Pentium D 840 -OR- Pentium 4 3.8HT?

[phaxmohdem]

Well, its looking like the rig I built for my boss at school may not pan out. I had built a BOXX system with Dual Opteron 248's and all sorts of cool stuff. Unfortunately I have just learned that while we could purchase this nice AMD system, the schools computing office (which is a joke) would not support the system. OUr department would be on our own... (WHich is not a problem while I'm here, but they are thinking of the future when I am graduated and gone).

THis leaves the option of Gateway, or Gateway. THis is the only company our school deals with, and the only way to ensure prolonged support should something happen to the computer. THe question is... If I have to go this route, I"ll be configuring a E-6500 System, and was wondering whether to go the Pentium D 840 Route (3.2GHz Dual Core) or a Single Core 3.8GHz model? The Comp will be used for photoshop, video editing and web design.

Gaw I hate limited options! Especially at this stage in the CPU game.

EDIT: IT is official now, just talked to my boss, Gateway is the final answer.

EDIT: Here are the other components I"m thinking of including with the chose system:

CPU: P-D 840 or Pentium 3.8GHz
RAM: 2GB DDR-2 533
HDD: 400GB SATA
Sound: Built In
Video: Geforce 6600G 128MB (Yes thats what Gateway's site says... whatever a 6600G is)
Optical: 16x DL DVD-RW + 16X DVD-ROM

 

[Viditor]

I feel for you...regardless of whether it's an AMD or Intel system, the only company I would hate to deal with less than Dell is Gateway! I just helped a friend go through 275 used Gateway boxes, and only about 25 of them had anything useful inside...and only 8 of those still had a functioning mobo.

 

[Markfw]

840D I hate to say. You can use the dual-cores, and total will be faster. Will they et you get an aftermarket HSF ? That thing is a flamethrower, and it will throttle if it gets warm, so a nice Big Typhoon will stop that ! (if it fits in the Dell box) I have heard that the stock Dell's can throttle when the ambient gets a little warm.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Well I the 2 LCD monitors are being ordered from Newegg for this rig, so I could write a nice HSF into the deal. I was wondering if stock cooling would suffice. This compy will be crammed in a room w/ no windows, measuring 5 foot x 10 foot roughly. Would the Big Typhoon be the only option for HSF on this sucker? What about an XP-90 or something?

 

[AkumaX]

well, it probably won't be a GT...

i hope Gateway knows how to cool those things!

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Dude your gettin a Cow-puter

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Well I the 2 LCD monitors are being ordered from Newegg for this rig, so I could write a nice HSF into the deal. I was wondering if stock cooling would suffice. This compy will be crammed in a room w/ no windows, measuring 5 foot x 10 foot roughly. Would the Big Typhoon be the only option for HSF on this sucker? What about an XP-90 or something?

If it fits in the case, the big typoon is WAY better for cooling than an XP90 (I have both, the big typhoon is on my 820D, the XP90's are on my X2's)

 

[phaxmohdem]

Also Mark.... How loud is this Big Typhoon you speak of? This will be on top of the desk, and I really don't want to be sitting next to a "weedeater" for hours on end.

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Also Mark.... How loud is this Big Typhoon you speak of? This will be on top of the desk, and I really don't want to be sitting next to a "weedeater" for hours on end.

Dead Silent. THe 120 that comes with it only spins at 1300rpm tops.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Also Mark.... How loud is this Big Typhoon you speak of? This will be on top of the desk, and I really don't want to be sitting next to a "weedeater" for hours on end.

Quiet as an XP90 ! Check the reviews on it !

 

[phaxmohdem]

Cool thanks, I'll definately look into that. I left a message to for the Gateway sales support rep asking him to call me back so I could ask about the heatsink. I also want to ask him if using an aftermarket HS/fan will void any kind of warranty(s) on the unit... since unfortunately I have to deal with that aspect too.

 

[Markfw]

Make sure it will fit before you get it, its a monster ! If not the SI-120 would be my second choice.

 

[phaxmohdem]

It's a mid tower chassis

http://www.gateway.com/products/gconfig/proddetails.asp?seg=ed&system_id=e6500d

My guess is that the PS will be fairly close to the CPU socket in this type of enclosure.

 

[AkumaX]

FWIW, i had a spare Zalman FanMate2 and used it on my Big Typhoon, at max setting it outputted at about 1200prm, and suprising was noticably quieter than 1300rpm. i also have to agree with other sources that the 120mm fan is definitely not 16dBa, probably around 20-25dBa

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
It's a mid tower chassis

http://www.gateway.com/products/gconfig/proddetails.asp?seg=ed&system_id=e6500d

My guess is that the PS will be fairly close to the CPU socket in this type of enclosure.

Those Gateways are kinda interesting.
They are actually BTX layouts, & don't have a HSF (unless they changed the design since i last checked).
They have a 120mm fan blowing from the front of the case through a plactic funnel over a massive ugly aluminum heatsink.
Frankly, i can't see the cooling being all that good, but i guess it can't be too bad if they're using it for nearly all their PCs now.


Oh, & get the Pentium D.

Sure the 3.8 GHz would be killer fast, but a dual core will be much better for what you're doing.

Oh, also, even if the TTBT does fit it the case (i think it actually would), you'd have to do some case modding, since there's no airflow vent on the side of the case.
With that case layout, the air only goes front to back; i'm sure there are no side outputs IIRC.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Thanks n7 for that comment. I'll go ahead and draw up the proposal with the Pentium D in it. I think I'll just wait and see how the stock cooling does in this system. And My guess is I won't even be seeing this comp for quite some time as it has to jump through all the hoops and BS associated with purchasing something through the University.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Quick update: Just got a call from the Gateway sales rep. He said it was infact a BTX case, and said I shouldn't experience it throttling or overheating Didn't sound like he knew too much about the system/cpu though

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Quick update: Just got a call from the Gateway sales rep. He said it was infact a BTX case, and said I shouldn't experience it throttling or overheating Didn't sound like he knew too much about the system/cpu though

ROFL of course he'd say that I doubt he'd even know what throttling is

Nah actually, i think the cooling layout they have works pretty well.
When we first got them in at work i was like WTF , but then i realized, ah, this is what BTX looks like.
It's actually a very decent design IMO.

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: n7

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Quick update: Just got a call from the Gateway sales rep. He said it was infact a BTX case, and said I shouldn't experience it throttling or overheating Didn't sound like he knew too much about the system/cpu though

ROFL of course he'd say that I doubt he'd even know what throttling is

Nah actually, i think the cooling layout they have works pretty well.
When we first got them in at work i was like WTF , but then i realized, ah, this is what BTX looks like.
It's actually a very decent design IMO.

Yeah, dell uses them in their newer optiplexes. Only thing that got me was that the cases open on the right side instead of the left...