What CPU to use for graphics editing and stuff?

[NervousNovice]

My friend asked me to pick one for him. Since I don't know much about what graphic editing people needs, so I need to ask you guys.

My friend gonna use 1G ram (so dual-channel no problem). His budget allows him to get a CPU at the range around A64 2800+, 3000+ or P4 2.8C. He will not overclock. I think the socket754 ones allow him to upgrade once, but not the P4.

He uses the PC for graphics editing, photoshop, and 3D graphics like 3D Studio Max. Which CPU should he go for? The A64 or the P4?

Thanks.

 

[firerock]

From my personal experience, if that's all the pogram he uses, A64 is sufficient. But he uses multimedia editing software (Adobe Premiere, After Effects), then P4 is the better choice. And, if he intend to use 3D Studio Max or Maya, I think the more important question is which video card is he getting?

 

[mjuarez]

If graphics editing is ALL that he will be doing, maybe the P4 2.8C is a better choice. However, if he's going to use his machine for anything else (like gaming, office apps, etc), better get an Athlon64.

 

[NervousNovice]

Originally posted by: firerock
If he intend to use 3D Studio Max or Maya, I think the more important question is which video card is he getting?

For his current budget, he can only get a R9600. I think he needs more. But how much more? around 9600XT or 9800Pro?

 

[MrK6]

A 3000+ A64 will out perform a 2.8C P4 in anything, even if it is graphics editing, it's just that much faster. But I would recommend a 9800 Pro, as the video card is really going to be what he needs for 2D quality.

 

[carlosd]

Athlon 64 3000+ will smoke the P4 2.8C in video and graphics editing. Go for it, besides there will be 64 bits optimizations soon or later for the video and graphics editing software, and it will be even faster, P4C will not.

 

[NervousNovice]

Originally posted by: MrK6
A 3000+ A64 will out perform a 2.8C P4 in anything, even if it is graphics editing.

But a chart like this SYSmark 2004 Overall concerns me. The A 3000+ is not really out performing the 2.8C in that chart.

Originally posted by: MrK6
But I would recommend a 9800 Pro, as the video card is really going to be what he needs for 2D quality.

What I don't get is, why is the 2D quality that demanding?
I thought any video card will do a good job for 2D graphics and it's the 3D gaming part that induces people to buy fast video cards.

 

[Vette73]

SYSmark is a synthetic test. Most synthetic tests put a P4 over an A64, BUT when you run the 2 chips side by side in REAL world programs, AMD comes out ahead.

Look at the review that Kris did. AMD won like 80% of the REAL world test but lost out in most Synthetic test. Then he, and others, wondered why everybody was ticked off when he named the P4 the top chip. :roll:

So if your friend wants to run synthetic benchmarks all day, then get a P4. If he wants to use his system for REAL programs, then get an Athlon 64.

 

[carlosd]

Sysmark is synthetic, not a real performance meter. Look for the real applications bechmarks and show us.