Pentium D vs. Intels Core 2

[snapware]

So i bought a pentium d 3.0ghz last month, before the core 2 came out, now the core 2 is out and the prices have been cut on the pentium d.

I am upset, but i want to see, how much am i losing out by not having the core 2?

[Marvingj]

Your not losing at all, most programs don't benefit from Dual core.

[TBoneit]

I'd have to say it depends on what you do and what programs you use. DVD Shrink seems faster with it. TMPGEnc Xpress is much faster with dual core. Anything processor intensive that is done with decent software will benefit from dual core. I'm guessing you mean Core Duo when you say core 2? Then a second benefit will most likely be a cooler running processor.

Vista will most likely benefit too. XP already supports dual core.

In XP Pro I could assign encoding to one core and something else to the other core.

Sorry for the bad news.

[jagabo]

So i bought a pentium d 3.0ghz last month, before the core 2 came out, now the core 2 is out and the prices have been cut on the pentium d.

I am upset, but i want to see, how much am i losing out by not having the core 2?

A lot in terms of absolute performance:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/core2_duo_knocks_out_athlon_64/
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2795

Not as much in performance per dollar, depending on how much you paid for your Pentuim D. Intel reduced prices a few months ago (to clear out inventory) and Core 2 Duo is currently overpriced because of short supply.

[snapware]

It's just upsetting how after i pick up the Pentium D for $350, they drop the prices and come out with the new Core 2 Duo which is making my processor obsolete.

[MOVIEGEEK]

It's just upsetting how after i pick up the Pentium D for $350, they drop the prices and come out with the new Core 2 Duo which is making my processor obsolete.

That's progress for you,in two years Intel will have a new CPU that makes the Duo obsolete.

[rkr1958]

Your not losing at all, most programs don't benefit from Dual core.

That's partly true. I've just gotten a dual core system at work. I've found that the time it takes to run a CPU intensive application takes about the same time as it did on my old machine. Both are 2.8-GHz, except my new machine as two cores with their own L1 & L2 cache. However, on my dual-core machine I can do other things while the application is running or I can do two runs of the application at the same time in about the same time as one took. I'm very impressed with the Dual-Core and what I've read the Core-Duo are very impressive too even though the don't support 64-bit processing.

[ROF]

It's just upsetting how after i pick up the Pentium D for $350, they drop the prices and come out with the new Core 2 Duo which is making my processor obsolete.

That's progress for you,in two years Intel will have a new CPU that makes the Duo obsolete.

Moore's Law is an strange and yet predictable phenomenon.

[TheFamilyMan]

It's just upsetting how after i pick up the Pentium D for $350, they drop the prices and come out with the new Core 2 Duo which is making my processor obsolete.

Don't worry, be happy is my advice: obsolencsence is in the eye of the beholder. Dual core is excellent, for now you can do more than one thing at the same time (like run an encode and play a game) and still get things to respond/finish reasonably quick. And those new Intel duos are still big $$$ for the really hot ones. Consider this: I got an AMD 4200+ X2 for about $500 in October, and now they go for less than $190. Is my rig obsolete: Hell No!!!, for what I need it for it screams!!!

[jagabo]

I got an AMD 4200+ X2 for about $500 in October, and now they go for less than $190. Is my rig obsolete: Hell No!!!, for what I need it for it screams!!!

If snapware paid $350 for a 3.0 GHz Pentium D a month ago he was ripped off. Those chips have been well under $200 for at least 3 months now. I hope he means he bought a case, power supply, motherboard, CPU, and CPU cooler for that amount!

[greymalkin]

yeah..your computer still turns on and runs all your programs doesn't it?
What's obsolete about that???

Reminds me of a time many moons ago when a 33mhz jump really meant something..i bought a P1 200mhz processor. 2 weeks later, the 233 was $10 cheaper than what I paid for the 200.

[ROF]

Buying a computer is like buying a car. You must accept that even if you buy the latest model with all features and packages included, the moment you pull in your driveway your vehicle is now worth $1000's less than you paid for it.

[jagabo]

Buying a computer is like buying a car. You must accept that even if you buy the latest model with all features and packages included, the moment you pull in your driveway your vehicle is now worth $1000's less than you paid for it.

Yeah, and every now and then you come across a shyster who'll rip you off! LOL

[faramith]

Intel will be releasing Intel Kentsfield first quarter 2007, kentsfield is a Quadcore CPU making
Core 2 Duo feel like a ripoff since they just came out.

