Computer hardware advice

[johnridley]

I know that subject will bring on the comments.

So, Intel Core 2 is the way to go, from all I can tell. Here's the question:

Dual core 3.06 GHz 1066MHz FSB, or quad core 2.66 GHz 1333MHz FSB?

They're both about the same price, which makes me wonder since it seems to me that the quad core is clearly the run away winner - so why isn't it much more expensive?

Any mainboard recommendations? Either for specific manufacturers (for or against) or specific chipsets (north/south bridge, etc). Usually mainboard video is OK for me, and if not I can always bump that later. I normally go by reviews on Newegg, but they're heavily biased towards overclocking, which I never do (I want stability above all else).

I was looking at upgrading rather than buying new or building a new machine, but by the time I got everything added in, I was only short about $100 from being able to keep the old machine intact, which means I can get the tax credit from donating it which more than pays for the difference.

Comments

[dave-ifversen.livejournal.com]

The speed difference between those two boxes is not that great - you probably won't really notice any performance difference, depending on what you are doing. For rendering (or anything CPU intensive) the quad core will give greater performance. For cruising the web or checking email (or running programs that don't really use the extra cores), the core 2 would work just fine.

I guess if you are going to eventually do something that would benefit from the quad core architecture (and the higher FSB), that would be the way to go.

I've got a 3.06 GHz core 2 at home - the most intensive application I run on it is Photoshop, which works just fine. I built both a quad core (2.66 GHz) and a core i7 (also 2.66 GHz) that I use for CGI rendering (my officemate's fan-film, for one thing) - both of those run rings around the core 2 that I started off with for rendering.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Right, but for web cruising and checking email (which are the same thing for me) I wouldn't bother building a new machine at all.

I'm building this because my existing machine can't handle HD video streams. The Core 2 Duo would handle that, but the extra 2 cores could be handy when authoring DVDs from HD streams. I'm using Pinnacle Studio 12 Ultimate, and they claim it uses multiple cores.

[dave-ifversen.livejournal.com]

It sounds like your software would benefit from the extra cores; and given how close the two machines are in price, the quad core makes more sense.

[kevinnickerson.livejournal.com]

The PS 12 is the kicker. The 4 4 U. Otherwise I'd say the 2 by an RCH.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Good advice.

[erikvolson.livejournal.com]

What's the cache?

In general, heavy threading or VMs wants more cores, but more cache beats memory clocking -- often, the higher speed memory buss is trying to make up for a lower L3 cache.

Of course, for 90% of the world, the correct answer is "what's on sale." I've got a Core 2 Duo 2.93Ghz in the iMac, and I'm happy.
'

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

The Duo has 3M of L2, the Quad had 4M.

[isherempress.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I love it when you guys talk tech!

Gotta admit, though, when I read Erik's message, I interpreted that first sentence as "what's the catch?"

Hahaha!

[madtechie2718.livejournal.com]

The lower speed quadcores are known to be very over-clocker friendly.

I have a 2.66GHz that runs very comfortably above 3GHz without tweaking cpu voltages &c. and just Using a big passive heatsink (well, it borrows the PSU airflow).

That way, you get the better price *and* the better performance...

I could get it to run as high as 3.4something, but that involved voltage tweaks and other black magic, so settled just above 3GHz for caution.

Pho'shop and other image edit tools are great, displays (and edits) HD video with nary a jitter.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Good to know, thanks. In general I've always been opposed to overclocking; I don't think it's worth even doubling the machine's speed if it leads to even one glitch a year extra. My first three priorities with computers are all stability.
I might give it a try though, since you've had good luck and the mainboard I'm looking at is known to be a favorite of overclockers.