Intel 640 or 3700+ san diego for "easy multitasking"

[Sandels]

Hello all this is my first post. I am about to build a new system and have a huge problem deciding between an Intel 640 and an AMD 64 3700+ San Diego CPU system.

My current system is a 1700+@2GHz, NF7-Sv2.0,1G ddr,ATI9800pro. What I mostly do with my computer is browse the web, watch movies, chat, download, play...
Now what I really hate about my current system is that if I run Game Spy (I know it sucks) and CIV (my fav game) it goes so easy to 100% CPU usage (and starts to go really slow). I would want a system that would be great in windows and I could have downloads on, brows the web, have game spy on and start and close CIV3 without any problems.
Would be nice also if my girlfriend could play some Sims 2 with great video settings.

So I need a comp that would be great for my kind of multitasking.

I was almost ready to buy this kind of system
Intel 640
Asus P5WD2-Premium
OCZ PC2-4200EB rev2 dual kit
x800XL
Maxtor Diamond

But now I have started to think about this kind of system
3700+ San Diego
DFI Lanparty UT NF4 Ultra-D
*some great mem*
x800XL
Maxtor Diamond

Rest of the stuff I would take from my current system. I know Intel is better for multitasking and AMD for games. But what fascinates me with the san diego is that I could overclock it almost to the speeds of FX55.

My budget would be about 1000-1500?. And I don't want to wait for AMD dual-cores to come out...

help me decide....

 

[imported_Kensai]

AMD. They're still very good chips for multitasking.

 

[DfiDude]

Yup especially when you oc'ing em w00t.

 

[uOpt]

Well, if you have an actual CPU eater in the background then you want hyperthreading or SMP to keep the foreground game or GUI application running smoothly.

I am not convinced your current background stuff need to be 100% CPU, maybe a CPU upgrade helps.

Otherwise a hyperthreaded P4 or an Opteron system will solve the problem. An opteron running your current speed is pretty cheap but you need two and the boards are expensive.

 

[Appledrop]

get the amd, and OC.

 

[skreet]

Either way is fine, right now AMD and Intel are about par with each other.

 

[fstime]

If you go AMD, stay far away from corsair VS.

Also stay for away from maxtor.

Buy a Seagate hard drive. WD is right behind Seagate.

 

[MDE]

I'd wait a bit for Athlon 64 X2s or get a S939 system now with something like a 3000+ and then drop in an X2 when they get cheap.

 

[fatty4ksu]

Go for intel.

Intel>>>>>>>>>>>>AMD

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Stay away from the Maxtor, please. You should be fine either way (AMD or Intel) - depends on if you game more than encode/program/do conent creation or vice versa. I chose intel because I'm more of a programmer (and 3d modeller) than a gamer.

 

[Bozo Galora]

http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2005q2/athlon64-venice/index.x?pg=1

amazingly thorough review of most all top end CPU

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
Well, if you have an actual CPU eater in the background then you want hyperthreading or SMP to keep the foreground game or GUI application running smoothly.

I am not convinced your current background stuff need to be 100% CPU, maybe a CPU upgrade helps.

Otherwise a hyperthreaded P4 or an Opteron system will solve the problem. An opteron running your current speed is pretty cheap but you need two and the boards are expensive.

Not to mention the RAM needed is expensive.

 

[Azsen]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2005q2/athlon64-venice/index.x?pg=1

amazingly thorough review of most all top end CPU

WTF. Look at the picture on that page.

"A close-up look at Venice reveals a surprising layout, with logic on the left and cache on the right"

That looks like a satellite view of some coastal town???

 

[LeoMael]

It is...

 

[FreshFish]

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
Go for intel.

Intel>>>>>>>>>>>>AMD

why?

 

[Azsen]

Originally posted by: LeoMael
It is...

Some kind of joke by the site?

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
Go for intel.

Intel>>>>>>>>>>>>AMD

Ignorance is bliss...

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: Azsen

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2005q2/athlon64-venice/index.x?pg=1

amazingly thorough review of most all top end CPU

WTF. Look at the picture on that page.

"A close-up look at Venice reveals a surprising layout, with logic on the left and cache on the right"

That looks like a satellite view of some coastal town???

Humour is lost on you.

 

[imported_Kensai]

I don't think that's Venice though. I might be wrong.

 

[Azsen]

Originally posted by: Phil
Humour is lost on you.

No, not really. I thought it was quite funny. But I'm wondering if it was intentional on their review or maybe their page got hacked?

 

[Sandels]

It's a satellite view of Venice. It's the 4th pic you get if you search for pictures with the name Venice in google.

 

[Sandels]

Wonder if anyone in here would have changed from a pentium with HT to AMD64. Do you miss HT? Would you take +3700 over 640?

 

[Azsen]

Originally posted by: Sandels
It's a satellite view of Venice. It's the 4th pic you get if you search for pictures with the name Venice in google.

Aha all makes sense now.

 

[sandorski]

Civ 3 is just a slow game, I doubt any hardware will make it fast. Also note that 100% cpu useage is quite meaningless as an indicator.

 

[Sandels]

Originally posted by: sandorski
Civ 3 is just a slow game, I doubt any hardware will make it fast. Also note that 100% cpu useage is quite meaningless as an indicator.

I don't need an upgrade because of civ3. I want overall performance to be alot smoother in windows. So that my antivirus can run in background+ downloads on+ watch a movie+brows the web all at same time.

Would love to see how a 640@4GHz would do compared with a +3700(san diego)@2,7GHz in one of those multitasking test used when comparing dual-cores.