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Must...Resist...X2 Hype

I

imported_X

Senior member
It seems everyone is in a frenzy about the soon-to-be-released X2s. All of the enthusiasm is contagious, and I keep having to remind myself why I don't think getting an X2 is a great idea for me right now:

1. For the same premium, I can get a much faster single core chip

2. I don't multitask

3. There are no games available that can take advantage of X2, and won't be for another year

If I'm missing something, please share. I understand why people that multitask heavily or use current applications optimized for dual core would be on board, but is there any reason I should go for it at this stage?
 
1. For the same premium, I can get a much faster single core chip
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What??
The X2 core speed is premium already. You can get FX series for the same price; but dual core is definitely better. The single core solution is not a lot faster than the dual core. You can tell from the frequencies, I wold sacrifice 200Mhz for dual core. 200Mhz is maximum 5% difference I don't care. But I know when I am scanning virus, encoding videos, etc I can still play game.

Also you can manually assign which process handled by which core using Widnows task manager. Imagine setting all the background services, processes to one core and next core solely for your application, e.g. games; That solely would yield you more performance than using a faster single core.

2. I don't multitask
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Everyone would multitask. That's a fact. You might say you don't do heavy multitasking.
But even now when my computer is playing music, running MSN, BT, Firefox; the CPU usage is already hitting 20%. Watching Divx, Xvid video have 70-90% of my CPU. If I have antivirus, winrar running as well it would be slow to death.

If suddenly I decided to load photoshop or acrobat reader which take ages to load when PC is busy; I would be saved if there's another core helping

3. There are no games available that can take advantage of X2, and won't be for another year
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Soon there will be applications taking advantage of dual cores since they are the next big thing. Another year you're right. A year is quick. I don't think you are going to pay for $500 for a single core CPU and throw it in the bin next year.
Hey you pay $500 for a chip and you expect it to satisfy you only for a year? That's out of deal for me.
If you have a $500 dual core you can still be happy next year when those games are out.
 
As Flava Flav would say, "Don't believe the Hype!"

But that being said, if you're upgrading or purchasing now, I think a X2 would be a good choice based on what AnnihilatorX has mentioned. If you can wait, probably by end of year starting next, new X2 model's will be out at hopefully lower prices making it affordable to more folks.
 
Do you believe that a game with minimal system overhead would run slower with an FX than with an X2? I think the answer is pretty clear. For that little 200Mhz performance advantage that you mention, AMD is charging an extra $300 (under X2).

So why should I go for an X2 if I don't plan to multitask? I don't run music, MSN, BT, Firefox, Divx, etc. when I game. Again, I'm not suggesting that X2 is bad for people that do multitask. I'm just wondering why *I* should get it now, when all I care about is raw game performance.

You're right that a year from now games will start to take advantage of dual core. But I would be foregoing a nice performance advantage in the games I will play until that time. Also, by the time games are optimized for X2, I should be able to get it for a lot cheaper.
 
Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
As Flava Flav would say, "Don't believe the Hype!"

But that being said, if you're upgrading or purchasing now, I think a X2 would be a good choice based on what AnnihilatorX has mentioned. If you can wait, probably by end of year starting next, new X2 model's will be out at hopefully lower prices making it affordable to more folks.
Click to expand...

That would be my suggestion too.
 
I'm planning to do a total system upgrade when R520/G70 are released, so don't have the luxury of sitting on my current CPU (a humble 1800+) until the next generation of X2s come out.

Am I crazy here for not seeing the pull of X2 for people in my situation? It doesn't make much sense to me unless a) you heavily multitask, b) you use applications already optimized for dual core, or c) you don't plan to upgrade your cpu for at least two more years.
 
Well my analysis was solely based on the assumption that you are going to get the top FX San Diego processor which is around $500 now.

If you are like me, who'd forgo X2 right now because of of the price; and get a cheap $200 Venice, then I agree with you.

Venice 3500+ should have a similar serial task performance with the X2. X2 is 200Mhz slower, but that wouldn't be a lot frame rates depending on your GPU. So if X2 is $250 I'd get it instead of a Venice.
 
I think you are in the minority. Majority of people would compromise a little gaming performance to be able to get incredible performance when not gaming, i.e. encoding video while using photoshop, folding, playing itunes.

And when the R520/G70 are released, you're going to pay a huge premium based on historical trends of newly released video cards.
 
Originally posted by: X
I'm planning to do a total system upgrade when R520/G70 are released, so don't have the luxury of sitting on my current CPU (a humble 1800+) until the next generation of X2s come out.

Am I crazy here for not seeing the pull of X2 for people in my situation? It doesn't make much sense to me unless a) you heavily multitask, b) you use applications already optimized for dual core, or c) you don't plan to upgrade your cpu for at least two more years.
Click to expand...

than just get a venice or SD on a skt 939 and upgrade when the prices come down. i'm certainly not jumping in yet but it will be my next upgrade if the g70/520 doesn't blow me away.
 
You're right. This is not a mass market CPU (yet). Unless you depend on multi-threaded apps then spend the extra money elsewhere (fast video card, more RAM, better components in general). If you don't need dual core right now, don't get it. It will be a while before games make full use of it and by then prices will be lower.
 
Thanks all for the feedback. What is funny is that even though I realize it makes no logical sense for me to jump on the X2 bandwagon right now, I still feel the siren call pulling at me...
 
Well, if you don't feel you can take advantage of dual core right now, I wouldn't spend the money either. I would just get something that you know will work for you for 1-2 years before going dual core. I am planning on getting one, but not just for the reason that they're excellent performers in games. I do heavy creation (I'm doing an advertising major concentration in creative design) and I like the idea of not having to run over and use the school's power mac labs at their hours to edit video and use photoshop. I also happen to not like upgrading my processor often (I bought my 3.2c almost the day it came out as well). So, combine my work with games that will be evolving into my processor while still performing at top level now, it just makes sense for me.
 
I will be buying the X2 because I primarily use my PC for Cubase SX3 (a professional recording application). It is multi-threaded and will run beautifully with dual core.
 
whatever the word beautiful means..i agree.

"What is funny is that even though I realize it makes no logical sense for me to jump on the X2 bandwagon right now, I still feel the siren call pulling at me..."
I think we all do 🙂
And I can only tell for myself, but i have my own feeling for pricing of computer parts in my mind. So whatever these guys throw at me, i will surely like it but will only buy it when its available for the money I think its worth. I know its egoistic, and I know the X2 are better than just a single-core, dont know how much exactly but thats ok. Conclusion: I buy the mofo for $300! AmD? u hear that? maybe ill visit there fabs, cuz they are here in germany...maybe they have an outlet store 😉
 
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