Thinking about building a new computer

[Geekling]

I'm an AMD fan. But this computer will be used for many things. I will be running many programs at one time.

I've always heard intel is better for multi-tasking....Is this still true today?

 

[Continuity27]

Describe "many programs". Is this a game + encoding 3 things + compiling a program + etc... or more like playing a game, running winamp, IE, Azureus, IRC etc... if its more like the latter, they will both do what you want... if its more like the former, neither will do what you want.

Seriously though, the P4 will multitask better assuming what you're doing is many intensive applications, and even then, they will all be crawling. Do you encode while you game and do everything else?

 

[Geekling]

It looks like AMD will be my choice then 🙂

I'm thinking about the AMD 64 3000 Venice.

 

[overst33r]

definitely a good choice, pair that sucker up with a DFI mobo and a xp-120 and you gotta monster

 

[theMan]

if you really want to multitask, get a X2 4400+ if you have the cash. it will cost like $550

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: theman
if you really want to multitask, get a X2 4400+ if you have the cash. it will cost like $550

You mean 4200+? I thought the "entry level" dual core processor would start around $550... and the 4200+ is the 2.2 GHz 512k cache per core. The 4400+ would be 2.2 GHz with 1 MB cache per core.

 

[Geekling]

DFI? I've never had one of their motherboards. Any specific model?


Dual Core? Do they out peform AMD 64's that much?

 

[NINaudio]

DFI makes some great overclocking mobo's. The x2's are essentially 2 A64's on one chip, great for multi-tasking and games.

 

[Geekling]

I checked on newegg.com for the dual cores...they want like $800+

I don't want to spend that much.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Geekling
DFI? I've never had one of their motherboards. Any specific model?


Dual Core? Do they out peform AMD 64's that much?

Definately... by nearly twice as much (in some situations almost 3 times as much because of crappy Windows scheduling). Two Athlon 64 cores on one die.

 

[theMan]

on froogle, the cheapest 4400+ was about 550USD. the x2 will easily clock up to fx-55 speeds, but then, instead of having one fx-55, you will have 2. 🙂 DFI boards are the way to go for overclocking.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: theman
on froogle, the cheapest 4400+ was about 550USD. the x2 will easily clock up to fx-55 speeds, but then, instead of having one fx-55, you will have 2. 🙂 DFI boards are the way to go for overclocking.

Not necessarily... overclocking is NEVER guaranteed. You're talking about two cores, two sets of caches, and two sets of memory controllers being able to overclock 400 MHz. My bet is that there's a reason they have 2.2 GHz models and 512k cache models... to improve yields.

Just like people unlocking their 6800's pipelines and them complaining that it's unstable. Duh... maybe the reason it's a $200 12 pipe 6800 instead of a $325 16 pipe 6800GT is because not all 16 pipelines worked. 😉

 

[Geekling]

I think I will get the X2. It will take me sometime to save the money for it tho.