Dual Cpu Vs 32 Bit Vs 64 Bit

Hey guys,

I'm gona be building myself a new pc soon. I need it to be powerful enough to run multiple apps i.e Maya, Photoshop, Flash and Dreamweaver at the same time.

What I need to know is what CPU shall is most suited to my needs as I have a limited budget of around £400 for the whole system and what are pros and cons of the below CPU types?

Which is better to get for my needs:

1 - Two dual processors (total cost for 2 AMD Mp = £300)

2 - A fast 32 bit CPU (AMD Athlon "Barton" XP3200 = £120)

3 - A reasonable 64 bit CPU (AMD Athlon 64 3000 = £120) - Is there any software that utikizes 64 bit processing?

To add to this I'll be getting about 1gig of Ram.

I'm not gona be producing large renderings or anything - but I need more than reasonabe power.

Help is much appreciated.

#191163

I'm no expert in anyway with hardware but I do know that if you get a 64bit processor your gig of memory will cost your budget alone! you need the new 400mhz ddr memory to take full advantage of the 64bit speed. Also no current apps support 64bit properly so I'd go for a dualie....

#191170

But dual is pretty expensive too. Is there a decent compromise available!!

#191176

Maya and Photoshop are optimized for Dual CPUs, so if you need more power, that'll help more than 64bit. Depends what's "good enough" for you though. A Dual CPU machine will improve your performance, but do you really need it?

No Windows apps are made for 64bit, so if you're running Windows, do not get a 64bit processor.

#191211

If your thinking about going with a dual system, get a single intel P4C NORTHWOOD (not a prescott, all you get from a prescot is increased tempature and decreased preformance, ironicaly said backwards, the goal of a new CPU core). Most renders support HT very nicley. The 2.8 is very reaonable priced. PS why would you ned to run maya, photoshop, flash, and dreamweaver at the same time?

The 2.8 should fit very snug and cozy into your budget and as far as multitasking goes, its the biggest bang for your buck. You might also want to consider a fast HD (ala raptor or RAID) cause if your running that much stuff on only a gig of RAM your gonna be eating VM drive space like it was captncrunch. A gig of RAM isnt what it used to be anymore.

#191256

Cool Lostspyder thanks.

I got a question a tho - why would i want one processor on a dual mother board? Are you suggesting that for the time time and for my budget that i should just get a single cpu and then add another one in future?

If so, isn't there like some performance issues to do with pairing like with RAM?

Also if i get dual cpu's how do i assign which processes are run on which cpu - or does XP pro have that functionality built in?

#191283

Dual proc mobos cost more. You gonna need twice as much ram. 2x32bit != 64bit lol. And you better make sure all your soundcards and stuff have 64bit windowsxp drivers.

#191340

Originally posted by n3urotic@Jul 18 2004, 10:42 PM

2x32bit != 64bit lol.

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No one suggested that man!!

Lostspyder said that I should a single pentium Norwood. BTW - why would i need twice as much ram? 1 Gig should suffice.

I think its getting more unlikely that I'll be getting a dual mobo setup - the price just keeps going up!!

Do any of u guys know of websites that have an offer on dual mobo, cpu's and RAM?

#191356

Originally posted by gone2far@Jul 18 2004, 04:50 PM

No one suggested that man!!

Lostspyder said that I should a single pentium Norwood. BTW - why would i need twice as much ram? 1 Gig should suffice.

I think its getting more unlikely that I'll be getting a dual mobo setup - the price just keeps going up!!

Do any of u guys know of websites that have an offer on dual mobo, cpu's and RAM?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What country do you live in?

Try ebay.

Aw don't get a Pentium.... .

How about Dual G5 2.5GHz, that will run Maya, Photoshop, Flash whatever. And OSX !! woot

#191408

Originally posted by n3urotic@Jul 18 2004, 10:42 PM

Dual proc mobos cost more. You gonna need twice as much ram. 2x32bit != 64bit lol. And you better make sure all your soundcards and stuff have 64bit windowsxp drivers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Who said anything about a dual CPU board with a single cpu?

#191413

Originally posted by n3urotic@Jul 19 2004, 03:39 AM

What country do you live in?

Try ebay.

Aw don't get a Pentium.... .

How about Dual G5 2.5GHz, that will run Maya, Photoshop, Flash whatever. And OSX !! woot

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I'm in London.

