The real difference between Xeon and a P4

[tivonut]

Is it worth it to spend the extra $ on a Xeon processor. I would be using it for my desktop to play games and process dvd, ie: backing them up other dvds. Is it worth it?

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

HT (for current procs slower than 3.06Ghz) and SMPability.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

The Xeon has extra cache and increased t&a, they are generally more stable and are better at crunching arithmetic procedures better than the p4 counterparts, if you're buying a cheaper processor $20 extra or so would be worth the difference, otherwise get a plain old p4. and multi proc support of course.

 

[Elkcaps]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
The Xeon has extra cache and increased t&a, they are generally more stable and are better at crunching arithmetic procedures better than the p4 counterparts, if you're buying a cheaper processor $20 extra or so would be worth the difference, otherwise get a plain old p4. and multi proc support of course.[/q}

More T&A is always better

 

[Dahak]

Another thing that you have to take into consideration is the motherboard. the P4s fit into a socket 478 where as the xeons are a socket 603. that and most motherboard geared for xeons are designed for highend workstations and servers, manliy having intergrated lan,scsi, vidoe. You can get some that are not fully intergrated as this but they are a little more difficult to locate and not quite as feature rich as desktop board designed for P4 or Athlon chip



Dahak

 

[zsouthboy]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
The Xeon has extra cache and increased t&a, they are generally more stable and are better at crunching arithmetic procedures better than the p4 counterparts, if you're buying a cheaper processor $20 extra or so would be worth the difference, otherwise get a plain old p4. and multi proc support of course.

Really? It is more stable and better at crunching arithmetic procedures, just because its a xeon? thought they were just p4's with more cache + HT...