X2 Owners Out There.......

[EdzAviator]

Guyz with X2 Rigs......

I have an Athlon 64 3000+, it's runs quite fast on single apps but when I make an archive using WinRar, the responsiveness is so very slow..

My Friend has a P4 HT and I tried it with WinrAr, it even rUns 2 winRar archiving..Each are 4Gb of Files...I can even Surf the net with ease, which I can't do with my Athlon 64 when archiving....

I'm wondering can you do 2 to 4 winrAr archiving while video encoding, playing mp3 while surfing the net on your X2 rigs without slow downs?????? How impressive it is when comes to Multi-Tasking?????

I'm going to buy one....

 

[George Powell]

Just have a look at the various reviews around. I haven't ordered mine yet but will be in the last few weeks. Personally I can't wait.

 

[IamTHEsnake]

With that much multi-tasking there will be somewhat of a slow down, but it can do it and far easier than a single core.

 

[Velk]

I was able to use firefox, winamp, outlook and a few other minor apps smoothly with two instances of prime95 running at 100% CPU on both cores. I'd test with winrar, but I had no trouble using other apps while winrar was running on a single core cpu anyway.

 

[Hacp]

I was able to use Prime95 two times and then super Pi. Thats multitasking for you baby.

 

[Furen]

Of course, prime runs on idle cpu time when it's not focused.

Edz: I'd say that's a bit extreme considering that the video will try to take both cores and then you'll have the rar files going on as well, plus the mp3 and the surfing. it SHOULD be way better than running single core and it might even run without slowdows BUT you'll still have the tasks contending for CPU time (since you only have 2 cores and like 5 threads, at least). What this means, basically, is that even if the computer is usable, the tasks will be sharing cpu time, so they wont run as fast as they would if you were only doing two, for example, two tasks at once plus the surfing and the mp3s.

 

[entropy1982]

Hey guys, I have been considering an X2 as well (the 3800/4000 when it comes out) as opposed to getting 3000+venice ... however I do not plan to multitask too intensively... for example maybe ill surf the web + listen to mp3s but i dont even listen to mp3s while i'm playing games... nor do i encode movies more than ..... once a year or something like that... So basically from what i understand, I will not gain much of a performance gain if i overclock my 3000+ over the x2 (also overclocked) until games and apps start coming out that i use (i don't use photoshop and other professional apps too much now). So would it be better for me to just buy a 3000+ venice, and sell it for the 50 bucks or whatever it will be worth in a year and spend like $300 on an X2 in a year (at which point i'll probably be able to get a higher class x2 for that money than the 3800.)

Comments?

Thanks in advance

 

[Furen]

entropy: I'd say you should go for the 3000+ and OC it to 2.6 or something (if it can reach that). Even multithreaded games will probably only be lightly multithreaded at first so even then an single core cpu wont fall too far behind. The general feel of the system should be better with dual cores but not enough to warrant 3x the price when you'll have the second core just sitting idle 95% of the time.

 

[entropy1982]

Originally posted by: Furen
entropy: I'd say you should go for the 3000+ and OC it to 2.6 or something (if it can reach that). Even multithreaded games will probably only be lightly multithreaded at first so even then an single core cpu wont fall too far behind. The general feel of the system should be better with dual cores but not enough to warrant 3x the price when you'll have the second core just sitting idle 95% of the time.

That's exactly what i was thinking.... thanks for confirming what i was thinking.... feels so much better doing it when someone else agrees =P

Thanks furen

 

[clarkey01]

Originally posted by: entropy1982

Originally posted by: Furen
entropy: I'd say you should go for the 3000+ and OC it to 2.6 or something (if it can reach that). Even multithreaded games will probably only be lightly multithreaded at first so even then an single core cpu wont fall too far behind. The general feel of the system should be better with dual cores but not enough to warrant 3x the price when you'll have the second core just sitting idle 95% of the time.

That's exactly what i was thinking.... thanks for confirming what i was thinking.... feels so much better doing it when someone else agrees =P

Thanks furen

I agree, but I wouldnt go back, these days I can run Norton, battlefield 2, and rip at the same time ! If you'd fo asked me before on my old rig to do that I would of cried.

 

[entropy1982]

Originally posted by: clarkey01

Originally posted by: entropy1982

Originally posted by: Furen
entropy: I'd say you should go for the 3000+ and OC it to 2.6 or something (if it can reach that). Even multithreaded games will probably only be lightly multithreaded at first so even then an single core cpu wont fall too far behind. The general feel of the system should be better with dual cores but not enough to warrant 3x the price when you'll have the second core just sitting idle 95% of the time.

