AMD X2 or not

[russell2002]

Hi, Not sure if going with the AMD X2 3800 is a better option than the AMD 64 3000+.

Its my understanding, rightly or wrongly, that in some situations the X2 may be slower as each single core is less powerfull by itself.

I run dreamweaver, Outlook, Firefox (25+ tabs), Media Player and a CCTV viewer all at once.

I mainly want fast load time of apps and fast responce to my mouse commands.

 

[nippyjun]

If you are running all that at once than having a multicore cpu makes sense.

 

[imported_burningrave101]

Each core is just as power as a single core A64 thats clocked at the same speed. An X2 3800+ has two cores clocked at 2Ghz so each core is just as powerful as a 3200+ @ 2.2Ghz.

 

[Hacp]

This is for a new rig??

 

[russell2002]

So why is called 3800 and not 6400.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: nippyjun
If you are running all that at once than having a multicore cpu makes sense.

Agreed

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: russell2002
So why is called 3800 and not 6400.

just to stay within the boundries of the 64 naming stucture, hence why the X2 is added on

 

[wasserkool]

Originally posted by: russell2002
So why is called 3800 and not 6400.

because even on motherboard with two physical socket with 2 physical CPU, you won't get 2X the performance

 

[russell2002]

Basically, have XP 2400 at the moment and with all my stuff open over 6 monitors some apps start to run a little slow, expecially Firefox, above 15 tabs it take 2 seconds to open new tab...

 

[russell2002]

Does someone have a link to the kind of performance increase I could expect.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: russell2002
Does someone have a link to the kind of performance increase I could expect.

No need to have a link

I guarantee you'll see a 200% increase in performance (actually, a lot more then that probably)

trust me, it will help, ALOT!

 

[Hacp]

Ya, defenetly go with an X2.. The 2nd core will serve as a great buffer when multitasking

 

[Weatherton]

May need some more RAM too...

 

[russell2002]

What about memory, I assume notmal run of the mill stuff will be ok.

 

[Rapsven]

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: russell2002
Does someone have a link to the kind of performance increase I could expect.

No need to have a link

I guarantee you'll see a 200% increase in performance (actually, a lot more then that probably)

trust me, it will help, ALOT!

You are an idiot.

But if you are multitasking, get the X2.

 

[neutralizer]

Originally posted by: Rapsven

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: russell2002
Does someone have a link to the kind of performance increase I could expect.

No need to have a link

I guarantee you'll see a 200% increase in performance (actually, a lot more then that probably)

trust me, it will help, ALOT!

You are an idiot.

But if you are multitasking, get the X2.

Yup, multitasking, get X2.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: Rapsven

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: russell2002
Does someone have a link to the kind of performance increase I could expect.

No need to have a link

I guarantee you'll see a 200% increase in performance (actually, a lot more then that probably)

trust me, it will help, ALOT!

You are an idiot.

But if you are multitasking, get the X2.

just putting it into perspective (so the numbers might be off a little, so what it stresses the point that an X2 will help a whole hell of a lot)

 

[7earitup]

As cheap as the X2 processors are getting, you would be dumb not to get one if your looking to buy a new AMD. X2 all the way. Can't wait till I upgrade again =)

 

[w00t]

If you multi-task yes, if you dont no if your a gamer like me you would want sumthing like a 3700+

 

[russell2002]

I have multiple applications open at once, yet any given app is only doing something when asked, which is one at a time.

So is this multitasking ? or just multi application-ing

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: russell2002
Basically, have XP 2400 at the moment and with all my stuff open over 6 monitors some apps start to run a little slow, expecially Firefox, above 15 tabs it take 2 seconds to open new tab...

That is an indiction of maybe more ram....


Isn't multitaking doing many things at the SAME time?

People who say they have all this junk open....most of time it SITS there and doesn't use CPU cycles.

HAving your 15 FF tabs is going to add up on RAM, not on CPU usage...having Photoshop on the background won't mean much unless it is actually preforming an action and taking up CPU cycles in the background.


I find it amusing that what a lot of people consider "multitasking" is just loading up a bunch of programs to reside in memory, and then access one at a time while they others idle in the back not running anything.

I'm i'm wrong, can someone correct me?

With that said, the X2 is a fabulous processor for those who really multitask (ie: crunch seti while doing something else...or running a batch command for Photoshop that applies intensive filters on many different pictures that are large...basically anything that takes up CPU cycles in the background) and well worth the price

then again I have aim, msn, open office writer, and 3 FF windows open...yet I'm not multitasking...

 

[Hacp]

Ya thats true I think! When your using your programs, check task manager to see if you need more ram.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: russell2002
Basically, have XP 2400 at the moment and with all my stuff open over 6 monitors some apps start to run a little slow, expecially Firefox, above 15 tabs it take 2 seconds to open new tab...

That is an indiction of maybe more ram....


Isn't multitaking doing many things at the SAME time?

People who say they have all this junk open....most of time it SITS there and doesn't use CPU cycles.

HAving your 15 FF tabs is going to add up on RAM, not on CPU usage...having Photoshop on the background won't mean much unless it is actually preforming an action and taking up CPU cycles in the background.


I find it amusing that what a lot of people consider "multitasking" is just loading up a bunch of programs to reside in memory, and then access one at a time while they others idle in the back not running anything.

I'm i'm wrong, can someone correct me?

With that said, the X2 is a fabulous processor for those who really multitask (ie: crunch seti while doing something else...or running a batch command for Photoshop that applies intensive filters on many different pictures that are large...basically anything that takes up CPU cycles in the background) and well worth the price

then again I have aim, msn, open office writer, and 3 FF windows open...yet I'm not multitasking...

Too true. I've had 40 Mozilla tabs, iTunes playing, Maya or Photoshop open, yet I switch between Tabs instantaneously on an XP 2800. The most slowdown I ever see is when some App has used up all my ram and my system needs to swap off/on the HD when switching Apps.

Multitasking is when multiple Apps are crunching hardcore, not when you've opened a bunch of crap that's not doing anything.

 

[HO]

I can't wait to get my hands on an X2. I use Photoshop, InDesign, Freehand and Illustrator, among others. While I don't always have them all open at once, often I do.

Crunch time comes in Photoshop. When processing images, using certain filters and 3rd party plugins can render my computer virtually unusable, keeping me from switching apps so I'm forced to sit there twiddling my thumbs until the operation is complete. I would much rather be elsewhere working on a page layout or an illustration.

Soon, very soon.

 

[KoolDrew]

I have to agree with the others that are saying it has more to do with RAM. Real multitasking is not having multiple things open, instead it would be something like playing a game while compiling something. Both of those tasks would use up CPU cycles and with a dual-core CPU you could run those two tasks simultaneously with little to no performance loss. You will also benefit from a dual-core CPU in current multi-threaded apps.