Dual processer vs P 4 processer

[Vlawde]

Right now I have a Dell Dimension 8400, 1 gig of RAm and a P4 2.8 processer with an ATI X800 card. VG runs ok at high performance settings, but not good in crowded city areas.

I'm considering getting an XPS. I notice the dual processers are lower numbered than regular processer. What would a 1.8 dual core perform like versus my current processer? far as graphic cards, the two that are available for the model I am looking at are the GeForce 7900 GS or the ATI X1300 pro. Are those a whole lot better than the ATI X800?

Obviously better cards are available for the highest priced XPS but it is a bit pricey so I'd like to avoid it if the above would be a significant upgrade. Or I could keep what I ahve and just dump another gig of RAm in my Dimension. Thoughts?

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Vlawde

Right now I have a Dell Dimension 8400, 1 gig of RAm and a P4 2.8 processer with an ATI X800 card. VG runs ok at high performance settings, but not good in crowded city areas.

I'm considering getting an XPS. I notice the dual processers are lower numbered than regular processer. What would a 1.8 dual core perform like versus my current processer?

Assuming that that is an 1.8ghz Core 2 Duo (I'm guessing you're looking at E6300s, but I don't know for sure what XPS you're looking at), it'll far outperform that P4. Clock speed is only part of the story. If a chip spins at 1.0 ghz, but does 3 instructions per cycle, isn't that better than one that spins at 2.8ghz but only can do 1 instruction per cycle?

Originally Posted by Vlawde

far as graphic cards, the two that are available for the model I am looking at are the GeForce 7900 GS or the ATI X1300 pro. Are those a whole lot better than the ATI X800?

For gaming, the X1300 will be worse than the X800 you have right now. It's not a gaming card at all and a very strange option for an XPS. The 7900 isn't bad. Can you get the X1300 option really cheap and just buy another card to put in there. Neither is too spiffy, but the 7900 is much better than the X1300 if that's where you'll be staying.

Originally Posted by Vlawde

Obviously better cards are available for the highest priced XPS but it is a bit pricey so I'd like to avoid it if the above would be a significant upgrade. Or I could keep what I ahve and just dump another gig of RAm in my Dimension. Thoughts?

That's probably what I'd do, if facing those two decisions. Another option is to put one together yourself. It's really not hard. I'll have a guide up by the end of the week.

[Vlawde]

Thing is on the two lower end XPS's (forget the model numbers) the power supply is in the 300-370 range, so I don't know if they can handle any significantly better cards or not

edit: and thanks for the clarification regarding the processer...I have had several people tell me a 1.8 would perform the same whether it is a dual core or not. I guess what I was asking was, what a 1.8 dual core would equal in performance if you were talking about a regular processer

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Vlawde

Thing is on the two lower end XPS's (forget the model numbers) the power supply is in the 300-370 range, so I don't know if they can handle any significantly better cards or not

Dell rates their PSUs at average capasity, rather than top capasity like retail PSUs. A 370-watt Dell processor would be nearly a 500 watt if retail. An 8800 GTX might be a bit much, but I'd doubt you would have any issues even with an 8800 GTS.

Originally Posted by Vlawde

edit: and thanks for the clarification regarding the processer...I have had several people tell me a 1.8 would perform the same whether it is a dual core or not. I guess what I was asking was, what a 1.8 dual core would equal in performance if you were talking about a regular processer

If there was such a thing as a Core 2 Solo, it would perform about as fast as a Core 2 Duo in single-threaded apps (like games).

The thing is, when you have 2 cores, you can have one running everything except the game, like your AV, windows itself, your media player, etc, so the other core can focus on the game.

We're entered the realm of multi-threaded apps, though, and when that happens, you'll see a bigger benefit to the dual cores. If one core can handle lighting, and physics, while the other does the other stuff, you'll see improvement.

[Vlawde]

Looks like I'll be getting an XPS 410 in the next month or so, and I'll likely get the cheapest card and buy an 8800. When I first got my dimension, I had bought an ATI850. I was PCI, but had an extra wire/plug and I couldnt find anywhere to plug it in, so I took it back and got the X800, which was just install the PCI slot and hook up.

Does the 8800 have more than just the basic hookup? Hate to take a chance and find out it needed more plugs than my comp has

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Vlawde

Does the 8800 have more than just the basic hookup? Hate to take a chance and find out it needed more plugs than my comp has

Yeah. The GTS needs a 6-pin PCI-e connector (you can see a picture of one in the Building a Computer thread.

The GTX actually wants 2 of them.

[Vlawde]

So I can't put an 8800 in a 410?

[Nil]

Originally Posted by Vlawde

So I can't put an 8800 in a 410?

I honestly don't know - I can't find a listing for the PSU put into it, but I have a hard time imagining they'd put something so outdated as to not have a PCI-e connector in an XPS (most modern PSU's will have 1).

Another consideration is the size - it looks pretty cramped in said XPS. The GTS would probably fit (and it only wants the 1 connector).

[Aen]

......

[RedChief]

Vlade,

While Nil is far more of the guru than I am, let me offer a little advice. I Only say so, because a Dell XPS 710 recently found its way into my living room.

First, its a great PC. It came with two 7900 GS's in SLI mode, which was more than enough for most games, even DDO which I was playing before VG.

My only thing is, I didn't get to design the rig and there are some things that I would have done differantly.

The XPS is using the nVidia 590 mother board, while not bad, it has certain limitations. The board only allows RAM that goes up to 640 Mhz, which can end up being a bit of a bottleneck if you trick your system out.

Second, for the price you are gonna pay for the Dell, you could build your own, or go someplace else and get a comparable rig for significantly cheaper. Thus giving you more money for that all important video card. It is all a personal choice depending on if you like to or know how to build your own system, warrantys and tech support. But I would be willing to bet you could end up with better than the XPS for less money.

Even if you go with the XPS, here is a link from Tom's hardware about The Best Video Cards for the Money. I would read that, and then decide what card you want, even if you buy aftermarket.