G5 - I can't afford it!!!!! :cry:

#191473

G5's are useless in my opinion, my friend has the top spec, all I can say is, i'm not impressed, i'll stick to my AMD64. n3urotic U said that U better make sure that U have 64bit drivers. This only applies if you run WindowsXP 64bit (which U can download for free on Microsoft's site).

I've only just invested in a Athlon 64 3400+. I havent regreted it. Make sure that U buy a PC3200 400MHz RAM for your 64bit CPU.

Good luck

Sky

#191559

Originally posted by lostspyder+Jul 18 2004, 02:52 PM-->

QUOTE(lostspyder @ Jul 18 2004, 02:52 PM)

If your thinking about going with a dual system, get a single intel P4C NORTHWOOD

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#191565

Guys I'm no getting confused - i thought the whole idea of dual processor machines was to get a dual procesor mobo and 2 CPU's to share processes and threads.

I aslo know that you can run a single mutli-processor on a dual mobo.

Is 64-bit proceesor better than two 32 bit dual multi processors (or a single multi processor on dual/single proccessor mobo)?

Geez, thats a mouthful - Please DO NOT insert joke here!!!!

#191568

Originally posted by gone2far@Jul 19 2004, 12:33 PM

Guys I'm  no getting confused - i thought the whole idea of dual processor machines was to get a dual procesor mobo and 2 CPU's to share processes and threads.

I aslo know that you can run a single mutli-processor on a dual mobo.

Is 64-bit proceesor better than two 32 bit dual multi processors (or a single multi processor on dual/single proccessor mobo)?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As far as "multi processors" go, I assume you mean Pentiums with HyperThreading? As far as I know, a dual-processor system overpowers a single HT Pentium, but a dual HT Pentium setup would probably outperform a dual non-HT setup.

If you're not going for a dual-processor setup, I wouldn't bother getting a dual board.

#191577

Originally posted by Cerebral@Jul 19 2004, 04:40 PM

From what I understand, especially since very few applications even support 64-bit addressing at the moment, a dual 32-bit processor set up would be quite a bit more powerful than a single 64-bit processor. 

As far as "multi processors" go, I assume you mean Pentiums with HyperThreading?  As far as I know, a dual-processor system overpowers a single HT Pentium, but a dual HT Pentium setup would probably outperform a dual non-HT setup.

If you're not going for a dual-processor setup, I wouldn't bother getting a dual board.

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Specifically I was looking at two AMD MP's running on a single dual mobo.

Cash is sparse - so was wondering is it better to get a dual cpu system or a 64bit cpu system - you seem to have given me an insight on which one to get.

But can i get a dual cpu , dual mobo and 1 gig for £400 of my money? If you guys had £400 to spend what you do?

#191598

Originally posted by gone2far@Jul 19 2004, 01:14 PM

But can i get a dual cpu , dual mobo and 1 gig for £400 of my money? If you guys had £400 to spend what you do?

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#191607

Just done some research - Pentium Hyper Threading is where the CPU simulates being a multi-processor machine by having two logical cpu's (controlled thru the OS kernel) not two physical ones - meaning one cpu on a regular mobo.

So the next question is:

Whats better value for money? Two physical cpu setup VS Two logical cpu setup?

The research continues....

Hahahahah

#191612

Originally posted by gone2far@Jul 19 2004, 01:43 PM

Two physical cpu setup VS Two logical cpu setup?

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#191614

LOL - I know!! U joker!!

Whats better value for money man!!

I've also read about modding regular CPUs to run on a dual board.

#191617

i'm not sure if maya is optimized for it hyperthreading but I have found applications optimized for it performs really well.

so i'd go for a northwood pentium 4 w/ ht

but if you can help it you should wait for neg gen prescotts, their coming soon

#192255

I'm havng trouble finding a dual board in england - no-one does them.

So i guess i'll have to choose between running a 64bit cpu, or single dual cpu or one of those pentiums 4 with HT.

Oh well....

#192258

P4's don't do dual, only the Xeons. Hyperthreading has been shown to enhance some applications and degrade performance in others. This shows some benchmarks between various cpus, best i can do for now.

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/article/1557.6/

http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.html?i=1606&p=5

#192290

don't forget if you don't like hyperthreading you can turn it off

#192575

Originally posted by gone2far@Jul 21 2004, 01:19 AM

I'm havng trouble finding a dual board in england - no-one does them.

So i guess i'll have to choose between running a 64bit cpu, or single dual cpu or one of those pentiums 4 with HT.

Oh well....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try PCBits4U - they sell lots of dual processor hardware, and are quite reliable. That's who I'll be buying most of the bits for my dual Opteron from

#193632