Singel or Duel CPU system ?

[wickedone]

Thinking of Building a new System, Will go with what ever is the best Vidieo card at the time and will do the same for the hard drives set up on Raid 0. This system will run High end Games, Adobe Photo shop, Corel Draw and Auot Cad. Operating System will be Windows XP PRO/ WIN 2K PRO and LinUX. Will I realy see much performance difrence in a Dual CPU system runing these type of apps. Will also hopfuly have the othere 3 computers networked. Thanks for all your good help in this future project.

 

[DARRIN]

I would go with a single cpu. From what I've heard, not many apps or games take advantage of the second cpu. Bragging rights rule though.

 

[Woodchuck2000]

Generally, if you need to ask, go single.
You'll see small improvements in photoshop, but that's about it. Multitasking is where Duallie systems really shine (under 2K/XP, anyway).

 

[Gatsby]

As an owner of a dual system I can say that it doesn't do much for single applications but it does wonders for multitasking.

 

[Sunner]

99.9 percent of users will benefit more from a faster single CPU than two not-quite-as-fast CPU's, or from more RAM, SCSI drives, etc etc.
Basically for most stuff, there are many other things you should look at before looking at SMP.

For the stuff you mentioned, it seems more sensible to think about improving other parts of the system.

Of course since you didn't say what the system will consist of, it's a bit harder to say, if you've already planned to get 4 GB of RAM, a pair of shiny new Cheetah X15.3's, and a WildCat III, then by all means, a dualie system will be peanuts anyways

 

[dullard]

For the next couple of weeks, I'd have to say go with a single CPU system. This is because dual capable CPUs are always a cycle behind single CPUs and at the moment neither AMD nor Intel have a compelling dual capable chip.

AMD: Soon we will be able to get our hands on a 2600+ XP - while the dual capable 2200+ MP lags significantly behind in speed and costs about the same as the 2600+ XP will. Sure going dual 2200+ MPs will give you a speed boost in some programs but for most uses, the speed boost is far from being double. In fact, most programs only get up to 50% speed boost. So that makes the dual 2200+ MP system at roughly 3300+ speed in some programs (the rest will run at 2200+ speed). To me that isn't much faster than the much cheaper 2600+ single CPU system. 2600+ MPs will be out, but expect to wait several months - most likely not until 2003.

Intel: There is a 2.4 GHz Xeon, but I wish you luck in finding it. In reality you often have to settle for the 2.2 GHz Xeon (which is still on a 400 MHz fsb). The 2.8 GHz P4 on 533 MHz fsb will blow away a dual 2.2 GHz Xeon system in many programs. In the few that get a speed boost from dual processors, the 2.8 GHz P4 will be quite competitive with the dual 2.2 GHz Xeon. So I would rather spend less and get the single 2.8 GHz system. However: I expect the 533 MHz Xeons to be released any day now. If Intel goes all out and releases 2.66 GHz or 2.8 GHz Xeons, then I'd buy that instead.


Note: I often use dual CPU systems, my main computer is dual 1.7 GHz Xeon. So they do have advantages and I do recommend them, but the timing just isn't right today. My main program at work gets a 80% to 110% speed boost from going dual (yes it gets more than double the speed in some rare cases). For games, forget dual it won't help. For Photoshop, it will help a lot on a few filters, and do nothing on a lot of filters - so on average I'd expect a 25% speed boost (assuming you use a variety of filters). Honestly I've never used Corel Draw so I cannot tell you if it will be helped. AutoCad expect a 1%-12% speed boost if you only have one AutoCad session running at the same time. Expect a 70% speed boost if you run two at the same time in AutoCad.

 

[wickedone]

Thanks guys for all the quick replies, some very good info here and use to be a meber a long time ago but chnged ISP's several time and forgot my login info, this place rocks for good info and helping otheres out.
Sorry Sunner I guess I was a Little Vag on the hardware specs but that was do to having the cash by next Febuary and not sure what will be the best to use by then, will use 4 GIG of Ram, Hard Drives will most likley be IDE do to the price perfomance ratio of the two SCUSI Drives Seem to be loosing there performance Lead. Vidio Cards will not likly go with somthing like a WILCAT wont have the cash for it but will for the curent card from NVIDIA or ATI . Singel or Dual CPU was realy what I was had a hard time Deciding on scince I only ever used singel CPU's Systems but wanted my next Rig to be able to take full advantage of the Apps I was runing