Which processor? T3400 or T6400?

[JWade]

I have two processors to choose from for my laptop. It currently has a T3400 in it, 2.16ghz, 1mb cache, 667mhz bus. I got a T6400, 2ghz, 2mb cache, 800mhz bus, and put it in there, my vista score went from a 5.1 to a 4.9.

Which one should I keep? Though the T6400 is 160mhz slower, will the extra cache and faster bus speed give me the same or a slightly better performance? I know my vista rating score went down, but wondering more about overall performance.

 

[MrK6]

Well, what do you use your laptop for?

 

[JWade]

internet, lite gameing (has a 256mb ati 4330 video card in it) and office apps

 

[MrK6]

Probably the T3400 then. It's a newer 45nm chip and you'll probably see higher performance (although most likely insignificant) from the higher frequency over larger cache in those types of application.

 

[JWade]

well actually yhe t3400 is 65nm and the t6400 is the 45nm

 

[MrK6]

well actually yhe t3400 is 65nm and the t6400 is the 45nm

Whoops, my memory slipped, just looked it up and you are correct. There might be a power consumption difference between the 45nm and 65nm parts (although they're both rated at 35W TDP, you'd have to test though). The frequency difference would still give the T3400 the higher performance, but if the battery life difference is significant, you might want to go with the T6400 then.

 

[TJCS]

If you had to pick one of them, the faster processor is the T6400 by about 7%(source). In real world computing there is no significant difference between the two processors. Be sure to update your notebook bios to the latest version for full cpu compatibility.

 

[JWade]

using the t6400 right now, i dont notice any performance difference. what i do notice is that my fan turns on alot less though, so thats a big plus in my book. if i could only find a used p8400 or p8600 i would be really set, as they are 25w instead of 35w