That's exactly what i was thinking.... thanks for confirming what i was thinking.... feels so much better doing it when someone else agrees =P

Thanks furen

I agree, but I wouldnt go back, these days I can run Norton, battlefield 2, and rip at the same time ! If you'd fo asked me before on my old rig to do that I would of cried.

Hey don't get me wrong.... if the price was not too much more... id go for x2... but it obviously is

 

[richardrds]

just to give you something to think about, The new 3800+ X2 (2 x 2Ghz core) will be out shortly, and it is supposed to go for around $345. Thats makes the decision harder, 3000+ (1 x 1.8Ghz core) venice @ $145, or 3800+ X2 @ $345!!!!

3000+ Venice will probably OC to 2.5-2.7Ghz

3800+ X2 will probably OC to 2.3-2.4 Ghz which will give you 4600+ X2 performance!!!

 

[entropy1982]

Originally posted by: richardrds
just to give you something to think about, The new 3800+ X2 (2 x 2Ghz core) will be out shortly, and it is supposed to go for around $345. Thats makes the decision harder, 3000+ (1 x 1.8Ghz core) venice @ $145, or 3800+ X2 @ $345!!!!

3000+ Venice will probably OC to 2.5-2.7Ghz

3800+ X2 will probably OC to 2.3-2.4 Ghz which will give you 4600+ X2 performance!!!

Well actually from ewiz the 3000+ is $120 shipped.... the 3800+ shipped will be a minimum of 360 and probably more at the beginning... second of all i do agree that's a great deal if i would utilize the second processor, but it would be idle most of the time... i rarely multitask heavily... therefore the only use would be if i would have the apps that would utilize the dual processor.... which are very limited right now (the ones that do exist i never really use.) So if i just wait a year or 2 when dual core will actually be of use to me... i think that 300 dollars (after selling my 3000+ i should get about 50 bucks back for it plus 230(price difference of 3800 and 3000)) will be able to buy me a better processor than 345 will today

 

[Griffinhart]

So far, I've found that while a good single core chip is cheaper and a still a good choice for gaming/single threaded apps, my x2 has been a usefull test over all.

Of course the x2 shines for multitasking, but, There have been many times where it has made life easier. A good example is when you need to alt-tab out of a game like battlefield 2. This is something I do fairly frequently. On single core processors it's terribly slow. Even on P4's with HT it's not nearly as responsive as it is with an X2. At least it wasn't on my friends P4 vs my x2.

Certainly it's not required, but, once you experience and get used to it, you will not want to think about single core again.

I think you'll find that any dual core solution will multi task far better than any single core chip. HT or not.

 

[drifter106]

Originally posted by: Griffinhart
So far, I've found that while a good single core chip is cheaper and a still a good choice for gaming/single threaded apps, my x2 has been a usefull test over all.

Of course the x2 shines for multitasking, but, There have been many times where it has made life easier. A good example is when you need to alt-tab out of a game like battlefield 2. This is something I do fairly frequently. On single core processors it's terribly slow. Even on P4's with HT it's not nearly as responsive as it is with an X2. At least it wasn't on my friends P4 vs my x2.

Certainly it's not required, but, once you experience and get used to it, you will not want to think about single core again.

I think you'll find that any dual core solution will multi task far better than any single core chip. HT or not.

I went from 1 gig to 2 gig and I exit from bf2 extremely quick...just like going from one window to another...not trying to crap your thread but just thought i would share the info...

neverless I still am trying to convince myself why i don't need an x2 for my next build...what you just stated gives another reason why i should....

thanks

 

[Griffinhart]

Originally posted by: drifter106
I went from 1 gig to 2 gig and I exit from bf2 extremely quick...just like going from one window to another...not trying to crap your thread but just thought i would share the info...

neverless I still am trying to convince myself why i don't need an x2 for my next build...what you just stated gives another reason why i should....

thanks

I suppose that could be the reason. My PC does have 2GB vs my friends 1GB. That said, overall performance and responsiveness has noticably improved since my upgrade. The only change my system saw was the processor swap. I didn't even re-install any applications and am still using the same installation of Windows XP.

The previous processor was a 3500+ and the current is the 4400+ X2, so the clock speed difference isn't enough to explain the general improvement. Especially when Alt Tabbing out of other games like EverQuest.

Dual Core processors fall under the category of stuff that you don't need, but will not want to live without once you take the step. It's like broadband was for my friends. For years they didn't see why the much higher price of Cable internet was worth it. No matter how much I explained they didn't understand. when they eventually made the plunge they now can't ever go back to dial-up.

 

[entropy1982]

Originally posted by: Griffinhart

Originally posted by: drifter106
I went from 1 gig to 2 gig and I exit from bf2 extremely quick...just like going from one window to another...not trying to crap your thread but just thought i would share the info...

neverless I still am trying to convince myself why i don't need an x2 for my next build...what you just stated gives another reason why i should....

thanks

I suppose that could be the reason. My PC does have 2GB vs my friends 1GB. That said, overall performance and responsiveness has noticably improved since my upgrade. The only change my system saw was the processor swap. I didn't even re-install any applications and am still using the same installation of Windows XP.

