[Alex Ethridge]

I don't understand how to know what a CPU's capabilities are with all these new names.

I understand Pentium 4 so how would Pentium D and Pentium 4 compare?

 

[win2kpro]

I don't really quite understand exactly what you are asking, but the Pentium D's are dual core, therefore they are superior to Pentium 4's for multi tasking.

 

[Mulderator]

I'd also stay away from the Pentium Ds--that was first generation dual cores out of Intel and they ran really hot--I have one and its a good CPU, but it runs very hot--in fact, I water cool it. Intel has new dual cores (core duo) but I don't know abou those--maybe someone else does

The AMD dual cores run much cooler and are the best bang for your buck right now in terms of older technology dual core processors. I have an AMD dual core machine as well.

I would recommend dual core for the average user because you'd only want single core if you needed to a processor that had a much higher clock speed for the same money--obviously, you are going to pay more for a 3 Ghz dual core than a single core so you could buy a faster single core processor for the same money.

If you are looking for a new processor, I'd recommend AMD dual core if you are concerned with cost--if not, then maybe someone else can talk about the new Pentiums, which are considerably more costly.

 

[telegramsam]

The Core 2 Duo E6300 is about $190 right now and it is a huge performer. It's the top dog for the moment.

With that out, Pentium D's don't really make much sense.

AMD's dual cores are excellent performers as well. You certainly aren't hurting yourself getting one of those.

 

[Alex Ethridge]

Hmmm. That's disappointing--about the heat, I mean.

The customer has specified an intel-based board.

Let's say I had a Pentium 4 2800 and I run only business applications like Word, Excel, internet, e-mail and occasionally do some OCR. What would I need in an Intel CPU to equal that work?

 

[Mulderator]

Hmmm. That's disappointing--about the heat, I mean.

The customer has specified an intel-based board.

Let's say I had a Pentium 4 2800 and I run only business applications like Word, Excel, internet, e-mail and occasionally do some OCR. What would I need in an Intel CPU to equal that work?

Not just for those applications, but let's say you have a virus scan scheduled--with a single core CPU, you pretty much have to stop that scan or the other programs are very slow--with a dual core, you can let that virus scan go and you won't notice any decrease in the other programs. So if you're only going to ever be working with one or two MS business apps at a time and never running any virus scans at the same time, or any other CPU instensive programs, the single core is fine. The problem is you never know what you are going to be doing, and $190 is not a lot of money for a processor--how much cheaper are you going to get it? $100? I don't think its worth $90 saving unless its for a bunch of work stations where the savings add up and you know the people aren't going to be doing anything intensive ever.

 

[Rich-M]

Nothing wrong with older dual core Intels, while they run hotter than Amd dual cores, they are not really very different than the earlier Athlon XP chips and one thing I noticed with them is they start out in the mid 50c, but stress them all you like they barely rise from there, different from Athlon XP's. The D805 is an $80 dual core cpu with 2.66 gh and that can build you a real nice value dual core pc for clients, I have sold a lot of them because of the low price.
Now Core 2 Duo rocks and those temps are in the low 30'sc for me on every board except for Intel boards for some reason I have not yet figured. I like the D6400 at about $219 which is a great performing cpu and for overclockers, it will go nicely to 3.4 gh.

 

[win2kpro]

The Pentium D 800 series uses the 90nm Smithfield core which does run warmer than the 900 series which uses the 65nm Presler core.

I've built with both series and with a thermally advantaged chassis, i've not had any real heat problems.

Ask crjdriver about the 900 series. If I recall correctly he runs a 900 series and I recall he posted a Speed Fan pic where his processor was idling at about 30C. I don't recall what cooler he was using but I believe it was not a stock Intel cooler.

 

[Mulderator]

The Pentium D 800 series uses the 90nm Smithfield core which does run armer than the 900 series which uses the 65nm Presler core.

Warmer? Mine's like a friggin blast furnace!

Granted, I am running a 620 watt Power Supply, 3 hard drives, and a decent performance video card. I think if you had a 500 watt and one or two hard drives and no video card or a low end one for business apps, the heat wouldn't be as significant a problem--and I do video editing with it--I tried it with air cooling and the thing would run to 70 or higher at full load no matter what I did.

 

[win2kpro]

Mulder, what case were you using?

 

[Mulderator]

Mulder, what case were you using?

One of the best, a Thermaltake Tsunami. The other thing is with my water cooling system, I run my fans on "quiet" all the time--when I air cooled it, it sounded like a jet engine--and it wasn't to bad on carpet, but I have it now on hard wood floors, so the sound of those fans running full speed would be deafening.

Now my AMD dual core machine runs at 35 to 45 with the fans on optimal and they run pretty quiet most of the time--but that's got a 500 watt PS, and one hard drive, but it does have a decent video card--my wife uses that for photoshop and surfing. And I use this case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068

A Cooler Master Centurion--best case there is for the money IMO--$50 compared to the $120 I paid for that Tsunami and every bit as good.