Please Help. What cpu would be best for me?

jingato · Sep 12, 2003

Hi. I am going to put together a new PC and I am confused about which cpu would be best for what I need. I am building a new one because I will be using it for 3D Studio Max ans Maya.
These are the options I considered.
Dual xeon Processors, Dual Athlon Processors, Single P4, Single Athlon.
What would be my best choice for me and why?
Thank you for the help, I appreciate it.
John

bandikoot · Sep 12, 2003

I don't know much about either of those programs, but if you go and check out <A HREF="http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=opteron246&page=1 " target="_new">http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=opteron246&page=1 </A> you should have your answer. They use both studio max and maya in their benchmarks (2p page 5, 1p page 12)after looking at that its all in how much money you are willing to spend.

Ryan_Plus_One · Sep 12, 2003

Dual Xeon > Dual Athlon > P4 > AXP

Your preference should be the best you can afford with your current budget.

Proudly supporting the AMD/Nvidia minority

david__t · Sep 12, 2003

I think that a top end single P4 would be the best choice because the Hyper Threading will give you 'Like dual CPU' performance and will cost less. But otherwise I agree with the previous post - get the best that you can afford.

4.77MHz to 4.0GHz in 10 years. Imagine the space year 2020

HardWareBoss · Sep 12, 2003

Do you have a price limit?

jingato · Sep 12, 2003

I wanted to spend around 3 or 4 thousand total. It was mentioned that a single P4 chip can do Hyperthreading, but is it just like having two chips? Is it possible that a High end P4 can be better than dual xeon? Are all High end P4's capable of hyperthreading, or just certain ones?
Thanks again for the help.

slvr_phoenix · Sep 12, 2003

The following P4s have HT: 2.4C, 2.6C, 2.8C, 3.0, 3.06, 3.2

HyperThreading is not like having two chips. It's just a convoluted way for the P4 to pretend that it is two chips so that if one software thread isn't fully using the CPU then it can more efficiently run a second software thread to better utilize what processing power the CPU has. You won't get any more performance than what 1 CPU has to offer, but in many situations you may get more performance than an equal CPU without HT would give. Basicically it's just a trick for the CPU to be used more efficiently. Where as two CPUs actually doubles the processing power.

And there are clear cases where a single P4 can best a dualie Xeon box. For your software though, I don't know, though I would hope not.

<pre><A HREF="http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20030905" target="_new">People don't understand how hard being a dark god can be. - Hastur</A></pre>

slvr_phoenix · Sep 12, 2003

Let's look at the weird and fun stuff that four grand can get you.

(Prices are from Pricewatch.)

SuperMicro SC742i-450 Case with 450W ps = $235
SuperMicro X5DAE (E7505) dual Xeon mobo = $388
Xeon 2.66GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB = $282
Xeon 2.66GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB = $282
Micron 1024MB Registered ECC PC2100 = $225
Micron 1024MB Registered ECC PC2100 = $225
Micron 1024MB Registered ECC PC2100 = $225
Micron 1024MB Registered ECC PC2100 = $225
ATI FireGL X1 128MB = $524
Adaptec 2015S Ultra 320 SCSI RAID 64-bit PCI = $215
Seagate Cheetah X15 18.4GB 15K RPM Ultra320 = $190
Seagate Cheetah X15 18.4GB 15K RPM Ultra320 = $190
WD1200JB 120GB 7200RPM 8MB cache = $105
Pioneer DVR-A06 DVD +/-r and +/-rw = $167
Samsung SyncMaster 171V 17" LCD = $355
WinXP Pro SP1 OEM = $143
keyboard/mouse/floppy drive = whatever is left

So it's a dualie 2.66GHz Xeon box with 4GB of RAM, a prof 3D card based on an ATI 9700, a nice IDE hard drive for Windows and normal use, a sweet RAID0 15000RPM SCSI array for when serious crunching is needed, a DVD burner that's very compatible, and a 17 inch LCD display just because.

Yes, I admit that most of this is just insane. :O It's just an example to show the kinds of fun stuff that four grand can buy.