The previous processor was a 3500+ and the current is the 4400+ X2, so the clock speed difference isn't enough to explain the general improvement. Especially when Alt Tabbing out of other games like EverQuest.

Dual Core processors fall under the category of stuff that you don't need, but will not want to live without once you take the step. It's like broadband was for my friends. For years they didn't see why the much higher price of Cable internet was worth it. No matter how much I explained they didn't understand. when they eventually made the plunge they now can't ever go back to dial-up.

Don't get me wrong you certainly have a point... I'm just interested can you give me another instance other than alt tabbing where it might be useful for me?
Thanks

 

[Griffinhart]

Originally posted by: entropy1982

Don't get me wrong you certainly have a point... I'm just interested can you give me another instance other than alt tabbing where it might be useful for me?
Thanks

It all depends on what you do on the computer. I'll tell you what other benefits I have seen though my personal use. Other than responsiveness.

-Multitasking (of course) The ability to play games while converting MS-PRV files to AVI.
-Faster Conversions. My converter programs are multi-threaded, so when I convert a recorded TV show to AVI (for long term storage) they finish significantly quicker.

It's simply a workhorse of a processor. I see improvements in most categories under the normal load I put my computer under. I may not get higher frame rates in games (Yet!), but I do get a much better overall computing experience.

As I said earlier. Single core processors aren't bad, they make a great lower cost alternative. To bring a really bad car analogy into it. It's like two cars, otherwise identical, one with front wheel drive, the other with all wheel drive. They both get the job done, but in many conditions one will just be better suited for the task. Usually a lot more frequent than expected.

 

[entropy1982]

Originally posted by: Griffinhart

Originally posted by: entropy1982

Don't get me wrong you certainly have a point... I'm just interested can you give me another instance other than alt tabbing where it might be useful for me?
Thanks

It all depends on what you do on the computer. I'll tell you what other benefits I have seen though my personal use. Other than responsiveness.

-Multitasking (of course) The ability to play games while converting MS-PRV files to AVI.
-Faster Conversions. My converter programs are multi-threaded, so when I convert a recorded TV show to AVI (for long term storage) they finish significantly quicker.

It's simply a workhorse of a processor. I see improvements in most categories under the normal load I put my computer under. I may not get higher frame rates in games (Yet!), but I do get a much better overall computing experience.

As I said earlier. Single core processors aren't bad, they make a great lower cost alternative. To bring a really bad car analogy into it. It's like two cars, otherwise identical, one with front wheel drive, the other with all wheel drive. They both get the job done, but in many conditions one will just be better suited for the task. Usually a lot more frequent than expected.

Cool, thanks for the response dude... Glad you're enjoying your machine ... it's a nice one =)

 

[Unkno]

...you guys all forgot about some of the main improvements with x2...if your running a firewall and anti-virus with x2, you won't be slowed down since the second core would take the job. You could scan your computer and/or defrag while playing games. And most importantly, if your downloading large files (even with bittorrent), you can still play games.

Software firewalls, virus-scanners, spy-ware scanners, and others all use resources. Add all those resources up and that will slow down your system if you don't have a x2.

 

[entropy1982]

Originally posted by: Unkno
...you guys all forgot about some of the main improvements with x2...if your running a firewall and anti-virus with x2, you won't be slowed down since the second core would take the job. You could scan your computer and/or defrag while playing games. And most importantly, if your downloading large files (even with bittorrent), you can still play games.

Software firewalls, virus-scanners, spy-ware scanners, and others all use resources. Add all those resources up and that will slow down your system if you don't have a x2.

uh oh... didnt think of that =P .... maybe it's time to rethink =)

 

[Griffinhart]

lol, why do I picture a little guy standing on your shoulder, whispering into your ear: Buy an X2... come one, you know you want to!...

 

[entropy1982]

Originally posted by: Griffinhart
lol, why do I picture a little guy standing on your shoulder, whispering into your ear: Buy an X2... come one, you know you want to!...

lol damnit i hate you guys... FINE ill get the x2 you happy now? =P

 

[mooncancook]

I've been running (TMPGenc encoding mpeg files OR TMPGenc DVD Author creating DVD contents) AND playing either (HL2 OR BF2) at the same time with no slow down at all. Price probably not going to drop very fast coz i don't think AMD wants to destroy its single-core market yet.

 

[entropy1982]

see that's my only concern.... it seems like a lot of the people who say they benefit run all these encoding programs and stuff... i never ever do that like ... i've done it once in my whole life literally.