question about processor speed

[Jamin43]

I'm reading daily on this forum re: different processors dual core / quad core - various processor speeds, etc.

Overclocking is interesting to me - but one question I'm trying to get my arms around is processor speed. I currently have 2 computers -

Pentium 4 x 1.8 ghz
Pentium 4 x 2.8 ghz

The 2.8 ghz has twice the RAM. but for most run of the mill daily task - both work fine - but the newer computer is better for web surfing ( I would assume b/c of the extra RAM more than processor speed ).

Where / When is the processor speed most noticable - in terms of utility and user experience.

I'm trying to put a value on performance / price point - and don't have enough knowledge to do that right now.

 

[porterjw]

Speed isn't everything; it's important, but not the end-all. As CPU technology advances, the internal architecture (or way information is utilized) also becomes more efficient. The result allows for the same (or more) information to be processed at a lower clock speed.

Let's take your P4 @ 2.8 and (for sake of example, assume it has HT) compare it to my C2D E4500 @ 2.2. Your CPU is half a Ghz faster, but mine has a much more advanced internal structure, resulting in it being much faster than yours, regardless of the slower speed. The same is true even when comparing a new multi-core to an old multi-core. My old Pentium D 940 @ 3.2 Ghz would run circles around my D 840, but my current one puts them both to shame.

As far as it being most noticeable... Well, multi-tasking always takes it into account. When lots of programs are loading (such as during startup) CPU speed (among other things) will determine how quickly they open. Gaming, watching DVD's, running virus scans while doing other things also take CPU speed into play.

 

[kkpudge7]

More plays into the overall speed of the system than just the processor. As imsati said the processors instruction set has a great deal of importance on the systems performance as a whole, but more links to the chain are necessary for an overall "fast" rig.

Moving instructions across the bus from main memory into the cpu and back across the north bridge and south bridge chips also plays a major role. For tasks such as surfing the web your network is going to play the largest role in speed, because it doesn't matter how fast your computer is, if you have a slow connection the computer will seem slow.

Think of it like a car, if you have an extremely powerful engine but a weak transmission the engine isn't going to do a whole lot of good. The engine would be the cpu and the transmission would be your north bridge/ south bridge chips, as they handle all of the data flowing in and out of the cpu.