CPU Question for the tech heads

[Mu Satach]

Hey-O,

You have two CPU's in front of you -

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000
Intel Core 2 Duo E4400

which do you choose and why?

[Morgan Evanar]

Do you plan on upgrading at a later date? Intel has a long history of lacking backward compatibility with older motherboards, but the 4000 is pretty slow. The Duo 4400 is as fast as a Duo E6300, who's nearest AMD competitor is a X2 4400. If the machine isn't due for an upgrade next year Duo 4400.

[Mu Satach]

I'm purchasing 3 new computers for the office and am on a tight tight budget. All three need to semi-swank.

One will be used for multi-media editing, software development, and graphics, ect.

The other two are for our receptionists and they have to zip as they are managing about 18 calendars and not to mention the full blown office suite 2007.

They need to be able to stick around for 3 to 4 years without me tinkering with them too much.

[Morgan Evanar]

Either should be really fine for that, but if you're doing multi-media editing I would look at something with more oomph, and look very hard at the video card. What's the rest of the spec?

[Mu Satach]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16883107394

this is the one I'm looking at for the reception desk

the editing station one I'm still trying to decide what to go for

[Morgan Evanar]

For the desk that is more than enough and should push words for a long time to come.

[Yog]

That's a great machine for office use. Either way, go for the Intel Core 2 Duo E4400.

[Mu Satach]

I'm thinking about this for the editing one
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16883107398

[Morgan Evanar]

Video is weak but for editing it mostly leans on the CPU anyway, and if you're encoding with the right app, it's going to FLY on that quad core.

[Cat X]

That's a great machine for office use. Either way, go for the Intel Core 2 Duo E4400.

The same can be said for just about any PC made in the last three years. As long as it doesnt have Vista on it.

[Mu Satach]

That's a great machine for office use. Either way, go for the Intel Core 2 Duo E4400.

The same can be said for just about any PC made in the last three years.

True, I just need to make sure it's still going to be a great machine for office use 6 years from now. I still have a few PIII's hanging around as well as an old Toshiba Satellite PII laptop that is going to still be in use for another year or so before we surplus them out.

Now I'm trying to determine if an extra $40 bucks is worth 2 more inches on the flat panels I'm looking at.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824009102 for $239.99 or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824009105 for $199.99

As for the vid card on the other, yeah it is a bit weak but it's still barely in my price range and I might be able to purchase a better graphic card next summer when we have to finally blow out our remaining budget before the fiscal year is up.

[Cat X]

That's a great machine for office use. Either way, go for the Intel Core 2 Duo E4400.

The same can be said for just about any PC made in the last three years.

True, I just need to make sure it's still going to be a great machine for office use 6 years from now. I still have a few PIII's hanging around as well as an old Toshiba Satellite PII laptop that is going to still be in use for another year or so before we surplus them out.




If your planning XP, then hell yes. If Linux, then dpubly hell yes.

However, this is a bad time to be thinkign hardware / software to last 6 years because Microsoft are finally going to abandon 32bit and the industry will be forced to follow. Windows 2008 will have I think a 32bit version, but it will NOT be marketed as all of the new server side apps are going 64bit, startign with Exchange 2007, which is 64 bit only, except for a test version.

I have a client on 64bit right now and it's okay.... a few driver issues but bearable. Your milage may vary tho - waiting till July next year seems to me to be the safest idea for long term planning due to this change ( aloowing the industry to develop more Windows 64bit support), the problems with Vista and the sheer BS power it needs to run well. And even good hardware liek you are getting, Vista is a pig unless you configure out some of the more ridiculous BS in it.

But for word pushing, 32bit for six years should work okay. But be careful, the new Office formats are not backward compatible and I'm already seeing problems with Office 2003 and Office 2007 formats.

[Morgan Evanar]

These machines will run 64-bit apps fine, just make sure that all of the hardware has 64-bit drivers available now. It looks like it does from a quick glance, but I have no idea which exact sound chipset each machine has etc.

[Mu Satach]

Yeah, I figure anything I buy from here on out for the place needs to be 64 bit.

"the new Office formats are not backward compatible and I'm already seeing problems with Office 2003 and Office 2007 formats"

I've seen the same thing on campus here with offices that have moved up already and not set their default to save as the '97/03 format. by September we'll all be on Office '07 so that if someone sends us a file we can read it without trying to instruct someone from the other side of campus on how to "save as" via email or phone. :p