Upgrade to P4 3.4 GHz Extreme?

[dsgreen30]

Hey all,

I was thinking of taking my current Pentium 4 3.2GHz (Northwood) system up to a Pentium 4 3.4GHz Extreme Edition chip.

My thinking is to max this baby out, and then sit back for a year or so and let the PCI Express/BTX stuff shake out.

What do y'all think?

Dave

 

[tlaughrey]

I think you must have about a grand of cash that you don't have anything better to do with. Personally, I don't think the performance increase you'll get going from a 3.2GHz Northwood to a 3.4GHz EE is worth that much money. Get a pair of Raptors for a RAID 0 setup or something.

<i>Money talks. Mine always likes to say "goodbye." </i>

 

[HardWareBoss]

Money burning a hole in your pocket?

 

[sjonnie]

Personally, I don't think the performance increase you'll get going from a 3.2GHz Northwood to a 3.4GHz EE is worth that much money. Get a pair of Raptors for a RAID 0 setup or something.

Makes me wonder what performance increase you expect from a RAID0 array.

<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/myanandtech.html?member=114979" target="_new">My PCs</A>

 

[trooper11]

if your even considering the p4ee, id rather buy a s939 ahtlon fx 53 and a s939 board, it would still be chearp then your p4 3.4ee and better performer on most things, the biggest being games, but 3d rendering and video editing would still be a bit faster on the p4, but still, its a much better deal.

 

[Zeekfu]

I was thinking of upgrading my ferrari to a lamborgini--The ferreri looks nice but it just ain't doing it for me anymore. what do you guys think?

(ps--just kiddin' around-I am easily ammused these days. )

 

[tlaughrey]

Makes me wonder what performance increase you expect from a RAID0 array.

It depends on what you're upgrading from. But two 10,000 RPM Raptors in RAID 0 probably are a nice step up from a regular 7,200 RPM drive. And they cost about $600 less than a P4EE, so you probably get more performance for your dollar.

Here are some benchmarks comparing Raptor RAID 0 setups if you're interested. The performance increases with RAID are pretty significant.

<A HREF="http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=raptor74&page=6&MSCSProfile=95385A1F52DEA1A229D5B375420544643C050EDB3C7AE648FF41AA425E789FB5A02238CBEA06637FE42F743A5F659E9B5E3BFB045E5A18ED745591A66A1D7D850F1C401AED2DF6F388EC7D6173622563075F16BC54D417827FBE6C8ABA0A382B6ADC76FCDFD3BC663478B9390483FCB10F31CEC69371CD24E0F4E9736FF3A420BD2F7452892946D5" target="_new">Raptor RAID benchmarks</A>

<i>Money talks. Mine always likes to say "goodbye." </i>

 

[pitsi]

Sorry for saying this but <b>what are you talking about</b>? If you have $1000+ laying somewhere and you don't know what to do with it, then make a donation to someone who needs it or something! It would sure make much more sense than this upgrade.

 

[scamtrOn]

don't do it. get two raptors on raid.

</font color=red><b><font color=orange>my sys:
mobo: Abit AN7 @ 442 FSB
CPU: AXPm 2600+ @ 4100+
ram: corsair xms @ 1:1 running 2.5-3-3-6
HDD: two raptors on raid 0

 

[dhlucke]

Buy a top end monitor instead.

<font color=blue>________________________</font color=blue>
<font color=red>You are all going to go to Hell!

 

[endyen]

How about a solid gold mouse, with big saphires for buttons, and a diamond studded wheel.

 

[Zeekfu]

roflmao, endyen.

*You could use that quote as your sig, lol. <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Zeekfu on 06/05/04 01:09 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[dsgreen30]

Heh, well pitsi...it takes me quite a long time to save up this much cash, so that is why I asked the question in the first place. As far as charity goes, I donate my fair share.

Basically I was asking so that I could figure out what to put the cash into, and I want to extend the current life of this architecture (ATX MB, No PCI Express, etc) for as long as I can, and then go to the new stuff (BTX MB, PCI Express cards, etc) later.

Or, I suppose I could just stay with my current setup, and go to the new stuff once its been out awhile...hard to make decisions when you have limited funds. Once I spend this, I'll be stuck with it for quite some time!!

What to do!! Arrrggghhh!!!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by dsgreen30 on 06/05/04 03:46 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[scamtrOn]

dood, you got about a thou, right? put it in tha bank. who said you have to spend it?

</font color=red><b><font color=orange>my sys:
mobo: Abit AN7 @ 442 FSB
CPU: AXPm 2600+ @ 4100+
ram: corsair xms @ 1:1 running 2.5-3-3-6
HDD: two raptors on raid 0

 

[dsgreen30]

That's looking more and more like what I will do, and just wait until say the Prescott 3.8GHz or so comes out with the new 775 chipset (BTX MB w/PCI Express). Then spring for the new stuff...plus I would have more saved by then.

 

[dhlucke]

There's a company that makes computers out of wood. You could always spend money on that.

Or get your computer wrapped in ostrich skin.

<font color=blue>________________________</font color=blue>
<font color=red>You are all going to go to Hell!

 

[scamtrOn]

how about camel skin, i would do camel skin... tell me they do camel skin too....

</font color=red><b><font color=orange>my sys:
mobo: Abit AN7 @ 442 FSB
CPU: AXPm 2600+ @ 4100+
ram: corsair xms @ 1:1 running 2.5-3-3-6
HDD: two raptors on raid 0

 

[dhlucke]

Not sure, but I did see a Hummer with ostrich skin interior. Had 26" rims too. Had a 24" LCD on the hood even.

<font color=blue>________________________</font color=blue>
<font color=red>You are all going to go to Hell!

 

[Zeekfu]

roflmao, this is the best thread ever. You made everyone smile even if ya may have not meant to, bro.
peace

"If your nose runs and your feet smell then maybe you're upside down." W.C. Fields

 

[HardWareBoss]

Ya your Ferrari is way to slowwww. You need the faster Lambo.

 

[HardWareBoss]

LOL

 

[HardWareBoss]

Why not wait till 64 bit is in full swing for your next upgrade?

 

[ZER0]

dude don't do it just take the 1k and buy a bunch of coke

 

[dsgreen30]

Hehe, you guys are killin' me! Never thought starting this thread would make me laugh so much.

I'm not even worried about what computer parts I buy anymore!

 

[P4Man]

Euh.. did you read that article ? They used a 64 bit PCI Raid controller, not something you can use on any P4EE/A64/FX board I'm aware off.

Using a regular 32 bit PCI raid controller , or even more one integrated in the southbridge, the real world difference between 1 disk and 2 disks in raid is basically ZERO. I posted a link on an exhaustive review of raid performance of several chipsets (intel, via, nvidia, ..) that showed just that, but can't find it anymore.

= The views stated herein are my personal views, and not necessarily the views of my wife. =