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"Upgrading" this rig.. need advice!!!

T

thewhiteboy

Member
Hi guys, I need the experts opinions of you all to see if I can come up with a decent rig. I build PCs for a company and the current hardware configuration they are using is being phased out. They're looking to keep it mostly the same (same specs, price range, etc.). So, here's what I'm working with:

1.) board: Asus P4P800-SE
2.) CPU: s478 P4 3.2GHz, 800MHz FSB, 512KB cache
3.) video: PNY GeForce 6600GT 128MB (AGP)
4.) mem: Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512MB) DDR400 in dual-channel
5.) HD: WD2500KS (250GB, 7200rpm, SATA)

So I need mobo for LGA775 & PCI-e, as well as a good vid card. Now let me mention that NO GAMES WILL EVER BE INSTALLED so I'm not looking for extreme on that end. Actually we also throw in a Euresys GRABLINK Expert 2, hook it up to a Toshiba camera, and use our software to display streaming images from the camera to the screen, take snapshots, and record live feed (but there is no editing of the video after that). Now I've been told that ATI is better vs. the GeForce in that area. I've been able to come up with a configuration, dunno if it's better or not tho...

1.) board: Intel D945PSN
2.) CPU: Pentium D 930
3.) video : Sapphire Radeon x1600xt
4.) mem: Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512MB) DDR2-667 in dual channel
5.) HD: WD2500KS (250GB, 7200rpm, SATA)

Comments/flaming/all posts welcome. I need advice!! Thanks 😉
 
What applications are goiong to be used? The 930 is a 3ghz dual core, so if they are running programs that are non-smp aware..the single core 3.2ghz chip will actualy be faster..
 
We run our own software on the PCs, and if I had to bet I would bet against it being smp compatable... the dual core was just an idea, not a necessity. As far as the rest of it tho, does it sound decent?
 
It'll be pretty much the same performance wise, other than the CPU being slower. Northwoods have shorter pipelines than prescott/cedar mill, so a 3.2ghz northwood is similar to a 3.4-3.6ghz prescott/cedar mill based chip so you would probably be better off getting a single core at 3.4-3.6ghz, but really you'll be spending money to keep the performance the same, and still won't really have any upgrade path.
 
Upgrading later is not a high priority, we just need to cross everything over to the up-to-date technology. I've come up with another config...

1.) board: ASUS P5LD2
2.) CPU: either P4 641, or Pentium D 940 (b/c of the price)
3.) video: wanna stick w/GeForce 6600 chipset.. we've had no problems so far using this chipset, plus prices keep dropping which is another plus for us. I'm thinking ASUS/Gigabyte/MSI/AOpen/PNY (only PNY b/c no probs. w/testing) brands, either 6600 or 6600GT (PCIe of course)
4.) mem: Corsair 1GB (2x512MB) DDR2-667 (also had no problems using Corsair in testing)
5.) HD stays the same.

I was considering ASUS P5WD2, but I think b/c the 955X chipset is 'better' than 945P, it's more expensive :Q
 
Is there a reason you listed the X1600XT in the OP? I'd agree that sticking with a 6600 chip or an x1300 would be more than sufficient if it won't be used for gaming.

I think dual core is a reasonable investment for ~$230. Even if one of your applications doesn't support SMP, running 2 things (i.e. AV, other background stuff) at once becomes a lot easier. And there's likely to be more SMP support in the future.
 
Originally posted by: Skeeedunt
Is there a reason you listed the X1600XT in the OP? I'd agree that sticking with a 6600 chip or an x1300 would be more than sufficient if it won't be used for gaming.

I think dual core is a reasonable investment for ~$230. Even if one of your applications doesn't support SMP, running 2 things (i.e. AV, other background stuff) at once becomes a lot easier. And there's likely to be more SMP support in the future.
Click to expand...

I was told over on the HardOCP forums that the x1600xt would be better for any image/video encoding processes simply b/c of ATI's Avivo technology. I found out a while ago that we've never tried using ATI-based GPU's, so if we go that route we'll have to go thru product testing again to make sure there's no hitches w/the software. I think I am going to stick with the 6600/6600GT tho. Question... when it comes to video cards and the type of applications I need it for, does video memory make a difference as far as DDR v DDR2 v DDR3 ??
 
Question... when it comes to video cards and the type of applications I need it for, does video memory make a difference as far as DDR v DDR2 v DDR3 ??
Click to expand...
The bottom line is, you look at the performance numbers, but since you won't be doing any gaming, basically anything will work.
 
OK, got another question...

Heat is also an issue. What's the heat difference between, say, a P4 640 vs 641 (90nm vs 65nm)?? I'm guessing since the 641 is a smaller architecture, the heat it generates would also be less. But for like $15 more, the Pentium D 940 sounds like a good deal too.. like Skeeedunt said a few posts up, even if the application doesn't support SMP, having the dual core will help keep everything else running alot easier. But does the dual-core CPU put out more heat than the 90nm 640??

So much to learn after bein outta the loop for 3+ years 😕
 
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