MasamuneXGP
Solid State Member
- Messages
- 7
Hello all. I'm currently shopping for a nice computer upgrade and would like some advice on which processor to get. I'm going to need a new mobo, memory, and CPU(s), and I'd like to keep the total cost of the upgrade south of $800. I'll post my current system specs at the bottom.
Let me say right now, I am not much of a PC gamer. I do play PC games sometimes, but for the most part, I'm console only. So please don't say anything like "Doom 3 goes about 10x faster on an AMD system!!" However, I do multitask a lot. As I type this, there are 30 items on my taskbar. Some people say Intel is better in this area. Also, I do a lot of computer programming. Which CPU would yield quicker compile times? Finally, I do do some occasional video encoding. I may be doing a lot more in the future. Which would function better?
The last forum I visited asking for advice recommended the idea of getting myself dual Opterons/Xeons because they're killer for multitasking. However I'm not convinced they're the best route due to the Xeon's heat output and the Opteron's need for ECC Regged memory. Also it would seem that there aren't many good motherboards that support them. But the biggest thing that's holding me back there is that I can't seem to find many benchmarks to show their performance against single CPUs.
If I do go with a single CPU, it will definately be either a Pentium 4 3.4GHz Prescott or an Athlon 64 3500+. As sweet as the numbers are, I just can't afford a P4 Extreme Edition or a Althon 64 FX. Also, after looking at some reviews, I'm really leaning away from the P4s due to their massive heat output/power consumtion.
So... anyone have any advice that would help me out in this area?
Current system specs:
CPU: Intel P4 1.7GHz
PSU: Antec 430w TruePower
Mobo: Abit TH7-RAID <---- ditching this
Mem: 512mb of RD-RAM <---- and this... ugh I now HATE rd-ram...
Hard Drives: 3 HDs, 380GB total. Windows drive is 60GB
Disk Drives: 1 Floppy, 1 CD-RW, 1 DVD-RW
Video Card: ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 7500 AGP
Monitor: Gateway Vivitron 17"
Case: Don't know the form factor, but the case itself is about 17 x 18 x 7.5. My case is pretty crappy looking, so I'm thinking of getting another one anyway.
Let me say right now, I am not much of a PC gamer. I do play PC games sometimes, but for the most part, I'm console only. So please don't say anything like "Doom 3 goes about 10x faster on an AMD system!!" However, I do multitask a lot. As I type this, there are 30 items on my taskbar. Some people say Intel is better in this area. Also, I do a lot of computer programming. Which CPU would yield quicker compile times? Finally, I do do some occasional video encoding. I may be doing a lot more in the future. Which would function better?
The last forum I visited asking for advice recommended the idea of getting myself dual Opterons/Xeons because they're killer for multitasking. However I'm not convinced they're the best route due to the Xeon's heat output and the Opteron's need for ECC Regged memory. Also it would seem that there aren't many good motherboards that support them. But the biggest thing that's holding me back there is that I can't seem to find many benchmarks to show their performance against single CPUs.
If I do go with a single CPU, it will definately be either a Pentium 4 3.4GHz Prescott or an Athlon 64 3500+. As sweet as the numbers are, I just can't afford a P4 Extreme Edition or a Althon 64 FX. Also, after looking at some reviews, I'm really leaning away from the P4s due to their massive heat output/power consumtion.
So... anyone have any advice that would help me out in this area?
Current system specs:
CPU: Intel P4 1.7GHz
PSU: Antec 430w TruePower
Mobo: Abit TH7-RAID <---- ditching this
Mem: 512mb of RD-RAM <---- and this... ugh I now HATE rd-ram...
Hard Drives: 3 HDs, 380GB total. Windows drive is 60GB
Disk Drives: 1 Floppy, 1 CD-RW, 1 DVD-RW
Video Card: ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 7500 AGP
Monitor: Gateway Vivitron 17"
Case: Don't know the form factor, but the case itself is about 17 x 18 x 7.5. My case is pretty crappy looking, so I'm thinking of getting another one anyway.