Will you be buying a multi-core computer this year?

[yoda313]

So with the quad cores coming out from intel are you going to jump into dual or quad core processors????

I am thinking about buying a new pc this summer. Preferrably after VISTA has been given a once over and initial glitches are worked out. I would like to look into a dual core processor. Probably I will budget 400-500 for the desktop. Maybe 400-300 depending on circumstances however. BUT I will have to get one with pci-e slot and a beefy power supply for future expansion.

[Bjs]

Dang it ... I want more than two choice's but it wouldnt let me ...

N yes - a dual core
N Yes - a quad core
Y I already own a dual core (it's less than 3 week's old , and ms is already screwing with it)
N I already own a quad core
Y I believe in multiple processors not multiple cores
Y Not in the market for a new computer this year - unless mine blows up this year (with any help from ms god willing , it will)
Maybe On the bubble - may or may not buy a new computer but not sure if it will be multiple core or not - maybe a budget computer

If ms is going to shout freebies ... but you buy the os ... then maybe ... but the considering how cheap ms is with the os , and the current spattering of crap patch's ... and / or the lack there of ... stuff that .

Theory ... if pigs could fly , and the previous statement had any truth ... then all the internal component's used would be the cheapest crap they could get their hand's on in the first place .

You know how far I trust ms now ... about as far as I can throw brick ... which aint far these day's .

[redwudz]

I am using a dual core AMD AM2 CPU at present. Very nice. Even without the speed gain from my previous CPU, the improved multitasking is a major improvement. I can run several programs at once with no problems. And the programs that make use of the dual cores, like Divx, have ran quite a bit quicker. I'm ready for quad cores.

[yoda313]

Dang it ... I want more than two choice's but it wouldnt let me ...

I have now added a "multiple computer, multilple processor" choice for those with a variety of hardware at home.

[budz]

I have mulitple computers and mulitple processors. Last month I built a new pc with a Intel core 2 duo E6400 processor overclocked to 2.4ghz.
Using DVD REBUILDER PRO it only takes 60-70 minutes to convert a dvd movie. Where as my P4 Northwood 3.0c computer would take 2- 2 1/2 hours to convert using DVDRB PRO. Yes, I do enjoy the dual core processor and I can surf the net while DVDRB PRO is running. YaY! nO Lagging!!!!

[edDV]

Why no dual choices.

I already own dual core (support machine)
Plan to buy Quad Core (#1 editing machine)

I have no plans for Vista unless included in Quad 4 upgrade option. I still have extra XP licenses.

[yoda313]

Why no dual choices.

I already own dual core (support machine)
Plan to buy Quad Core (#1 editing machine)

There are two dual choices eddv. One for plan to buy dual core and one that says you already own dual core.

[edDV]

I meant now own Core2Duo and plan to buy Core2Quad.

[yoda313]

core2quad?????? What the hell is that????

[edDV]

Kentsfield or better.

per Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2#Kentsfield
"Kentsfield is the code name for the first quad-core version of the Core 2 processor. The first model of Kentsfield, the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 (product code 80562), was released on November 2, 2006, and became available from manufacturers such as Dell and Gateway on November 14. The processor features four cores, with a clock speed of 2.67 GHz, and two 4 MB L2 caches. The new processor retails for a price of US$999, the same as the Core 2 Extreme X6800.[9][10][11][12][13]

Initial samples of the processor had substantially higher power consumption than their Core 2 Duo counterparts (approx. 130 watts), however the retail version is expected to have a thermal envelope of 80 W.[14] The top-of-the-line Kentsfield CPU, the first Kentsfield to be released, is branded a Core 2 Extreme processor, while the mainstream version is called Core 2 Quad and launched at 2.4ghz in Jan 2007."

[Epicurus8a]

I have a dual core laptop with XP SP2.

[vico1]

I plan on building a new Kentsfield sys (Quad) this year.
It will be my new encoding, editing, everything video/graphics box.

Water cooled...Maybe Phase Change, not sure yet...$$$... 8)
(lookin' to do a little "overclocking"...nothing big, just stable every day clock)

Quad core...I feel the "Need for Speed!"... :P

[Soopafresh]

Hey budz, what kind of power supply and heat sink on your e6400 rig ?

[budz]

Hey budz, what kind of power supply and heat sink on your e6400 rig ?

I'm using a Antec Smart Power 500 watt power supply.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

And using a Cooler Master RR-LCH-P9E1 Hyper L3 HSF.

http://www.svc.com/rr-lhc-p9-e1.html

[Bjs]

I'll hang out for the sextuplet decuplet's ... it'll fly or fry ... 6 cpus with 8 cores each ... make's toast in a flash .