<pre><A HREF="http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20030905" target="_new">People don't understand how hard being a dark god can be. - Hastur</A></pre>

SJJM · Sep 12, 2003

I wish I have 4 grand to spend on a computer. I did a build on paper before and the computer that I was looking to buy, would have cost me almost 10 grand. Scsi raid 5 is not cheap(that was with 36.6gb harddrives at 15,000rpm).

"You know, that my backstab attack does double the damage. I can make an off button for him." 😎

slvr_phoenix · Sep 12, 2003

I wish I have 4 grand to spend on a computer. I did a build on paper before and the computer that I was looking to buy, would have cost me almost 10 grand. Scsi raid 5 is not cheap(that was with 36.6gb harddrives at 15,000rpm).

I wish I had $500 to spend on a new computer for the wife. **ROFL** Four grand would kick some major arse.

And no, SCSI RAID5 using 36.6GB 15K RPM drives is not cheap. You could easily spend 1.5 to 2 grand just on the drives alone. Heh heh.

But oh what speed that would be! I wonder what hardware THGC uses...

<pre><A HREF="http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20030905" target="_new">People don't understand how hard being a dark god can be. - Hastur</A></pre>

HardWareBoss · Sep 12, 2003

Now that puppy should do what he wants. $4000 Super setup.

HardWareBoss · Sep 12, 2003

Slvr is that something you want to build? That's if you have an extra 4000 G's sitting around collecting dust!!!!!! LOL

SJJM · Sep 12, 2003

I know how you feel slvr_phoenix, I need about that much just for my tires on my car(which is a little more important then computers right now).

"You know, that my backstab attack does double the damage. I can make an off button for him." 😎

slvr_phoenix · Sep 12, 2003

I know how you feel slvr_phoenix, I need about that much just for my tires on my car(which is a little more important then computers right now).

Sounds familiar. It was that kind of stuff that shrunk my New Computer Fund every time I was close to having enough to upgrade. Car, house, dentist, doctor, vet, car, house, car, clothes for work, dentist, car, car... it never bloody ends. Thank goodness that I finally managed to get the new computer. It only took over three years. **ROFL**

<pre><A HREF="http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20030905" target="_new">People don't understand how hard being a dark god can be. - Hastur</A></pre>

SJJM · Sep 12, 2003

Well I am hoping to upgrade next month, when prices drop. I think that I will get a 2.8c with an asus board. Only if the prices drop enough for me, or I might to get a 2.4c or a 2.6c. Either way I will be over clocking, can let this water cooled system go to waste.

"You know, that my backstab attack does double the damage. I can make an off button for him." 😎

SJJM · Sep 12, 2003

I is funny that you mention vet and clothes for work. I am getting a new dog soon and I need some more work clothes too.

"You know, that my backstab attack does double the damage. I can make an off button for him." 😎

slvr_phoenix · Sep 12, 2003

Slvr is that something you want to build? That's if you have an extra 4000 G's sitting around collecting dust!!!!!! LOL

**ROFL** Actually, no. I don't think that I'd quite go that route. I was just giving an example of a solid graphics/media workstation for that price.

For that kind of money I personally would probably be freezing a 2.6GHz NWC with a Vapochill or something and raising my single-CPU's FSB from here to infinity, and beyond with tiny copper heatsinks (or maybe water blocks) epoxied to my RAM instead of a heat spreader. And I'd have three 15K Cheetahs in a RAID5 array instead of two in a RAID0 array. And I'd use a Radeon 9800Pro instead of a prof. gfx card. I'd probably have a 16x DVD to use as my primary optical for the heck of it too. Oh, and a CRT instead of an LCD. I don't like LCDs yet. Basically I personally would take the system down a whole different route (I.E. for gaming) because I don't do 3DSM since I can't afford software like that.

Hmm ... that's a paradox ... if I had four grand to spend on a PC would that mean I'd have had enough money for 3DSM already? And if so would I just do what I said right now or instead do what I suggested earlier? :\ Damn. It's all so confusing.

Actually ... it'd be kind of cool to get a 3 monitor setup... If I had the money maybe I'd look at that too...

<pre><A HREF="http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20030905" target="_new">People don't understand how hard being a dark god can be. - Hastur</A></pre>

HardWareBoss · Sep 13, 2003

Real tuff to ponder if you had the money to burn. But they make one heck of a starting point.

Please Help. What cpu would be best for me?

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