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HELP- pls recommend a processor

Q

quanttrade99z

Member
Hey everyone!
Please save me...i've been tyring to decide on a processor for the last 3 days and need some help! I can't decide by myself.

Here is what I use the computer for:
normal office tasks, but lots of stuff run at the same time

EXCEL (10+ spreadsheets open at once)
WORD (5+ docs open at once)
OUTLOOK (20+ emails open at once)
ADOBE (10 docs open at once)
EXPORER (5 web pages open at once)
ITUNES
IM

I run all this stuff at the same time and which around between applications all the time.
I hate it when the computer lags...I want it to have fast refresh speed and a minimum of hanging. (also do some minor gaming...warcraft, etc).

Which CPU should I get? Do I need dual core? AMD or Intel (cheaper dual core)
Please make a specific recommendation...as specific as possible...I can spend as much $$$ as necessary to best fit the above requirements (really no limit)...but don't want to waste any.

Help Help Help!!!!
quanttrade99z
 
Well, with all your multitasking you would probably be best off with a dual core X2 and at least a gig of ram.
 
Depending on your budget, work your way through the X2 then the pentium D until you reach an amount you're willing to spend.
 
Originally posted by: quanttrade99z
Hey everyone!
Please save me...i've been tyring to decide on a processor for the last 3 days and need some help! I can't decide by myself.

Here is what I use the computer for:
normal office tasks, but lots of stuff run at the same time

EXCEL (10+ spreadsheets open at once)
WORD (5+ docs open at once)
OUTLOOK (20+ emails open at once)
ADOBE (10 docs open at once)
EXPORER (5 web pages open at once)
ITUNES
IM

I run all this stuff at the same time and which around between applications all the time.
I hate it when the computer lags...I want it to have fast refresh speed and a minimum of hanging. (also do some minor gaming...warcraft, etc).

Which CPU should I get? Do I need dual core? AMD or Intel (cheaper dual core)
Please make a specific recommendation...as specific as possible...I can spend as much $$$ as necessary to best fit the above requirements (really no limit)...but don't want to waste any.

Help Help Help!!!!
quanttrade99z
Click to expand...

Either an Intel 820 platform or if you wait 2 weeks get the X2 3800...both will be about the same for the system (the 820 is cheaper, but the mobos are more expensive so it ends up being less than $100 difference). The X2 will give you better performance...
 
That you guys for your advice.

What do you think of this combo? Please let me know if I should change anything.
List below

[will use old video and CD drive for now]

Thanks!
quanttrade

Update
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8N-SLI Deluxe
$160.99


Antec Performance I P180 Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: P180
$135.00


Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3200826AS 200GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3200826AS
$111.00


Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model KVR400X64C3AK2/2G - Retail
Model #: KVR400X64C3AK2/2G
$199.87

Antec NeoPower ATX 480W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: NeoPower
$25.00 Mail-in Rebate
$114.00
-$15.00 Instant
$99.00



AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4200BVBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA4200BVBOX
$549.00


 
For the few extra bucks you'd probably be better off getting the x2 4400+, the additional cache may be of benefit to you.
 
Looks good ! I think that P180 comes with a PSU doesn;t it ? If so, what are you going to do with it ?
 
Don't think the P180 has a PS. But I would recomend a stronger PS if your going to be overclocking, I think that one only has 18a on the 12v. Overkill on PS is always the way to go when overclocking.
 
That's a nice system you configured...
Old video? Is it by chance a PCI-E videocard? If not you'll need one for that motherboard. I'd recommend getting a psu with at least 450 watts and decent amperage on the 12v rail. Dual cores are power hogs, and it's better to over estimate with psu wattage than be under and have to replace it.
 
Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Don't think the P180 has a PS. But I would recomend a stronger PS if your going to be overclocking, I think that one only has 18a on the 12v. Overkill on PS is always the way to go when overclocking.
Click to expand...

It has 18 amps on one 12V rail and 15 amps on the 2nd 12V rail. That PSU will be just fine.
 
What are the amd for combined rails? I know that sometimes its not just as simple as adding 18+12.
 
Originally posted by: thegimp03
That's a nice system you configured...
Old video? Is it by chance a PCI-E videocard? If not you'll need one for that motherboard. I'd recommend getting a psu with at least 450 watts and decent amperage on the 12v rail. Dual cores are power hogs, and it's better to over estimate with psu wattage than be under and have to replace it.
Click to expand...

Actually, the X2 CPUs use less power than the single core P4s...
 
U dont even need the X2 any modern CPU will handle that. However I would say at least 2*1Gb of RAM. As U are using your machine its mot multitasking that will be your bottleneck but swapping. More RAM and fast HDDs is what U need. Id look into a RAID 5 solution or a RAID 1+0 solution of Maxtor DiamondMax's (the 16 m cache variante) or Hitachi 80 Gb (60 USD/HDD) SATA-2's (dont remember the name). That will give U both data security and swap-peed.
 
You didn't mention gaming as one of your tasks. There is a absolutely no point in getting a SLI Board. You should get a 10,000 rpm raptor though, youll notice a big difference than with a 7200 rpm HD.
 
Ok, going against the grain here...

I'm on my work PC, 23 Windows open, Mozilla with 83 emails open, IE 10 windows, word 5 docs, excel 5 spreadsheets, MS photo editor, WMP 9, power archiver, netscape...

The machine is not really slowing down because they are all loading into memory.

This is a 1.4Ghz Athlon Box with 512MB memory.

None of your apps are CPU intensive and would really benefit from dual core, as you have one application getting nearly all the cpu time if you are actively doing something.

Perhaps you just need a CPU/Memory upgrade opposed to a platform upgrade?
 
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