Dualie AMD or just a fast P4

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: Cerb
http://www.2cpu.com/Hardware/Thunder_i860/6.html

Dual 2000+ (The K7D Master-L got 5/5 CPUs from 2cpu.com) vs. dual 2.0GHz Xeons. The dual AMD clearly beats it using DivX, and slightly beats it with TMPGEnc. Note that in several revies they compare the 2.4GHz Xeons to 2100+ MPs. On top of that, XPs and MPs are pretty cheap (you can mod XPs to work as MPs), as are the mobos. However, the P4 3GHz 800MHz is quite fast, but no apples to apples comparisons for it that I know of.
Dually vs. dually, the AMD wins for encoding. Against a single faster CPU...?

Thank you for pointing that out on something that is about 8 months old. Since then almost all AV software has had SSE2 optimizations and clearly smoke DP MP's, not to mention a faster 533FSB.

MasterTech: thanks for the clarification.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: Idontcare
Having both, I can tell you I will never go dual cpu again unless it becomes the mainstream part of the market.

Single CPU systems (representing the majority of the market) benefit from broader compatibility testing, quicker turnaround on bios and software revisions hitting the web, and faster hardware components (ram, cpu) coming out sooner rather than later.

It's simply not worth the cost in comparison to saving the cash up front, by a single cpu system now and wait 6 months, and update the CPU/video/ram or some such in your system. Performance at time zero may be better for a duallie, but in the long run your total integrated experience for the same budget will be superior with the a single-cpu system combined with hardware refreshes.

My argument is meaningless if you are willing to spend the extra money for upgrading your duallie just as often, so I'm really talking about price versus performance.

I've gone single and dual Intel, single and dual AMD, and in both cases with the dual systems I found my investments depreciated a hell of a lot faster than the single cpu systems.

Just my opinion, but one based on experience.

The majority of the depreciation is in the CPU's, Tyan S2460's are still selling for nearly what I paid for mine 18 months ago. The CPU's, on the other hand, have plummeted - When I originally bought the board I used two 1200 MHz TBirds. Later I upgraded with two 1800+'s - $300 for the two CPU's. When I sold the set the CPU's were worth 1/3 what I had paid for them.

Overall I was impressed at how well the system held it's value, I was able to sell it & switch to a high-end P4 motherboard, CPU, and good DDR (at the peak of it's price, too) for no money out of pocket.

Viper GTS

They *might* run if you unlock them, but they also might melt the atx connector

 

[DTSS]

Originally posted by: mastertech01
If you plan on loading the system heavily the P4 may be your better bet. I have 4 dual Athlon machines and for general usage they are great, but under heavy loads they get VERY hot. Unless you know you can control heat within the case very well you may want to steer clear. I wouldnt overclock the P4 high either as they arent very heat tolerant at high overclock from my past experience under heavy load. Where a typical Athlon may run normally at 50C a P4 tends to have lots of problems near that temp and over.

This is just my personal experience and may not reflect for everyone. I live in a hot climate area as well.

 

[ViRGE]

Tom's hardware has some very recent benches comparing several different Athlons to several different P4's under XMPEG/Divx(5.0.5); the P4 2.4 is significantly behind the 2600+. To spice things up a bit, they also have a slightly older article(1 year or so) comparing different chips under XMPEG/Divx(5.0), among which is a comparison of DP systems. The dual 2000+ was 65% faster than the single 2000+. Extrapolate numbers if you'd like, but I think it's safe to say that the dual Athlon will beat a single 2.4ghz P4.

 

[Remedy]

Virge those links you posted are very interesting. I have access to a SiS655 board and a Celeron 2Ghz. I was looking at this link here figured I could get by with a celly oc'd without spending anything. I found this small BM to be of light as well.

 

[solofly]

The problem I have with dual AMD setup is the fact that's very much outdated. Only DDR266 support and so on...

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

Originally posted by: solofly
The problem I have with dual AMD setup is the fact that's very much outdated. Only DDR266 support and so on...

True, just officially however. Wait for the A64's

 

[Diable]

Originally posted by: SexyK
You guys need to read his post.

