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The "Not Quite Amiga but still computer related category" => Alternative Operating Systems => Topic started by: dannyp1 on December 29, 2010, 05:54:31 PM

Title: Which System Is Better?
Post by: dannyp1 on December 29, 2010, 05:54:31 PM
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.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: motorollin on December 29, 2010, 06:17:31 PM
(http://www.wineoftheweek.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/HarryHill_fight.jpg)

--
moto
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: Iggy on December 29, 2010, 06:25:56 PM
Quote from: dannyp1;602687
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.


What are you comparing? If the older system is a P4, put it down, step back and walk away from it.
The entire Netburst design only proved that Intel could still make really stupid decisions.
The entire shift to Core2 was necesitated but Intels loss of the X86 top dog crown to its licensee AMD when Amd's A64s started slapping Intels products at lower clockspeed because of a superior design.

Stated more simply, your probably better of with the Core2, especially if that CPU can be upgraded. Core2 help us all regain some measure of respect for Intel (on my part begrudged).
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: fishy_fiz on December 29, 2010, 06:36:53 PM
A core2duo, per physical core is roughly 80-100% faster at same clockspeed vs a Pentium4 (depending of course on which type of core2 and which p4 architecture). Bare in mind that a 2.7ghz core2duo can be bought new for about $65 these days, socket775 motherboards supporting either ddr2 or ddr3 for about $40 (again new), and ram itself for about $40 per 4gig(ddr3@1333 or ddr2@800), so make sure you dont spend too much if it is 2nd hand.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: Zac67 on December 29, 2010, 06:42:46 PM
As Iggy wrote, GHz alone don't tell too much. A P4 (Netburst) roughly counts 2/3 of it's clockspeed against more modern CPUs. The 5/7 y.o. machine probably is single core as well, it's slower in every respect than the C2D. Plus it's hotter and noisier - stay clear.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: tone007 on December 29, 2010, 06:47:22 PM
In fewer words:

Get the dual core.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: fishy_fiz on December 29, 2010, 06:52:25 PM
If you pay more than $100 for the entire system though youre being ripped off (even if not intentionally,... that sort of gear is just practically given away these days is all). Core2 based architecture is now 3 generations old (or will be in a few weeks when sandy bridge based systems are released). That's not to say they dont make nice little machines (Im using one clocked at 3.86ghz for my aros box), theyre just old is all, ergo the warning in regards to pricing.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: persia on December 29, 2010, 07:00:37 PM
As long as it's a core 2 duo, the original Duo Core chips sucked almost as badly as P4s...
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: dannyp1 on December 29, 2010, 07:03:44 PM
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.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: Iggy on December 29, 2010, 07:09:53 PM
Quote from: persia;602706
As long as it's a core 2 duo, the original Duo Core chips sucked almost as badly as P4s...


It seems to be what he stated. And its not a bad system, might even be slightly over-clockable.

Glad to see so many of you were as horrified by the P4 as I was.
When they were introduced I warned a former employer to avoid them. There was something odd about how the Pentium III out performed the Pentium IV.
Personally, I think Intels blind focus on memory bandwidth and the assinie idea that the design would scale to 10 Ghz blinded them to tghe inherent flaws in the design.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: KThunder on December 29, 2010, 07:10:00 PM
Quote from: dannyp1;602687
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.


You said "dos systems" are you actually using dos or freedos, or do you mean wintel systems. A true dos or freedos system will not use any of the advanced features of new processors.

If you are running very tight code it is possible that a 2.52ghz can come out very similar to a 1.8 dual core. Similar but noticably slower.

the reason is the second core would not be used, so this would come down to a comparison of the pipeline depth of the cpus. 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.

If you are running dos I have no clue what would need even half the power of a p4. If you are running windows, or will be; definitely spring for the core.

BTW I have a 1.8ghz athlon64 single core and it is much faster than any of my p4 systems, including my 2.0, 2.5, 2.8, and 3.06

this article is really good:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/313
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: dannyp1 on December 29, 2010, 07:13:28 PM
I should have been clearer.  I am talking about windos systems.  The P4 system has XP and the core has 7.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: tone007 on December 29, 2010, 07:18:44 PM
The monitor alone is worth at least $100.

The $200 price sounds like a good deal to me.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: fishy_fiz on December 29, 2010, 07:21:50 PM
Pipeline depth doesnt directly dictate speed, but more typically frequency potential. Things like branch prediction and so on are more relevant to speed than pipeline length, especially with a larger pipe. Also there was 4 different architectures for the p4, not all had the same length pipeline. JUdging by the frequency though it's probably either northwood or williamette.

As for the price, I guess if it includes a monitor and other bits n bobs 200 isnt too unreasonable. Personally I wouldnt pay it, but for some people I guess a ready to use system is worth a little extra money. When I said $100 to begin with I was thinking more along the lines of just the box + core components.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: motrucker on December 29, 2010, 07:32:49 PM
Quote from: dannyp1;602687
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
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: Zac67 on December 29, 2010, 07:54:19 PM
Quote from: KThunder;602712
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.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: Iggy on December 29, 2010, 08:16:17 PM
Quote from: dannyp1;602709
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.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: Retro_71 on December 30, 2010, 12:37:47 AM
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?
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: Iggy on December 30, 2010, 01:17:32 AM
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.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: KThunder on December 30, 2010, 05:08:21 AM
yeah buy the core 2 system if the video slots would fill your needs
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: ElPolloDiabl on December 30, 2010, 05:46:30 AM
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.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: fishy_fiz on December 30, 2010, 07:28:45 AM
@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.
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: bloodline on December 30, 2010, 08:56:07 AM
Core 2 Duo

Next question ;)
Title: Re: Which System Is Better?
Post by: kedawa on December 30, 2010, 04:19:31 PM
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.