Pentium 4 3.2Ghz(775) vs A64 3200+ (754) Setups?

[PinchyCM]

How do these two compare?

In specific:

Pentium 4 3.2Ghz (LGA775, 800FSB, 2MB Cache)
Asus P5PE-VM
2x1gb DDR400 @ Dual Channel
eVGA 6800 Vanilla AGP

vs

A64 3200+ (Socket 754)
Chaintech VNF3-250
2x1gb DDR400 @ Single Channel
eVGA 6800 Vanilla AGP

 

[MDE]

What are you going to be using the computer for?

 

[PinchyCM]

Running Vista. Maybe watching some stuff in HD.

 

[bamacre]

There will not be a significant difference between those two setups. One will be a little faster than the other in different situations.

 

[PinchyCM]

How do you think the Intel sytem would run Vista?

On another note, the Intel P4 640s look to be on par with the A64 939s, which I've heard are about 10-15% faster than the A64 754s (which is what I have)... especially with the better memory controller. Confirm/Deny?

It looks like the P4 3.2Ghz is about on par with an A64 939 3400+...

The reason I ask is because I have my hands on a this P4 3.2Ghz and was thinking about putting together a little system around it.

 

[LouPoir]

A P4 3.2 with 2gb will run Vista very well ---

 

[PinchyCM]

Thanks. P4 3.2Ghz it is then.

If you were to put a percentage on it, how much better than an A64 Clawhammer 3200+?

 

[dguy6789]

I would not call it better by any margin. The 939 processors were not even close to 10-15% faster than the 754. More like 1-5% in some scenarios. Both of those machines would perform very closely with the 3200+ beating the P4 most in those close tests most of the time. However, the 3200 would win in games every time and generate less heat with lower power consumption.

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=1884&p=11

Keep in mind, the 3.2Ghz P4 in the benchmarks above is faster than the P4 you are looking at getting.

 

[MDE]

I'd go with the Athlon as long as you aren't doing anything multithreaded (video encoding, etc).

 

[PinchyCM]

That's the thing - I don't really game. I'm really more interested in 2D performance. I already have that a64 system.

I'm being given a P4 3.2Ghz and I have an extra 1GB of DDR 400 with another AGP video card laying around so I was toying with the idea of putting together another system. I'd just need to buy another board and a case.

In the end, I was thinking of having these two setups:

A64 3200+, Chaintech VNF3-250, 1GB DDR 400, Radeon 8500
P4 3.2GHZ, Asus P5PE-VM, 2GB DDR 400, eVGA 6800

I'd just be curious to know what would be the best setup using those parts - I'd use this the "faster" rig to run Vista, watch some HD ripped videos, and that's about it. No gaming.

Speaking of gaming, my nF3/6800 do not agree. I have no idea why - but other people have had problems with it too. I can't even run HL2 at respectable frames. Or CS.

 

[bamacre]

Like I said earlier, the speed difference is not going to be very noticeable, especially if you are not gaming (where the a64 has the biggest advantage).

If I were in your shoes, I'd utilize the P4 but make sure you get a board with an Intel chipset. IMHO, as far as stability is concerned, you can't beat an Intel cpu with an Intel chipset.

 

[bob4432]

are those p4 at that spec a prescott core? i think performance will be nearly =, but i think the a64 setup would put off less heat if that is a consideration. also, like others have stated - 939 vs 754 is nearly =, not anywhere near 10-15%

 

[PinchyCM]

Oh, okay. I must have read wrong then.

I think either way I'm going to build another machine with my free P4. I have the extra ram and a spare AGP card. I have a P3 800 system that's sitting in my office that I should probably replace. HAHA.

I was just torn about which to use in 2D mode.

I'm not debating whether or not to put together a core2 system...