Here the two systems I'm choosing between, both coming to just over $400 without a monitor:
1. Dell PowerEdge SC420:
PCIxpress slot, no AGP
Intel® Pentium®4 processor, 520, 2.8GHz, 1MB Cache, 800MHz FSB (is this HT?)
FREE UPGRADE to 512MB DDR2, 533MHz, 2X256MB, Single Ranked DIMMs
(...should i be choosing the 400mhz memory for a 800mhz system?)
80GB, Serial ATA, 1 inch, 7.2K RPM, Hard Drive
2. Dell Dimension 3000:
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor w/ HT Technology (3GHz, 800 FSB)
FREE UPGRADE 512MB Dual Channel 400MHz DDR SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
The second system has a rebate, bringing it to about the same price as the first. The first seems like the much better deal, except for the PCIxpress slot...I'm probably going to have to stick a PCI graphics card in one of the other slots to save money. If I'm using this as a rendering machine for 3D (Lightwave) is this going to kill performance? Also, i'm not sure if the first configuration is a HT proc or not. Since the second has a faster processor with HT, is this going to make a significant difference?
The second also uses DDR2 memory, as compared to DDR on the second, though the second is dual channel.
Advice, comments? Both deals die today, so I have to make up my mind today sometime (Sunday).
Thanks,
Dave.
1. Dell PowerEdge SC420:
PCIxpress slot, no AGP
Intel® Pentium®4 processor, 520, 2.8GHz, 1MB Cache, 800MHz FSB (is this HT?)
FREE UPGRADE to 512MB DDR2, 533MHz, 2X256MB, Single Ranked DIMMs
(...should i be choosing the 400mhz memory for a 800mhz system?)
80GB, Serial ATA, 1 inch, 7.2K RPM, Hard Drive
2. Dell Dimension 3000:
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor w/ HT Technology (3GHz, 800 FSB)
FREE UPGRADE 512MB Dual Channel 400MHz DDR SDRAM
80GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
The second system has a rebate, bringing it to about the same price as the first. The first seems like the much better deal, except for the PCIxpress slot...I'm probably going to have to stick a PCI graphics card in one of the other slots to save money. If I'm using this as a rendering machine for 3D (Lightwave) is this going to kill performance? Also, i'm not sure if the first configuration is a HT proc or not. Since the second has a faster processor with HT, is this going to make a significant difference?
The second also uses DDR2 memory, as compared to DDR on the second, though the second is dual channel.
Advice, comments? Both deals die today, so I have to make up my mind today sometime (Sunday).
Thanks,
Dave.