CPU help

[Spoonboy90]

I've currently got a Pentium 4 3.2GHz cpu and find it to be adequate but im building a new system as mine only SFF and I need more space so not really an upgrade of power anyhow i've not sure whats what with all this Dual Core new fangled technology so my question is which is would be better

a Intel Pentium 4 541 "LGA775 Prescott" 3.2GHz (800FSB) with HT Technology

or

a Intel Pentium D 805 Socket 775, SmithfieldCore, 2x2.66 GHz

Will the Dual Core chip be faster in all aspects over the single core 3.2GHz chip or do they only use the dual core for certain things?

Many Thanks

Jamie

[pRot3us]

Forget the old dual cores, you want one of the new Core 2 Duo 'Allendale'/'Conroe' cpus, like these here

these will annihilate your current cpu

[Jowl]

If I was building a new computer, the only real choice would be as above - a Core 2 Duo ('conroe') CPU.

If I was on a tight budget, I'd think about an Athlon X2 3800.


Pentiums are old, power hungry and superseeded

[WelshBluebird]

definatally Core 2 Duo (if you can fit one in your budget). As the Core 2 Duo CPU's use less power than the old Intels (P4's and PD's) and also use less power than the current AMD chips. Using less power means that Core 2 Duo CPU's are also produce less heat than AMD's older Intel's.

[Spoonboy90]

Thanks for the replies... Im not that interested in annihilate my current CPU, speed wise its fine for what I want to do all I want to do is equal it for as little as possible.

Only the 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo falls within what im willing to pay for a CPU (£140max)... so is that better than a Pentium D 2x3.2GHz??? If we exclude for the minute the heat and energy saving which don't really concern me.

[KelvinS1965]

Hi Spoonboy,

If you go the core duo route, be carefull which motherboard you choose as not all socket775 mobos are compatable with the core duo, some just need a bios update but others need improved voltage regulation so aren't upgradable.

At least you probably already have suitable memory, I'm going to have to replace just about everything bar my hard drives and possibly my nice low noise PSU to upgrade to core duo.....