Need help choosing a CPU

[hodgenutts]

Hey everyone need some quick advice. I'm throwing a basic system together for my cousin. He currently has a dell that has a Pentium D 940 3.2 Ghz Processor in it. I'm building him a new system. I have an E2140 1.6 Ghz processsor that I'm trying to sell. For the Motherboard we're using an ASUS P5N-MX. We are using 2 Gigs of PC5300 RAM. About all he will be using the PC for is surfing net and typing documents. The only game he plays is World of Warcraft, so I'm getting him an 8400GS as I think that would be sufficeint. I'm trying to decide weather to use his older Pentium D, or be a nice cousin and let him have the E2140. I'm just not sure which is actually a better processor, the older pentium D, or the newer smaller e2140. If someone could actually explain why one is better than the other I would appreciate that as well as I am learning! Thanks as any advice would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[thegisguy]

2140, hands down

 

[DSF]

Is an 8400GS really sufficient for WoW? My understanding is that the card is basically crippled when it comes to 3D.

 

[hodgenutts]

Actually already built a system with an 8400 GS and it runs the game maxed at around 60FPS. WoW is actually and older game by current standards. I just put the video card in the topic in case people wanted to know what the basic setup was. I really just need to know which processor is better.

 

[Burrich]

WoW runs fine on my Ti4200 (not cranked up). I'd definitely take the 2160 over the 940.

 

[thegisguy]

Hodgenuts,

Like I said the 2140 hands down...

Here is what Tomshardware CPU chart has to say. Your CPUs in question are in Red. keep scrolling down for the Pentium.

 

[v8envy]

price/performance is not an issue here. performance and cost of ownership is.

2140 should be a bit faster with or without overclock. Without OC it'll use far less power in day to day operation. And no worries about thermal throttling.

 

[Extelleron]

No overclock, I would actually take the Pentium D 940.

The E2140 will take less power, but it will also be slower at stock settings.

A 3.2GHz Pentium D is still superior to a 1.6GHz C2D w/ 1MB of L2.

Overclocking, then it is another story. The 940 might hit 4GHz, but the E2140 could easily hit 3GHz+.

I would vote for either 940, no overclocking, or go with the E2140 and overclock it to like 2.4GHz or something.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Extelleron
No overclock, I would actually take the Pentium D 940.

The E2140 will take less power, but it will also be slower at stock settings.

A 3.2GHz Pentium D is still superior to a 1.6GHz C2D w/ 1MB of L2.

Overclocking, then it is another story. The 940 might hit 4GHz, but the E2140 could easily hit 3GHz+.

I would vote for either 940, no overclocking, or go with the E2140 and overclock it to like 2.4GHz or something.

I wouldn't. The Core architecture in 65nm makes up for any "speed" differences vs the 65nm NetBurst Architecture. Lower power consumption, performance, and low cost makes the E2140 the better choice hands down.

 

[Markfw]

Raw performance is VERY close at stock, and you can OC the 2140 without even raising vcore (the only reason to NOT OC).

Hands down the 2140....

 

[JWade]

i'd go for the 2140, though i have seen some places with the 2160 oem for under $65.

About the only game I play is WoW, course I have way overkill for it q6600 with 3gb of ram and a 8800GTS 640mb.

My spare system I have been messing around with (x2 4000, varying amounts of ram, 512mb 8600GT) been doing some testing with WoW with it and amount fo ram in the system. I saw a noticeable difference in game play when I had 3gb of ram and took 1gb out and left 2gb in there.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: DSF
Is an 8400GS really sufficient for WoW? My understanding is that the card is basically crippled when it comes to 3D.

WoW's very CPU and RAM dependent. 3D graphics isn't that big of a deal.

 

[magreen]

The cpus are very close, but the PD 940 is a touch faster. So since he already has the 940 why would he spend money on an equal or slower 2140?
Who cares which one you'd buy if you had to choose - the 940 is free.

 

[Drsignguy]

Originally posted by: hodgenutts
About all he will be using the PC for is surfing net and typing documents. The only game he plays is World of Warcraft,


If thats all he is doing, The Pentium D will do the job just fine. Besides, I agree with Magreen.... It's free. :beer::thumbsup:

 

[hodgenutts]

but i already own the e2140 also

 

[bryanW1995]

the e2140 is a MUCH better cpu. give him that cpu and sell his pentium d 940. You could probably sell the pentium d for about the same amount of money to some n00b who thought that 3.2>1.6

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: DSF
Is an 8400GS really sufficient for WoW?

Probably, depending on resolution. My notebook has a Radeon Mobility x300 128MB and it plays WoW at full resolution (1280x800?) reasonably, with settings on low-medium. My HTPC has a Radeon 2600 Pro and can play WoW at full 1920x1080 with just about everything turned up.

 

[TheJian]

Originally posted by: v8envy
price/performance is not an issue here. performance and cost of ownership is.

2140 should be a bit faster with or without overclock. Without OC it'll use far less power in day to day operation. And no worries about thermal throttling.

It loses almost every benchmarks at toms to the 940. If he overclocks it should change and not light a fire doing it. But stock 940 is better.

Check the link that was given. Price performance doesn't matter when you already own them both. Benchmarks tell a different story though which in his case does matter.

 

[TheJian]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
the e2140 is a MUCH better cpu. give him that cpu and sell his pentium d 940. You could probably sell the pentium d for about the same amount of money to some n00b who thought that 3.2>1.6

LOL. Congrats, you have less morals than me...:shocked: I didn't think that was possible...

I love screwing "THE MAN" (Intel, MS, Government etc), but another user?

Well, ok...A fool and his money...

***bows to master***

I still wouldn't have the heart...

 

[exar333]

You can buy the PD, but then you will "pay at pump" so to speak with power usage.


Stick with the E21xx.

 

[magreen]

I know you already own the 2140 also, but from your OP it looked like you're considering being a "nice guy" and giving him a present of the 2140. That's the same thing as spending money in my book. And the present he'd be getting is not better (for the most part) than the PD he already has. So why spend money/give away something you own?

 

[larciel]

I can tell from a very new experience that he must get the c2d.

I just upgraded a file server from exact P-D 940 to E4300 at stock and boy the difference on cpu usage is night and day.

P-d on average used 40-50% cpu while e4300 is barely going over 10%.

 

[Ratman6161]

Originally posted by: ExarKun333
You can buy the PD, but then you will "pay at pump" so to speak with power usage.


Stick with the E21xx.

Your ears may also "pay at the pump". Those Pentium D's are power hungry monsters aren't they? You can probably run the 2140 with much less fan noise so even if the performance is the same, and you don't care about power consumption, the noise factor is worth considering.

 

[magreen]

e4300 != e2140

 

[TheJian]

He's not buying either. He own's them both already. But yeah P4's cost a lot more to run. No doubt about that.