Help!! Which processor should I buy???

C

carrspaints

New Member
Hi everyone. I want to replace my aging PC with a new one. I do a lot of video editing using Sony Vegas and DVD Architect. I will also be looking to edit high definition DVD very soon.

I have been looking at 2 computer specs both with similar hard drives, DVD Writers etc + brand new. The first one is a Pentium 4, 3ghz - 800mhz FSB - can but for about £320.00.

The second one is based on the Athlon 64 3000+ processor, which I can get for about £260.00

I am confused with some of these processor specs because I've been told that the Athlon 3000+ isn't a 3ghz processor but around 2ghz, where the Pentium 3ghz is a genuine 3ghz clock speed. So I have a few questions if someone can help:

1. Is there a big difference in speed and performance between the Athlon 3000+ and Pentium 3ghz processor.

2. Does this difference warrant spending an extra £80 - £100?

3. Would the Athlon 3000+ be good for video editing?

4. Any other pro's / con's would be apprcieated.

Thanks for reading this and your time.
 
Hi, as mentioned, the primary use is for video editing using Sony Vegas. This will be done in both standard definition and high definition. Video editing can be enormously demanding on a CPU, especially when rendering and if there are a lot of special effects or transitions included in the video.

I'll also use it to do just about everything else....in order

Watching DVDs and recording DVDs
Watching internet based movie content
PC Gaming
Music listening & recording
Word, Powerpoint etc, etc

I currently have an old Pentium 3 1 ghz computer that takes ages to render video. A typical 1 hour video will take 15 - 20 hours to render in MPEG2 format....just tooo slow.

Thanks .....
 
In video compresion (Divx and Xvid) the P4 is 22% faster.

(tomshardware benchmark)
Pentium 4, 3Ghz - 2:03 minutes
AMD 3000+ - 2:31 minutes

P4 - 123sec - £320
AMD - 151sec - £260

P4 > 22% AMD (Compresion)
P4 > 23% AMD (Cost)

The P4 is 1% more expensive on bang for buck.
 
but he wants to do gaming aswell, which is proven to be better with a athlon. id go for the Athlon 64 3000+ then and buy some more ram. plus the P4 has only a 32 bit chip (i think) whilst the Athlon 64 has......well, a 64 bit chip
 
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Cheers, thanks for the help. I'm actually using ebay to source ny next machine (cheaper I hope)....

Based on what u have said, I will only go with the AMD if it is significantly cheaper than the P4. I think I can live with a slower rendering time.

P.S., I no longer render using Divx as the codec although good, doesn't provide the quality I need for the video productions.
 
One final question...... would you consider £280.00 to be a good price for a base unit only using the following spec?


AMD Athlon 64 3000+ CPU
ASUS K8V / GD Motherboard
512Mb PC3200 DDR Memory
160Gb SATA Hard disk drive 8Mb Buffer
128Mb Geforce FX5700 AGP x8 Graphics card
16 x NEC DVD-RW +/- Drive - Dual Layer
AD1888 SoundMax 6 Channel sound with S/PDIF
Floppy Disk Drive
10/100 LAN
6 x USB (2 Front, 4 Rear)
12 Month RTB Parts & Labour Warranty
 
carrspaints said:
Cheers, thanks for the help. I'm actually using ebay to source ny next machine (cheaper I hope)....

Based on what u have said, I will only go with the AMD if it is significantly cheaper than the P4. I think I can live with a slower rendering time.

P.S., I no longer render using Divx as the codec although good, doesn't provide the quality I need for the video productions.
Click to expand...

Good luck.
Oh, and the AMD is >20%** faster on games. so if you do that too, a AMD should be your choice.

**only glanced at 5 banchmarks
 
carrspaints said:
One final question...... would you consider £280.00 to be a good price for a base unit only using the following spec?


AMD Athlon 64 3000+ CPU
ASUS K8V / GD Motherboard
512Mb PC3200 DDR Memory
160Gb SATA Hard disk drive 8Mb Buffer
128Mb Geforce FX5700 AGP x8 Graphics card
16 x NEC DVD-RW +/- Drive - Dual Layer
AD1888 SoundMax 6 Channel sound with S/PDIF
Floppy Disk Drive
10/100 LAN
6 x USB (2 Front, 4 Rear)
12 Month RTB Parts & Labour Warranty
Click to expand...

I do not know where you are buying from (country) I only know this info on parts in Mexico and USA, but it apears good.
 
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