Dual P3-500 or Single P3-800

[evilkirk]

Hey all,
I use my system for work/multitasking (web development and graphics), games, and DVD movies. Typically (when I'm not playing Diablo II or TFC), I usually have at least 4 IE windows, WinAmp, Homesite and Photoshop all open at the same time. Currently, it's a single P3-500, 320MB RAM, and a Matrox G400 Max running Win2k Pro. What are your opinions for a performance upgrade? Would dual procs be the way to go, or simply more muscle with a single, more powerful CPU?

Thanks for your suggestions and advice,
Fredd

 

[IsOs]

It sounds like your motherboard is not dual cpu capable at this time. If your motherboard is capable of 800 MHz or faster cpu, then a simple cpu upgrade is probably better for you. If you go with dual cpu, you need to upgrade the motherboard and find a matching cpu for your existing p3-500.

 

[alchemist]

the real question is does photoshop take advantage of dual processors? because none of the other programs would benefit by the two processors as they aren't written to take advantage of them. I'd buy a p3 800 if your mb will support it. But if photoshop does support dual processors, it might be a bit faster with two p3 500's (might need a new board if your's doesnt support it) and you would need to get the same stepping of cpu (which could be a pain in the a*s)

 

[truffelsmoel]

Photoshop doesn't just support 2 cpu's ... it LOVES 2 cpu's =)

 

[Vegito]

At work, my dual 500/256MB kills my single 733/256MB

Dual is the way to go for NT/W2Ks

Does ME support duals ?

 

[rigor]

me does not support duals, its windows 98.

get win2k prof for duals.

 

[evilkirk]

Thanks for your helpful responses. I was factoring in getting a new MB for this upgrade, so the price ends up working out to be the same. I found a good vendor that stocks the old P3-500 Katmai, so I'm in business. I'm ordering the dual setup today. Woohoo!

 

[alchemist]

make sure the new cpu is the same stepping as the old one.

 

[TerryMathews]

The CPUs don't have to be the same stepping. And, if this guy's Katmai 500 is fairly old he's not going to find the same steppping. You just have to make sure that the processor with the lower stepping is the primary CPU (CPU #0).

 

[DarkRipper]

Yeah I was about to say, Photoshop and Dual Procs get along great... Quake 3, as well!
LOL

DR