Just getting the picture of a nuclear explosion when it dose fry ... there gose the power grid for the whole south west for the week ... and what a power bill too match ... lmgo

[FulciLives]

I currently have a P4 540 3.2Ghz computer and for me that is fast enough even though I've had it for just over two years.

So I picked the option "Not in the market for a new computer this year - unless mine blows up this year"

However I only have 512MB RAM and I am getting short on HDD space so if I buy any computer hardware this year it will be a large size HDD and probably a new video card (I am past due). I think I am A-OK with 512MB RAM unless I decide to upgrade to Windows Vista ... at which time I would like to upgrade to at least 1GB RAM if not 2GB RAM (although I am guessing that 1GB RAM is enough for Vista just like 512MB RAM is enough for Windows XP which is what I am currently running).

In fact I don't see a new computer for me (i.e., CPU) until 2008 and even then I might not really "need it" unless HD-DVD and/or Blu-Ray encoding becomes a real reality. In fact that type of video encoding will need to be here and be "affordable" (i.e., the burners) before I consider a new computer (or CPU/Mother Board upgrade).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[hudsonf]

My wife bought me a Gateway GT5220 (AMD Athlon 64 X2 Processor 3800+) for Christmas. I really wanted a Intel Core2 Duo but I'm happy with what she bought me. I'm still going to save up and build my own system later this year.

[TheFamilyMan]

I've been using an AMD X2 4200+ dual core for about 15 months (of which I've swoon about in other posts), and there's no going back to a single processor rig. And BTW

Antec Smart Power 500 watt power supply

I've blown two of these so far with this rig (check my specs), fortunately with no colateral damage. I'm done with inexpensive PSUs, I got one of these at a local shop and it's been rock solid (but a bit pricey, hopefully it'll last me forever): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817151027

[VHBubba]

How about an option for "Don't know what a dual-core computer is."
I have a custom-built machine with an AMD Duron 701 Mhz that is several years old.
I won't buy another computer until this one dies.

[Capmaster]

Already own a quad-core. Just upgraded in December 8)

[yoda313]

Already own a quad-core. Just upgraded in December 8)

Guess where I got my idea for the poll cap

[Capmaster]

Already own a quad-core. Just upgraded in December 8)

Guess where I got my idea for the poll cap

Good idea, Yoda

Interesting poll. Though I'm a bit miffed that 11 other people have quad-cores already

[EddyH]

What, no "i may buy a 'new' computer or upgrades this year, but don't believe I need multi-core (yet)" option?

I have a year-old single core centrino system and it's basically fast enough for me. MPG2 encodes are the only thing I've found that really stress it (apart from folding@home, which i don't run any more because it doesn't sit well with it being a mobile-at-a-moment's-notice system), and they run at an acceptable pace, typically better than realtime (just). The bottleneck at the moment is storage - memory size (to improve cache and reduce swapping) and hard disc size/speed (want to chop out the 40gb/5400 for a 100gb/7200). If the CPU starts to be badly hammered by non-encode apps after that, well .... time for a new laptop. or overclocking.
Ditto that for the PC at work. It was the absolute cheapest machine they could find, by admission (bought by the department seperate from the rest of the establishment, basically on petty cash as we needed a computer but IT disagreed)... three years after purchase it's still running just fine, it just needs a bit more RAM to keep up with the memory demands put on it by certain hoggy programs, including the capture software for the new usb2 digital tv dongle (which otherwise has oodles of spare CPU time).

My brother has a dual core Pentium D 2.8....... i think it largely goes to waste, as does the evidently large amount of energy going into it (judging by the cpu fan noise..) when it's doing not much more than idling at the desktop.

[pijetro]

Just bought a slightly used HPwX9300 workstation...It's got two Dual-core AMD Opterons...

I'm so looking forward to updating my specs, and playing with this beast...

As far as encoding is concerned...
The CCE website doesn't list the Opteron as a supported chip...I hope this isn't the case, or i'll have to cry...


It would've been good to perhaps check into that before i bought the system

[jagabo]

Just bought a slightly used HPwX9300 workstation... It's got two Dual-core AMD Opterons...

CCE should run on a pair of Opterons. It works fine on a A64 X2 3800+. I'd love to see some CCE benchmarks with 1, 2, and 4 cores -- to see how well it scales past 2 cores. I'm thinking of getting a Core 2 Quad CPU after the Q6600 drops to $266 next month.

[ofbarea]

Just got a Q6700 and it is fastttttttttttttttttttttt..................