[ROF]

Intel will be releasing Intel Kentsfield first quarter 2007, kentsfield is a Quadcore CPU making
Core 2 Duo feel like a ripoff since they just came out.

A vicious cycle in PC ownership. Nothing new here. As has been said, right now there is really no significant benefit D Vs. Core 2. Slight but insignificant.

[jagabo]

Kentsfield is now scheduled for release in Nov. of this year.

[Cobra]

I saw the first performance tests of the Kentsfield CPUs. They're phenomenal.

[TBoneit]

My question is wil Windows XP handle a quad core?

If you go into safe mode for example the standard home/Pro versions say 2 processor version. So I wonder if since a quad core is new if XP will use all of it or complain that you need a fancy 4 processor version?

[jagabo]

Windows XP Professional can support up to two processors regardless of the number of cores on the processor. Microsoft Windows XP Home supports one processor.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/highlights/multicore.mspx

[dragon_1]

Windows XP Professional can support up to two processors regardless of the number of cores on the processor. Microsoft Windows XP Home supports one processor.

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/highlights/multicore.mspx

ThanX for the link i was starting to wounder about that myself

[TBoneit]

So a mobo with two quad cores would be supported, hmmm....

It does make me wonder how it knows the dual cores are not two physical processors rather than on one chip. Dual core was maybe a dream when XP came out in 2002, 4 years ago.

[jagabo]

It does make me wonder how it knows the dual cores are not two physical processors rather than on one chip.

It's all encoded in the CPUID bits.

[sdsumike619]

Is this a good chip?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735

[Super Warrior]

Hey guys i have a question:

My Computers Processor is Intel Celeron-M 1.4Ghz w/1MB L2 Cache. Thats about all i know about it.

Is it Obsolete?

[greymalkin]

it really depends on which definition you want to choose:

obsolete; [ob-suh-leet]
–adjective
1. no longer in general use; fallen into disuse: an obsolete expression.
2. of a discarded or outmoded type; out of date: an obsolete battleship.
3. (of a linguistic form) no longer in use, esp., out of use for at least the past century. Compare archaic.
4. effaced by wearing down or away.
5. Biology. imperfectly developed or rudimentary in comparison with the corresponding character in other individuals, as of the opposite sex or of a related species.
–verb (used with object)
6. to make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better; antiquate: Automation has obsoleted many factory workers.

[sdsumike619]

I just put my Core 2 Duo system together and even with just a budget motherboard, this thing really burns!!

[TBoneit]

Does that make our 486 by 16Mb memory and 540 Mb HDD obsolete? No, I turn it on and it starts quicker than a P4 3Ghz computer. it is up and running and ready to be a cash register here at work in arox. a minute. Shuts down very quick too.

Obsolete is only when it will not do the job.

Would I ry and encode video on it? Nope. Not needed for that.

[Super Warrior]

Does that make our 486 by 16Mb memory and 540 Mb HDD obsolete? No, I turn it on and it starts quicker than a P4 3Ghz computer. it is up and running and ready to be a cash register here at work in arox. a minute. Shuts down very quick too.

Obsolete is only when it will not do the job.

Would I ry and encode video on it? Nope. Not needed for that.

Your 486 w/16MB memory, boots up FASTER than a P4 3Ghz comp?

Damn that P4 3Ghz comp must be POORLY maintained, with a clogged HDD that probabley has'ent been defragged in YEARS!

[dun4cheap]

I think one of the bigger advantages not mentioned moving to the core 2 duo is power and heat consumption is far less than that of the Pentium D.

As for the upgrade, I never pay full bang for a processor. The processors change so quickly I just wait for a Fry's combo. eg, I picked up my P4 D940 with motherboard for $149.99. When I pick up the core duo it will be the same, and then my kid will get my p4 d940. Its a beautiful thing.

[dcsos]

in keeping with what TBONEIT said I've observed:

a PENTIUM 166 with 128MB of RAM running WIN95 accesess files on its 8x cdrom faster by 10 to 30 seconds than XPHOME accessess files on a similar CD or DVD no matter what your SPIN speed on the newer drive (52x 16x they suck under xp)
On most XP machines there's 5 seconds of CHURNING first to bring up that stupid "SUGGESTED ACTIONS" window