and write with word using an AMD 64 3000 winchester. The system is still very snappy and responsive with 1GB of value ram.

 

[designit]

Originally posted by: furballi
I run one CPU intensive application, browe the web, check my mail, and write with word using an AMD 64 3000 winchester. The system is still very snappy and responsive with 1GB of value ram.

The advantage of dual core would become very clear when you have a network system, office or at home. w/ single cpu you can not access a file if being used by another user at the same time. lets say you have 2 computers in 2 diferent locations and both want to access your dvd file and play. you cant do it. w/ dual you can. I run to this problem at work all the time duing CAD drwaing. whne another person is working on the same drwing file i have to wait until he has finshed.
This is why origionaly dual processors mobo was created for. Now you have single cpu w/ dual core doing the job. When you get into multitasking on network you see why you need dual.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: designit
Ok lets look at this senario
asuming you have home wireless network
you are in home office and doing a rendering project for your client
your son is in his room skipping homework and playing game on your nework(single pc)
your wife is in kitchen watching a cooking show and wants to download the recipe,
Your mother-in law is in the livingroom and watching a movie on dvd running on your home computer system that you downloaded for her while rendering for your project.
This is real situation and can happen as often as you can imagine.
Now tell me CAN your AMD fx55 handle this?

this makes no sense. your router should handle most of the traffic and if you have a dvd on your machine that you are streaming, that will be handled by the hdd and use little cpu. besides you shoudn't be d/l movies, that is illegal

the only thing that is cpu intensive is the rendering

why do i need a wireless network to do that?

 

[w00t]

because there multi-tasking is gonna be alot better and with dual core its gonna bring gaming down a little but its a sacrafice people are willing to take.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: designit

Originally posted by: furballi
I run one CPU intensive application, browe the web, check my mail, and write with word using an AMD 64 3000 winchester. The system is still very snappy and responsive with 1GB of value ram.

The advantage of dual core would become very clear when you have a network system, office or at home. w/ single cpu you can not access a file if being used by another user at the same time. lets say you have 2 computers in 2 diferent locations and both want to access your dvd file and play. you cant do it. w/ dual you can. I run to this problem at work all the time duing CAD drwaing. whne another person is working on the same drwing file i have to wait until he has finshed.
This is why origionaly dual processors mobo was created for. Now you have single cpu w/ dual core doing the job. When you get into multitasking on network you see why you need dual.

sometimes a program will lock the file being edited, the "server" machine is just serving up the file, not doing anything to it. please explain more as what you are saying isn't making sense. the locking of a file would up to the program or db you are using. there are many instances when a db is being used on a single cpu system and mulitple users are using the same file, this particular progam would allow more than 1 user view, edit a file at the same time.

you are saying that only a dual processor machine will allow more than 1 user to use a certain file at any 1 time? if that were the case then thousands of small business would not work because their db server is only single cpu...

 

[Some1ne]

i can't understand this, when you game you are not encoding or doing anything else, but i keep seeing noobs (atleast noobs around here) wanting a DC cpu for a gaming rig. Most games are not smp/smt aware. having used dual processor machines in the past, they only really shine when the software is able to utlilize both cpus, if not they are basically running on 1 processor per program.

I don't think it's quite as simple as that...while most current games are not multithreaded, most predections have them heading that way shortly, so a dual-core chip is a good investment if you want a future-proof machine (although I agree that right now the price premium is a bit too high). Also, just because you are not doing heavy multitasking like multimedia encoding while gaming it doesn't mean that a dual-core processor won't provide any benefits. Most people run things like anti-virus software, IM clients, and firewalls pretty much whenever their PC's are on. Which these aren't compute-intensive tasks, they still utilize the CPU when they are running, which requires context-switching, which is a very high-overhead operation. Having a dual-core chip will help ensure that background applications do not pre-empt the game's thread of execution and will greatly reduce the number of context-switches that are performed on the core that the game is being executed on. Plus, in the future if they decide that they want to do things like encode DVD's while gaming, or run a full system scan, they'll have a system that's actually capable of doing it.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea many of us never turn the pc off pretty much and leave all our sh*t running even when we switch to games. some stuff like azureus do sap some cpu..

 

[Markfw]

If you don't know or can not appreciate the benefits of dual-core or dual cpu, you shouldn't buy one. If you DO, then it kicks single core out the door.

 

[designit]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: designit

Originally posted by: furballi
I run one CPU intensive application, browe the web, check my mail, and write with word using an AMD 64 3000 winchester. The system is still very snappy and responsive with 1GB of value ram.