My main priority is a good DivX (Vdub) encoding speed,

The P4 absolutely smokes even dual XP's in media encoding. It's no contest in bang for the buck and upgradeability. Single P4C is the way to go here.

If you uses the crappy settings and apps Anand and Tom use in there benchmarks (no resize filiter and Xmpeg) then a P4 is faster BUT if you use Vdub/Avisynth (like GGabus does) and a bicubic resize filiter a dual MP system is faster. Check out HardwareReview's 2600MP review (link, scroll done towards the bottem of the page) to see how a 3GHz P4 compares to a dualie AMD system in real world test.

GGabus, as far as I know Tyan's MPX boards don't support cpu's above the 1900MP. I would get a MSI K7D Lan or Iwill's MPX board if you can find it. NewEgg has the K7D Lan for $195.

 

[jacktesterson]

I would go with Dual Via 800 MHz processors on a Tyan board. they are wickedly fast @ encoding media..



Intel is garbage. Remember that

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

Originally posted by: AMDHardcoreFan

Intel is garbage. Remember that

 

[Remedy]

GGabus, as far as I know Tyan's MPX boards don't support cpu's above the 1900MP.

That's incorrect. Tyan Tiger MPX 4-M is AMD's(AMD says this themselves) number 1 recommended board for AthlonMP's of 2800+. You're thinking of the TigerMP with no 12V assitance. That board AFAIK has been discontinued and burried by Tyan for 12months now.

 

[NFS4]

I'd go the P4 Route with an i875P board.

I'm running a 2.4C at 3.12Ghz and it will hit 3.2GHz if I mess around a bit more, but I'm content right now with my current speed. Memory is running 5:4 at 408MHz.

Right now, the 2.4C retail is $187 shipped at GoogleGear.

Another thing to think of is that the i875P will support the first gen Prescott CPUs...so you can be current and up to date all the way until the Socket-T Prescotts are released. And resale value is another biggie for Intel. My old 2.4B is still going for 150-160 on eBay.

 

[Remedy]

.

 

[solofly]

Originally posted by: NFS4
Another thing to think of is that the i875P will support the first gen Prescott CPUs...

Will the i865PE chispset support Prescott as well?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: solofly

Originally posted by: NFS4
Another thing to think of is that the i875P will support the first gen Prescott CPUs...

Will the i865PE chispset support Prescott as well?

AFAIK, yes

 

[sharkeeper]

Intel is garbage. Remember that

Garbage remarks like that will get you banned! :|

There is nothing wrong with AMD or Intel. I like both. I wouldn't compare a dual AMD board to an Intel P4. I have compared both and a "lowly" MP 2400+ beat the pants off an Intel P4 3.06GHz HT at would I do. Obviously, the gamer, 3dMarkwhore, etc. will be much happier with the Intel board. Your mileage will always vary, but Intel and AMD are different roads so one must remember that. It won't matter what road you take if you're riding in the short bus!

-DAK-

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

Originally posted by: shuttleteam

Intel is garbage. Remember that

Garbage remarks like that will get you banned! :|

There is nothing wrong with AMD or Intel. I like both. I wouldn't compare a dual AMD board to an Intel P4. I have compared both and a "lowly" MP 2400+ beat the pants off an Intel P4 3.06GHz HT at would I do. Obviously, the gamer, 3dMarkwhore, etc. will be much happier with the Intel board. Your mileage will always vary, but Intel and AMD are different roads so one must remember that. It won't matter what road you take if you're riding in the short bus!

-DAK-

Banned? Whatever. It's his opinion, and he's not posting an Intel VS AMD thread here.

 

[sharkeeper]

Banned? Whatever. It's his opinion, and he's not posting an Intel VS AMD thread here.

I'm just making a point as this individual frequents threads like this with one sentence remarks and adds no useful input. Much like GUTB, INFORMATION, and whatever other aliases this pro Intel individual used.

