Upgrading my CPU from 2.4 to 3.06, is it worth it?

[awlchu]

I was thinking about replacing my current 2.4 P4 with this new(er) processor. I can by a new P4 3.06 with HT from newegg for around $200.

My CPU is used for 80% encoding and 20% game playing. Currently running 1 gig of PC2700 memory under XP Pro.

Do you think I'll see a 25% performance improvement in rendering speed for my mpeg2 encoding? Will my memory be the bottleneck thus negating the improved speed of the processor?

Are there other factors that I should look at as well?

thanks,

[rallynavvie]

Does that 3.06 have 800 FSB? If so then you'll want to upgrade to PC3200 to take advantage of those bus speeds. Regardless encoding should be unaffected since its direct through the processor. Other apps would rather have the bus speeds. You also won't see quite a 25% increase in performance, I'd probably put it closer to 15-20% faster encoding times.

I'd hit it for that price. The 2.8 GHz processors I'm getting for my new rig cost $300 for only 533 FSB

[indolikaa]

I'd hit it for that price. The 2.8 GHz processors I'm getting for my new rig cost $300 for only 533 FSB

Are those 533 Xeons or 533 P4s? Seem to remember you were going to go Xeon this time around...

@awlchu
I'd upgrade.

[awlchu]

Here's the newegg offer:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-154&depa=0

I can then take my 2.4 and build a cheaper system for my kids to play on.... And my wife will never know that I bought the CPU and installed it!

yea!

And if she finds out, I can only blame dvdrhelp.com!

[ClayBuster]

I would get the 800Mhz FSB 3.0GHZ Myself

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-156&depa=0

Couple bucks cheaper too

[BJ_M]

he might not have a motherboard that can support 800Mhz fsb

[ClayBuster]

True. If he did he would need new memory too. So I guess it wouldn't be cheaper :P

[808smokey]

That processor only runs at 533mhz FSB

Your 2.8 P4 is either 533mhz or 800mhz FSB. I doubt you'll see much difference at all. Maybe shave 5 minutes off a DVD encoding through DVDshrink for example.

Save your money and get one of these:
-=- P4 XEON 3.2GHZ 1MB 533FSB
or
-=- Pentium 4 3.2GHz Extreme Edition 2MB 800MHz FSB socket 478 w/Hyper Threading.
Those are only around $850.00

[rallynavvie]

Are those 533 Xeons or 533 P4s? Seem to remember you were going to go Xeon this time around...

2.8 Xeons, but I've since changed my mind. I'm going dual 3.06 GHz Xeons now. Just finished a video post-proc. that netted just under 2Gs. Since the next step up from there is the $600+ 3.06 w/1MB L2 I think $400 a piece for the regular 3.06s is just fine.

Now if only Asus would let out that new PCH-DL soon!!!

[Faustus]

Yeah go with the 800mhz FSB, accept nothing less.

Personally I JUST went from an XP 2200 to an XP 3000+ and the difference seems HUGE so far.

[awlchu]

he might not have a motherboard that can support 800Mhz fsb

I checked and my Intel Mobo only supports 533mhz.

I noticed that Xeon Mobos are generally tied to 'servers'. Does this mean a duel Xeon Mobo is not a good system for a single user? Are there any pitfalls for designing a duel Xeon system? Other than a lighter wallet?

[BJ_M]

i use a dual xeon for daily use -- there are no pitfalls .

[indolikaa]

There are no pitfalls that I can think of, other than your duly-noted comment about the lighter wallet.

And when you say a lighter wallet, you ain't kidding.

[rallynavvie]

Dual systems are pretty useful for video work. Most of the professional apps are SMP aware so they'll utilise both processors. If not you can set something up to encode on one (like MP3 encoding) and do something else while that's going on without much noticeable slowdown (of course there is still slowdown from the hard drives accessing, but this is minimized with drives with onboard controllers).

As for the lighter wallet... wait a few months. Rumor has it the Intel Xeon 64-bit procs are to be released Q2 of this year. After their release the cost of the current Xeon offering will be dropped by quite a lot. It'll still be about $300 for one 3.06 GHz 533 Xeon, but that's down from $400-450 that they are right now. Apparently they're also releasing 2MB L2 cache variants of the 32-bit Xeon with an 800 FSB and they're going to be on par with what the 1MB L2s are right now.

I gotta go breathe into a bag for tic. I'm excited for the new tech and price drops but I wanted to start building soon

[dqtus]

I would get the 800Mhz FSB 3.0GHZ Myself

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-156&depa=0

Couple bucks cheaper too

That's the CPU I'm running right now. I never had a 2.4 ghz before but I'm certainly content with my 3ghz CPU. I have 2 sticks of 512mb PC3200 RAM and it works perfectly. I can't wait to try out the 3.4 though.