Comparing Two PCs?

nudu

New Member
Hey guys, I'm brand new here and joined up because I'm looking to buy a new PC.

It will be used for regular tasks, and I'll probably have lots of windows open a lot of the time (internet, photoshop, dreamweaver, filezilla).

So, I have chosen between these two computers to buy. Basically everything on them besides what I'm mentioning is the same or will be upgraded anyway, but if I'm missing something important, please feel free to ask for that info.

Here are the two specs:
3.4 gHz Intel Pentium 4 w/ HyperThreading
4gb DDR2 Ram

vs.
3.0 gHz Intel Pentium D (duo?)
3gb DDR Ram

Please note that the Pentium D uses DDR not DDR2.

I'd like to know which is faster when a. when I'm not running lots and lots of apps, and b. when I've got windows like I've mentioned above running simultaneously.

Also, if the first one (3.4) is faster in each, I'd like to know if adding 1GB more ram to the 3.0 will make it better?

Thanks so much,
Chris
 
They are both:
Intergrated Graphics & Sound
500gb HD
2 PCI slots (and nothing else)
DVD/Dual Layer/CD Burner
(doh what else do people put for specs lol)

The 3.0 Pentium D is ~300$ CAD with 3GB ram
The 3.4 Pentium 4 is $355 CAD

So around there is my budget, pehaps give or take ~$100 (which I am currently planning on using to upgrade the GFX card on one of them)
 
I have a 3.4Ghz Pentium 4 at work, with 4GB RAM, and it does everything I want quick. This includes using SolidWorks and other big pieces of software.

As for lots of programmes I will usually have a couple of webpages, SolidWorks, PDF's, Word documents open all at the same time. Touch wood, I have never had any lock up's etc with it.

Hope that helps, Doug.
 
Go with the 2 core. It will perform better with multitasking (many windows open simultaneaousy.) The clock speed of the single core won't make up the difference for that purpose.
 
They are both:
Intergrated Graphics & Sound
500gb HD
2 PCI slots (and nothing else)
DVD/Dual Layer/CD Burner
(doh what else do people put for specs lol)

The 3.0 Pentium D is ~300$ CAD with 3GB ram
The 3.4 Pentium 4 is $355 CAD

So around there is my budget, pehaps give or take ~$100 (which I am currently planning on using to upgrade the GFX card on one of them)

Do you know what motherboard they are using?
If you only got PCI slot, you would not be able to upgrade graphic card.
 
Do you know what motherboard they are using?
If you only got PCI slot, you would not be able to upgrade graphic card.

Not for the Dell, unfortunately. I'll run a system check on the 3.4 when I get home to see.

Yes, that does mean I bought the 3.4ghz. There is a 7-day money-back policy and I am looking to make the best decision between the two.

The 3.4ghz P4 is a HP, and the Pentium D 3.0ghz a dell Optiplex 320.

By two PCI slots I mean two free PCI slots. One is already going to my sound card.

I don't know what you mean bebopin64 also hilarious sig lo;l
 
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the latest video cards run on PCIe, before that was AGP, and I believe PCI was the one before that. There are some video cards you can buy that will fit in your PCI slot but they are outdated. no more so than the processor though so you would have a balanced machine.



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814187058



thats about as good as your gonna get. id say it will fit in nicely with a PD or P4. my 8500gt was bottlenecked by my old P4.
 
so i still don't much understand which setup is better - 3.0 Pentium D using DDR ram or 3.4 Pntium 4 using DDR2
 
so i still don't much understand which setup is better - 3.0 Pentium D using DDR ram or 3.4 Pntium 4 using DDR2
Pentium D. PD is a dual-core processor and the vastly higher proessing power will far outweight the faster memory of the P4 machine.
 
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