P4 1.6a or P4 1.9 not O/C

[Tinimir]

I am planning on upgrading my system soon and I am looking at a P4 1.6a or P4 1.9. The price is about the same. If I am not planning on O/C is the 512K or the faster CPU better?

 

[Mikki]

I would NOT get a non-Northwood, period. The faster cache alone is worth it.

My three cents...

 

[jaybee]

Go for the 1.6A. I think it will be faster (depends on the app), but it will definitely run cooler and should therefore be quieter. All around a better deal. If you want to see the benefits of the larger cache in different applications, there are loads of benchmarks of a 2.0 vs a 2.0A here.

jaybee

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: jaybee
Go for the 1.6A. I think it will be faster (depends on the app), but it will definitely run cooler and should therefore be quieter. All around a better deal. If you want to see the benefits of the larger cache in different applications, there are loads of benchmarks of a 2.0 vs a 2.0A here.

jaybee

The 1.6A is probably about the same speed as the 1.9 with everything considered. However, despite the fact that the 1.6A runs cooler, that alone doesn't make it "quieter" ... it all depends on what kind of HSF you are using.

Also, this isn't a clear comparaison of same-speed CPU's with different cache sizes, there's a 300 MHz difference here.

With that said, I'd still recommend the 1.6A and a good motherboard. It's better, cooler, and once you wake up and realize how easy and risk-free it is to overclock it, even 500MHz (to 2.13 Ghz, which is almost a 'sure thing'), it will KILL the 1.9 P4.

 

[jaybee]

As I understand it, the retail hsf is a temperature-controlled unit. Since the 1.6a runs cooler, it will be quieter with the retail hsf. And you're right about the benchmarks -- they don't compare the two cpus mentioned. Since we don't have a link to that comparison, looking at the 2.0 vs 2.0a is the best we can do. What those benchmarks will show is how the 512k cache affects performance in different apps. So if Tinimir sees that the larger cache has little effect (or the opposite) in the apps he is concerned with, that can help his purchase decision.

Just my $.02.
jaybee

 

[SupermanCK]

1.6A would be the right choice if you can still get one.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: SupermanCK
1.6A would be the right choice if you can still get one.

Yup. As for the retail being temperature controlled, it's definately not the case for the 1.6A (I have purchased a few and they're fixed at about 2800rpm). I'm not sure about the 1.9, so maybe that one is temperature controlled, however I'd assume that a uPGA Socket 478 P4 1.9 would use the same, or similar cooling to Northwoods (the massive HSF and 2800 rpm fan).

 

[Wingznut]

Why not go for a P4-1.8a? Most places have them priced only ~$6 more than a P4-1.6a.