Which System Is Better?

[motrucker]

I still get a little confused when comparing dos systems.  Which would be a faster, better computer/processor?

1.  An older (maybe 5 to 7 Y.O.) system with a 2.52ghz processor?

2.  A 3 year old system with an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.80ghz?

Number 1 is what I use daily.  Number 2 is being offered to me by someone moving at a hard to resist price.

No brainer, Core 2

[Zac67]

IIRC p4s have a 31 stage pipe. core  has a 14 stage pipe. so the p4 would have to be at least twice as fast or 3.6 ghz, to be better than the core. you are a ghz off this.

Actually, it's not that easy. As fishy_fiz stated, a longer pipeline doesn't perform slower or faster by itself. Its per clock throughput may be exactly the same as a shorter pipeline, but its latency will be higher. Since a longer pipeline makes smaller steps it holds the potential for higher clockrates.

OTOH a longer pipeline is bad because when speculative execution misses, it needs to be flushed and reloaded - which will take longer for a longer pipeline until the first command finishes off.

[Iggy]

OK, here is what is being offered to me for $200

20" Samsung Syncmaster monitor 205bw

Tower-

2 gigs ram
ASRock 775Dual Motherboard
MSI 8600 graphics card
Intel Core 2 Duo 1.80ghz
2 hard drives - 32gig & 320gig
USB Wireless wifi receiver
DVD Burner
Windows 7
Microsoft wireless mouse
Microsoft wireless keyboard

I think that's most everything.

Is the price way out of line because this is double the $100 amount.

I'd buy it. You didn't mention the monitor. The Motherboard probably accepts better processors (I've had a lot of good luck with Asrock).

If you don't buy, PM me the sellers contact info and I'll buy it.

[Retro_71]

Its an OK system I would change the Video card and check/change the PSU, but everything else is ok.
Unless the 32GB is a Solid state I would get rid of that too (32GB standalone would make it an older style HDD and therefore slower) are both HDD's PATA or SATA?

[Iggy]

The video slots are a little weird (Agp8X and PCIe4x).

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=775Dual-vsta

But the processor compatibilty is not bad.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/cpu.asp?Model=775Dual-VSTA

No quad cores, but some fairly fast early Core 2s.

[KThunder]

yeah buy the core 2 system if the video slots would fill your needs

[ElPolloDiabl]

I'd pass. Parts are so cheap nowadays. Spend the extra money and get yourself parts with the warranty. Example system 500GB HDD $50, Asrock motherboard $70, Athlon II 3.0GHz $70, 2GB RAM $55. Good case between $80-$120 LCD monitor $150-$200. Okay Graphics card $75.

Otherwise tell him to knock $20 off the price. Plus check it is a legit version of Windows 7.

[fishy_fiz]

@ElPolloDiabl
Even those prices youve mentioned are too much. 4 Gig ram is $50. LCD monitors can be bought for between 120-150 for an ok-ish 22-24 inch (acer/asus) anyway, or around/under 100 for a 18.5-20 inch. Obviously you can go up and down as well in both size and price, but theyre fairly typical monitors these days. The machine mentioned is about 2/3rds the price of a new, significnatly more powerful machine with warranty, etc. It's only if it's a legitimate Windows7 that it's worth it.

[bloodline]

Core 2 Duo

Next question

[kedawa]

You could buy something like that new for slightly more money.
I'd say $150 would be reasonable.  $200 if it's a friend, maybe.