On August 31, 2009 04:59:52 pm Gustin Johnson wrote: > Dick Angus wrote: > > On August 31, 2009 03:37:35 pm Gustin Johnson wrote: > >> Dick Angus wrote: > >> <snip> > >> > >> > My budget is in the $700 range and lower if possible. I want 500Gb+ > >> > disk, a DVD/RW, and a multi-card reader on it. Also, a good graphics > >> > card for the type of work I do. I can't decide if I should go for a > >> > 3.0Ghz quad chip and 4-6Gb DDR2 memory or a 2.33Ghz quad chip and > >> > 4-6Gb DDR3 memory? I'm leaning towards the faster chip and the DDR2, > >> > but I'm confused about the DDR3 being faster memory and would that be > >> > noticeable given what I do with it? > >> > >> I tend to go with as much RAM as I can afford. Having said that, I am > >> pretty happy with a single core centrino (circa 2005 running 1.5 Ghz), 2 > >> GiB RAM and integrated Intel video. I have another machine that has a > >> newer Intel GPU and one of the newer Core2 Duos @ 2.66 Ghz. > >> > >> If all of this stuff is running locally (I keep all my data on the > >> network, especially pictures and music) you may be better served by just > >> upgrading to a newer and faster hard drive. The Western Digital "Black" > >> edition drives are good price for the performance. To get faster you > >> need to spend a lot more on a Velociraptor or even more on a decent SSD > >> (most of them suck). The 500GB WD Black goes for less than $70 at > >> Memory Express. > >> > >> Out of curiosity, what is the current CPU that you are using? Run the > >> following to find out: > >> cat /proc/cpuinfo > > > > The output is: > > > > > > processor : 0 > > vendor_id : GenuineIntel > > cpu family : 15 > > model : 4 > > model name : Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz > > stepping : 7 > > cpu MHz : 2799.860 > > cache size : 1024 KB > > physical id : 0 > > siblings : 2 > > core id : 0 > > cpu cores : 2 > > apicid : 0 > > initial apicid : 0 > > fpu : yes > > fpu_exception : yes > > cpuid level : 5 > > wp : yes > > > > > > There is more, but I thought that was enough. I think my biggest problem > > is the motherboard. It's old, small (memory capacity), and slow. > > > > I'll take a look at the i5 and i7. Maybe just a new motherboard with new > > memory and my old chip? I could also add a faster hard drive. > > No sadly the old chip will not work anymore, it likely would not work > with the previous generation of motherboards either. The current crop > of quad-core are clock for clock, core for core faster than your > existing chip. So a current quad at 2.33Ghz will be faster than a > Pentium 4, even one at > 3Ghz. Even the lowly Q8200 at 2.33Ghz will be > a noticeable upgrade. > > Having said that, the i5 and i7 are a big change and worth the wait > (well the i7 is already available, but is aimed at the enthusiast and > gamer market, so it is pricey, the i5 is not yet available but will be > priced a little more affordably).
Thanks for the info Gustin. I think I'll check the i7 and look into the i5. I can wait a while. Then I'll maybe get the lower cost one and spend a bit extra on a faster HD and more memory. -- An old mainframer getting current.
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