The advantage of dual core would become very clear when you have a network system, office or at home. w/ single cpu you can not access a file if being used by another user at the same time. lets say you have 2 computers in 2 diferent locations and both want to access your dvd file and play. you cant do it. w/ dual you can. I run to this problem at work all the time duing CAD drwaing. whne another person is working on the same drwing file i have to wait until he has finshed.
This is why origionaly dual processors mobo was created for. Now you have single cpu w/ dual core doing the job. When you get into multitasking on network you see why you need dual.

sometimes a program will lock the file being edited, the "server" machine is just serving up the file, not doing anything to it. please explain more as what you are saying isn't making sense. the locking of a file would up to the program or db you are using. there are many instances when a db is being used on a single cpu system and mulitple users are using the same file, this particular progam would allow more than 1 user view, edit a file at the same time.

you are saying that only a dual processor machine will allow more than 1 user to use a certain file at any 1 time? if that were the case then thousands of small business would not work because their db server is only single cpu...

i am talking about a small office with networking. My office uses individual computers w/ a server that has all the drawing files. but if someone is looking into my compuet, same file i am using, he can not access it. It happens all the time. the data base you are taking about is a different ball game and they dont even use windows OS.
now what i was talikng about was that your home computer and one single computer only w/ dual core, not individual pc's in each rooms.
completely 2 different scenario.

 

[ProAm500]

"If you don't know or can not appreciate the benefits of dual-core or dual cpu, you shouldn't buy one. If you DO, then it kicks single core out the door."



here here to that.....

I have less than 100 posts not becuase im a "noob" ive been on this board for years, but im a reader i dont post much. but with the 3800+ coming out for a decent price (and thats another thing i dont understand is how people complain about the prices, when suckier P4 not that long ago were more than $300 bucks, but thats another can of worms) why not get a dual system now that is somewhat ahead of the curve. Hell, you can make the argument really of saying "Why buy a 64-bit chip, theres nothing to take advantage of it YET..its becuase its better value that will be aroudn for a while.....plus if i can game, encode, do my stuff in winamp 5 which is a system beast, use bittorrent at once, all allllllll for it...

 

[KoolDrew]

I agree, but not everybody uses there computer for mainly just gaming.

 

[designit]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: designit
Ok lets look at this senario
asuming you have home wireless network
you are in home office and doing a rendering project for your client
your son is in his room skipping homework and playing game on your nework(single pc)
your wife is in kitchen watching a cooking show and wants to download the recipe,
Your mother-in law is in the livingroom and watching a movie on dvd running on your home computer system that you downloaded for her while rendering for your project.
This is real situation and can happen as often as you can imagine.
Now tell me CAN your AMD fx55 handle this?

this makes no sense. your router should handle most of the traffic and if you have a dvd on your machine that you are streaming, that will be handled by the hdd and use little cpu. besides you shoudn't be d/l movies, that is illegal

the only thing that is cpu intensive is the rendering

why do i need a wireless network to do that?

what movie website you do your illegal downloading?
you are absurd. I am not talking about breaking the law, maybe you do, not me.
if any you go to sites that you pay for downlds. I don?t use this feature anyway since I have never done it and am not so much a gamer or a movie freak. I was just presenting a scenario. but you instead, starting this none sense accusation. I am new to this site- Please don?t start making it a sour experience for me. Hope you are less blunt in your next post,
thanks

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: designit

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: designit
Ok lets look at this senario
asuming you have home wireless network
you are in home office and doing a rendering project for your client
your son is in his room skipping homework and playing game on your nework(single pc)
your wife is in kitchen watching a cooking show and wants to download the recipe,
Your mother-in law is in the livingroom and watching a movie on dvd running on your home computer system that you downloaded for her while rendering for your project.
This is real situation and can happen as often as you can imagine.
Now tell me CAN your AMD fx55 handle this?

this makes no sense. your router should handle most of the traffic and if you have a dvd on your machine that you are streaming, that will be handled by the hdd and use little cpu. besides you shoudn't be d/l movies, that is illegal

the only thing that is cpu intensive is the rendering

why do i need a wireless network to do that?

what movie website you do your illegal downloading?
you are absurd. I am not talking about breaking the law, maybe you do, not me.
if any you go to sites that you pay for downlds. I don?t use this feature anyway since I have never done it and am not so much a gamer or a movie freak. I was just presenting a scenario. but you instead, starting this none sense accusation. I am new to this site- Please don?t start making it a sour experience for me. Hope you are less blunt in your next post,
thanks

i am just going off of what you said. if there is a place to d/l full dvd movies legally, let me know as i buy mine. i am not trying to be a d!ck, but just being realistic. you may be a noob here but that is not an excuse to making a post that is ridiculous in its cpu requirements.