-DAK-

 

[solofly]

Originally posted by: Jmmsbnd007

Originally posted by: shuttleteam

Intel is garbage. Remember that

Garbage remarks like that will get you banned! :|

There is nothing wrong with AMD or Intel. I like both. I wouldn't compare a dual AMD board to an Intel P4. I have compared both and a "lowly" MP 2400+ beat the pants off an Intel P4 3.06GHz HT at would I do. Obviously, the gamer, 3dMarkwhore, etc. will be much happier with the Intel board. Your mileage will always vary, but Intel and AMD are different roads so one must remember that. It won't matter what road you take if you're riding in the short bus!

-DAK-

Banned? Whatever. It's his opinion, and he's not posting an Intel VS AMD thread here.

It wouldn?t matter either way. It?s obvious the statement is incorrect.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: shuttleteam

Banned? Whatever. It's his opinion, and he's not posting an Intel VS AMD thread here.

I'm just making a point as this individual frequents threads like this with one sentence remarks and adds no useful input. Much like GUTB, INFORMATION, and whatever other aliases this pro Intel individual used.

-DAK-

I think you got it the other way around. He's actually an AMD fanatic.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: shuttleteam

Intel is garbage. Remember that

Garbage remarks like that will get you banned! :|

There is nothing wrong with AMD or Intel. I like both. I wouldn't compare a dual AMD board to an Intel P4. I have compared both and a "lowly" MP 2400+ beat the pants off an Intel P4 3.06GHz HT at would I do. Obviously, the gamer, 3dMarkwhore, etc. will be much happier with the Intel board. Your mileage will always vary, but Intel and AMD are different roads so one must remember that. It won't matter what road you take if you're riding in the short bus!

-DAK-

Very well said, I would have said almost the same thing. I have been saying for quite some time now ever since I really learned the architectural differences between AMD's and Intel's CPU's that AMD and Intel each have their own place in life. Its kind of like one of Aristotles quotes in which he states that each government has its own place and that no one government will work everywhere. Just like that, I believe that it also applies to AMD cpus and Intel 's. Both have die hard supporters which I will leave out of this. Currently, Intel has the mid range to high end system market value because of their new "C" processors. AMD has the lower end because that is where their price/performance ratio shines like none other. One thing to note is that what I have said applies only to the user who knows more about computers than the average person. The average person will want into a Best Buy, seeing 10 computer with Intel CPU's and 2 with AMD cpu's within their price range. Starting off, chances are 10 of 12 for intel. What is that, like 84% chance or something?

This can also apply to the dual processor market, but comparing a single cpu system to a dual cpu system among many applicatios can be hard. in cases where the program is optimized for only one cpu, Intel will win in this case, but if it is designed for dual processing, then AMD will win in THIS case.

There isn't going to be one decisive winner because of the range of applications.

And as said by shuttle team, saying one liners about how Company A sucks, is useless. Its complete flaim bait and won't get you anywhere in life. If you go apply for a job and say I want to work. Then they ask for your educational history and you answer "Yes," they aren't really going to care and just let you leave. You're expected to back things up with reasons, another thing Aristotle introduced.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey
S2460's can't use over 1800+ or 1900+'s (don't remember which).

I have a dual duron 1.3 system with this board and it's great, but I do lots of multitasking, so that's why it's good for me. If you just want to do ONE thing at a time, and do that ONE thing really fast, then the p4 would be better. If you want to do that one thing *pretty* fast, and still have a usable system (well, as long as you disks and memory aren't taking too much of a beating ), then go with dual amd.

I have a 2460 too. You have to be careful with the ATX power connector. For whatever reason, Tyan didn't put an additional connector on the board, so all of the +5V goes through the main ATX connector. There are quite a few reports of the connector burning out. There is a mod that you can do to fix it.

That said, I've had mine for more than a year running 1800+s, and it's great.

As for the usefulness of dual processors, it entirely depends. I like being able to run multiple applications smoothly at the same time. If I'm encoding an MP3, I can use GIMP, or if I'm compiling something, I can watch a movie with no skipping. This isn't useful for some people, and I don't really *need* it, but it's nice.

For media encoding, I'd go with the Pentium system. Is a dual Xeon out of the question? That way you can have the best of both worlds.