P4-1.3 RIMM or P4-3.0 DDR

[RASKA]

Hi, I have a Pentium 4 1.3 Ghz 128 Mb RIMM memory(PC800). I need 512 mb RIMM, and it cost $160 moreless.
But if I sell my computer plus $160 I could buy a Pentium 4 3.0 512 DDR (PC400).
I know that the 3.0 procesor comes with 1Mb cache and 800 Mhz front side bus; and 1.3 comes with 512 cache and 400 front side bus.
The question is, what is better, a faster processor with a slower memory, or a slower processor with faster memory.

Thanks so much.

 

[fishmahn]

In this case, the faster processor is definitely faster. If you were talking about a 3.0 at 800 or a 3.2 at 533 where the cpu speed is close it might be different, but from 1.3 to 3.0 go with the 3.0 hands down.

Mike.

 

[Clob]

The memory bandwidth of the 3.0 is way higher, practicaly double. You will pretty much get double performance with the 3.0 over the 1.3, so like Fishman said, 3.0 hands down! Also, Is there not a socket size difference somewhere? considering the 3.0 is a scotty?

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[Mephistopheles]

P4 1.3Ghz? Wow, if i'm not mistaken, that's the lowest speed bin for a P4 ever...

You will most definitely benefit tremendously from an upgrade to a 3Ghz-class processor!

 

[fishmahn]

Ack, you're right - the ram speeds didn't register when I looked at them...

Raska: It's not PC400, it's DDR400, which is PC3200. Compared to the PC800 from your RIMMs, it's even more 'hands down' faster

Mike.

 

[Spitfire_x86]

You can't use 3.0 GHz P4 with your current mobo. I don't think it's possible to buy P4 3.0 GHz + Mobo + 512 MB DDR400 within your budget.

You can get a Sempron 3100+, Chaintech VNF3-250 mobo and 512 MB DDR400 within $300. Sempron 3100+ is almost as fast as P4 3.0 Ghz in games and roughly to P4 2.8 GHz for other tasks. And it's needless to say, both P4 3.0 GHz and Sempron 3100+ is way better than your current P4 1.3 GHz.

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[Ned_Flanders]

In this case, the faster processor is definitely faster. If you were talking about a 3.0 at 800 or a 3.2 at 533 where the cpu speed is close it might be different, but from 1.3 to 3.0 go with the 3.0 hands down.

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[Crashman]

OMG are you lost! To begin with, PC800 is only 16-bit RAM, while PC3200 is 64-bit. There is no such thing as PC400, it's DDR400, which is PC3200.

PC800 is always used in pairs (dual channel) with the P4. PC3200 can be used in single or dual channel. PC3200 in single channel mode has the same bandwidth as PC800 does in dual channel mode. And that means PC3200 in dual channel mode has 2x the bandwidth of PC800 in dual channel mode.

Do the math, both use DDR technology (PC800 is DDR RDRAM, 400x2, 16 bit; PC3200 is DDR SDRAM, 200x2, 64-bit):
800x16=12800
400x64=25600

Now you see that DDR400 has twice the bandwidth of PC800. Which means roughly twice the performance potential.

The P4 1.3GHz is actually much slower than the PIII 1000EB. It's what we call in several of the industries I'm involved in, a turd. The worst modern processor to come out of Intel or AMD. In fact, it's almost bad enough to compete with VIA.

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