 

[TSCrv]

thats the problem, people like me are "trying" to see if its worth it

me personally, im savin up for a DC system myself. but more like in a year.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: TSCrv
thats the problem, people like me are "trying" to see if its worth it

me personally, im savin up for a DC system myself. but more like in a year.

in a year i am sure they will be 1/2 the cost and then maybe games will be taking advantage of the duallies

 

[Blain]

I just want a DC CPU because all the cool kids are getting them, and I want to be cool. :laugh:

Sure, dual CPU rigs have been around for a long time and do the same thing... But they're just not cool anymore.

 

[Some1ne]

Sure, dual CPU rigs have been around for a long time and do the same thing...

And also require more specialized mainboards, two times as many HSF units (and twice the associated real-estate), usually special RAM (registered/ECC), and are usually aimed at workstation/server class systems...

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Some1ne

Sure, dual CPU rigs have been around for a long time and do the same thing...

And also require more specialized mainboards, two times as many HSF units (and twice the associated real-estate), usually special RAM (registered/ECC), and are usually aimed at workstation/server class systems...

the ram and all other items would be the same with the exception that you would need an additional hsf, and you can run a dual processor on regular ram - look at the dual xps and also the dual p3s in socket and slot forms. dc is still aimed at workstation/server class systems ->$500+ for a cpu? if that is not workstation/server i don't know what is. most of the time gamers will still be using just one 2.2-2.4GHz a64...

 

[designit]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: designit

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: designit
Ok lets look at this senario
asuming you have home wireless network
you are in home office and doing a rendering project for your client
your son is in his room skipping homework and playing game on your nework(single pc)
your wife is in kitchen watching a cooking show and wants to download the recipe,
Your mother-in law is in the livingroom and watching a movie on dvd running on your home computer system that you downloaded for her while rendering for your project.
This is real situation and can happen as often as you can imagine.
Now tell me CAN your AMD fx55 handle this?

this makes no sense. your router should handle most of the traffic and if you have a dvd on your machine that you are streaming, that will be handled by the hdd and use little cpu. besides you shoudn't be d/l movies, that is illegal

the only thing that is cpu intensive is the rendering

why do i need a wireless network to do that?

what movie website you do your illegal downloading?
you are absurd. I am not talking about breaking the law, maybe you do, not me.
if any you go to sites that you pay for downlds. I don?t use this feature anyway since I have never done it and am not so much a gamer or a movie freak. I was just presenting a scenario. but you instead, starting this none sense accusation. I am new to this site- Please don?t start making it a sour experience for me. Hope you are less blunt in your next post,
thanks

i am just going off of what you said. if there is a place to d/l full dvd movies legally, let me know as i buy mine. i am not trying to be a d!ck, but just being realistic. you may be a noob here but that is not an excuse to making a post that is ridiculous in its cpu requirements.

Intel has a demo showing 4 rooms in a house w/ networking and demo on how and advantage of dual. I basically repeated their demo. If you have any technical issue/problem with it please contact Intel.
below is a link to their customer service.
thanks

http://www.intel.com/feedback.htm?iid=Corporate+Header_Contact&

PS: I think most members here including the product reviews are AMD devotees as it shows here in this forum and the way the reviews are conducted. The review of Intel CPU may superficially looks as though fair and square. But by dissecting the way it is written it gives the reader a tendency to lien toward AMD. This may explain why most viewers here downgrade Intel and hyped up on AMD.
This site is useless to me since I find it bias, and viewers like yourself become belligerent toward another. as soon as positive feedbacks on Intel is mentioned.

There are plenty other websites that are fair and square and best for making the right decision on what to buy-unlike here.

 

[Some1ne]

the ram and all other items would be the same with the exception that you would need an additional hsf, and you can run a dual processor on regular ram - look at the dual xps and also the dual p3s in socket and slot forms.

I was thinking more of the dual-core socket 940/opteron boards, which do require fancy RAM...but who would want a dual P3 or Athlon XP in the days of the Athlon64 and P4/Pentium M? Are there any dual-CPU Athlon64 boards?

dc is still aimed at workstation/server class systems ->$500+ for a cpu?

That's only if you don't count the Pentium dual-core chips. You can get the entry-level one of those for $250 (retail box), which is fairly reasonable. I do agree that the AMD dual-core chips are still priced a bit too high to be accessible.