Who uses dual CPU for gaming system?

[BCinSC]

I have a couple systems, one with dual 933's, 512MB RAM, and a Radeon PCI 32MB, the other with single 1.13GHz, 256MB RAM, and a GF3Ti200. Both have TB Santa Cruz sound, fast drives, etc. Which would you use?

 

[TerryMathews]

All variables being equal, the uniproc 1.13 will be faster than the dual 933. Unless you're running games that take advange of SMP, but there are few of those.

SMP does not make your gaming inherently slower, but it doesn't work wonders with inferior hardware either.

 

[Nothinman]

I use a dual system for everything I can, it's really annoying when I have to use a UP system any more.

 

[rainypickles]

maybe the dual system wouldnt make the game run faster, per se, but maybe more consisently because the other cpu can take care of background tasks like windows crap? put the gf3 in the duallie maybe? i have clue =)

 

[RaymondY]

My office workstation is running a Tyan Tiger MP (S2640) with dual Athlon XP1600+ processer with 512mb Corsair PC2100 ECC DDR with a SB Live and GF4 Ti4200.

System works great. I plays games great. However my primary rig for gaming is a P4 2.6c with Abit IS7 and 1GB Corsair XMS3200LL and a GF4 Ti4600

 

[vegetation]

If I have multi systems around I would choose the single processor system, because it will be faster in the game, period.
If it's my only system on-hand, then I would choose a dual processor because background tasks (i.e. chat programs, downloading files, kazaa, whatever) can operate without robbing any of my frame rates.

 

[xizor]

simply, if a game is not multithreaded it will only run on 1 processor at a time. windows however can run all your other tasks on the other processor which if believe is a real world equivalent of around 15% improvement in speed. For a 933 that's equivalent to about 1072mhz, not quite 1.13ghz.

Definately use the 1.13 and Geforce3

 

[Nothinman]

windows however can run all your other tasks on the other processor which if believe is a real world equivalent of around 15% improvement in speed. For a 933 that's equivalent to about 1072mhz, not quite 1.13ghz.

Too bad it's not that cut and dry.

I would choose the UP box simply because it has a GF3 in it, I really don't like ATI cards. But if they were both my machines I would move the GF3 into the dual machine and use that.

 

[BCinSC]

Ah, one tidbit of info: dual system doesn't have AGP, so Radeon PCI was best choice at time. Think it's time to buy a 3.2GHz with Radeon 9800 Pro, 1GB DDR400 and twin 15KRPM U320 drives on 128MB RAID0 card.