How to select CPU from Intel

[kinlunyu]

I have an old Dell 4600 computer. The CPU is Intel Pentium 4 with HT 2.8GHz. The graphic card is Geforce FX5200 and the PSU is 250watt only. It is hard to upgrade my graphic card to Geforce FX6800. I want to buy a new computer with more power for playing HD video. I review Dell XPS 410. I am confusing the CPU. I saw 3 kinds of CPU that cost me almost the same price.
Pentium 4 with HT, 3.2 GHz, 800FSB;
Pentium D with Dual Core, 2.8GHz, 800FSB;
Intel Core 2 Duo, 1.86GHz, 1066FSB.
My main application is playing HD Video and I don't consider to run multi-tasking, e.g. playing video and burning DVD at the same time. Could any one advise me which CPU is the best choice for my application?

Thank you,
Kinlun Yu

[Abbadon]

The pentium 4 is a pile of crap, it has been proved. If I were you, and considering there is no choice 4, I would go for the Pentium D with dual core.

Good luck.

[JohnnyMalaria]

The pentium 4 is a pile of crap, it has been proved. If I were you, and considering there is no choice 4, I would go for the Pentium D with dual core.

What terrible advice!

The Core 2 Duo option is much more powerful even with the clock speed differences.

kinlunyu - according to Dell, the model you are interested in only comes with Core 2 Duo.

[ofbarea]

I have a Pentium D 2.8 @ 3.0GHz and a P4 3.2 @ 3.6GHz.

The Pentium D is a lot faster to P4. But the core 2 is the fastest one with less power consumption and cooler.

[edDV]

What are you trying to do that can't be done with Pentium 4 with HT 2.8GHz and Geforce FX5200?

Is your goal to buy everything new or are you attempting to keep as much as you have (i.e. minmum cost)?

What kind of HD video are you trying to play? What format? What display? Model numbers help.

[kinlunyu]

I have HD video with WMV, TS, MKV formats, 1920x1028. My computer cannot play these videos smoothly. I read some information from this forum. Some recommandation is replace my graphic card with Geforce FX6600 or 6800, using Pure Video. But, these cards need PSU 300 watts or more. Dell has special motherbord that standard cannot be used. So, I want to buy a new computer.
Is Intel Core 2 Duo with 1.68 GHz faster than high frequency Pentium D with Dua Core, 2.8 GHz when playing HD video? This is my concern.

Thank you,
Kinlun Yu

[glockjs]

core 2 duo>all atm :/

[JohnnyMalaria]

Have a look at this article:

http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2869&Itemid=40&limit=1&limitstart=0

It compares a 2.66GHz Pentium D 805 with a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo E6600. In nearly every case, the Core 2 Duo is twice as fast even though the clock speed is about 10% lower.

The two processors you mention have a clock speed ratio of 2.8/1.86 (1.51) compared to 2.4/2.66 (0.90) above. Assuming a linear relationship, I would expect the Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz to be about 20% faster than the Pentium D.

According to Dell, you can get a 2.13GHz Duo for an extra $50 or a 2.4GHz for an extra $100.

I would seriously consider paying the extra $50 or $100 to get the faster CPU.

[SandyB]

Pentium D 965 3.4 ghz @ 3.70. Core temp is 24 degrees at idle, and 35 degrees doing mpeg encoding with MainConcept. Speed is 4x. stock CPU fan.

Beware the Pentium D 800 series....idle temp is 48, and hits 75 when encoding ( same as the Pentium 4)

[edDV]

I have HD video with WMV, TS, MKV formats, 1920x1028. My computer cannot play these videos smoothly. I read some information from this forum. Some recommandation is replace my graphic card with Geforce FX6600 or 6800, using Pure Video. But, these cards need PSU 300 watts or more. Dell has special motherbord that standard cannot be used. So, I want to buy a new computer.
Is Intel Core 2 Duo with 1.68 GHz faster than high frequency Pentium D with Dua Core, 2.8 GHz when playing HD video? This is my concern.

Thank you,
Kinlun Yu

Your current machine should handle 1280x720p wmv with ease but not 1920x1080p wmv. It should handle 1920x1080i MPeg2_TS playback at least with VLC which defaults to single field.

Display cards aren't ready for prime time yet for wmv/VC-1 or H.264. They will help a bit with MPeg2_TS but player setup to take advantage of hardware is still tricky.

So, you are stuck needing CPU power to support software players. Core2 Duo is winning most multimedia benchmarks. Find a benchmark for your player of choice. If you pick the right motherboard, you can maybe salvage your power supply, case and memory. The Geforce 5200 probably isn't worth saving.

I don't like the current state of art for PCIe "Pure Video" and "AVIVO". I wouldn't put much into either until they support MPeg2_TS, VC-1 and H.264 in hardware without CPU load.

[Abbadon]

The pentium 4 is a pile of crap, it has been proved. If I were you, and considering there is no choice 4, I would go for the Pentium D with dual core.

What terrible advice!

The Core 2 Duo option is much more powerful even with the clock speed differences.

kinlunyu - according to Dell, the model you are interested in only comes with Core 2 Duo.

I need to apologize, you are right. I didn't check the facts before I posted. I read an article sometime ago regarding the Pentium D and its super overclocking capabilities.

Anyway, the Pentium D is in fact two Pentium 4, so stay away of it.

[normcar]

Make sure that the Video Card has HD decoding. This allows the video card to do all the HD decoding without having to use the CPU.

[normcar]

tomshardware.com has a good CPU and Video comparison charts.

[RabidDog]

There is no choice really, the core2 duo will blow away the other two processors by a large margin. the earlier pentium 4s can be overclocked but they already run very hot (which is why the pentiums were ditched). the core2dou is a much more efficient CPU and will also overclock. No contest in my eyes .. as to gfx look for a card that specifically has some hardware support for decoding Hi-def dont forget a fast hard disk (sata ii) and fast large memory. In fact for a new Pc look at AMD 64 its inteRgrated memory controller is still better than Intels


If you cant correct 'em join em!

[JohnnyMalaria]

inteRgrated

As Manuel would say: "Que?"

"integrated" surely?