3DS Render Benchmark

[Fltsimbuff]

I seriously doubt that SSE2 implementation is going to help the *current* P4 that much. The Current P4 is at 1.7GHz, and if it is the last iteration before Northwood, then that's where a user will have to stay. A P4 with a pathetically weak FPU, that is often outperformed by chips running at 100's of MHz lower clocks. If you are thinking about a New system, it makes no sense to get a Current P4 system, as it will soon be obsolete... With a T-bird, you have a bit of room for expansion, and you save some $$ in the process. If the Northwood has a better FPU, and can prove to be a *much* better performer than the current Willamette, then it might actually be worth the $$ when it is shipped. But the current P4 is generally a bad performer compared to cheaper T-birds, and is a dead-end chip.
Best wait for Northwood if you are going the P4 route...

--Fltsimbuff

 

[Raystonn]

"If you are thinking about a New system, it makes no sense to get a Current P4 system, as it will soon be obsolete"

A P3 or Athlon will go obsolete much more quickly. A P4 will perform better on future software than either of these two. Remember, most people want their computer to run fine for the next 3 years at the very least without any upgrades. If you're one of those who like to upgrade their systems every 6 months to 1 year, then yes I agree that waiting for the Northwood would be a better idea. The upgrade paths are far more attractive. However, mainstream computer purchasers don't follow this upgrade path. They don't upgrade at all for about 3 years after a computer purchase. By that time you're pretty much guaranteed to at least need a new motherboard with a new CPU, regardless of which company manufactures the CPU you purchase. Thus, the motherboard as an upgrade path isn't very relevant to mainstream computer purchasers.

-Raystonn

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