Help me choose a CPU!!!!!

[Lockout888]

Please help me choose a model for business computers, not home PCs. Here are my options:

1. Pentium D 915 Dual Core 2.8GHz 800MHz FSB 512MB DDR2 for $749
2. Pentium D 945 Dual Core 3.4GHz 800MHz FSB 1GB DDR2 for $929
3. Core 2 Duo E6300 1.86GHz 1066MHz FSB 1GB DDR2 for $999


I know the Core 2 Duo are Intel’s latest and greatest, but are the Pentium D’s any good?

Thanks for your time!

 

[Lockout888]

P-D are decent sometimes. No match for a Conroe.

Even at 1.86 GHz vs. 2.8 or 3.4?

 

[joex444]

Top points for a business PC:

- Stable motherboard / chipset (Tier-1 board manufacturer)
- Decently fast CPU (for business a D915 is more than plenty)
- Reliable hard drive (I would go with Seagate)
- Sufficient RAM (1GB)
- Reliable PSU
- Integrated graphics
- Quiet!!

How you accomplish quiet can be varied. Lower speed CPUs produce less heat, so a D915 isn't bad. Pretty sure a Conroe at 1.86GHz produces even less heat, though. Maybe a larger heatsink with a slower bigger fan should do the trick.

Seagate HDs are quiet. PSUs with a single slow 120mm fan and a sufficient PSU rating (400W MAX).

Insulated case? Cases will matter here. If you can get by wth no case fans, that would be best. Failing that, a case with a single slow 120mm fan for exhaust would be the best.

Your data was insufficient to make a decision.

 

[burn-e86]

P-D are decent sometimes. No match for a Conroe.

Even at 1.86 GHz vs. 2.8 or 3.4?
dont forget that a Athalon 3500+ runs at 2.2 yet beats a 3.5 Pentium4.
core duo is better hands down. but that being said, what is the PC going to be doing? I've started work with Maya and other such tools that require a pretty good CPU, but if your business PCs are just gonna be word proccessing and very little number crunching then why bother with even the 900 model pentiums? you may as well go for a 600 single core or even an 800 (478 socket? am i right? my knowledge of Intel schemes are kinda limited i'm afraid). anywho any would be good for just word processing or office related tools.
though also the P4s are gonna be running louder and will also require more juice so also take that into account, i.e. if its gonna be left on for 24hours chances are you will want the more energy efficient model that will allow for cheaper overall costs. though how much it will cost will be quite hard to work out....well not really but i cant be bothered to figure it out, more so its just whether you will save 250 dollars with the power saving over however many years that its gonna be used. also if you plan to ^grade to vista when it comes out you might want to have the duo, but the P4s will handle it fine.

 

[Lockout888]

Thanks for your help guys. I did some searching and found this:
Guide

The guide doesnt have the E6300, nor the D 945. But I think the E6400 and D 960 make a good comparison. The Core 2 Duo obviously smokes the D in all categories.

I ended up choosing the System with Pentium D 915 Dual Core 2.8GHz 800MHz FSB 512MB DDR2 for $749.

For $250 less than the Core 2 Duo, it was a better value for buying multiple machines for a business. Plus, HP has a special on 512MB DDR2 for $69 so it will bump it up to a Gig of Ram.

 

[Heyhey]

good on ya Loose! , I think u made a good choice considering everyone picked the Core2 , everyone just picked the fastest thing , when the fastest processer aint always the best choice! , and its better to make choices based on your needs, that can at least save you money.

 

[Heyhey]

good on ya Loose! , I think u made a good choice considering everyone picked the Core2 , everyone just picked the fastest thing , when the fastest processer aint always the best choice! , and its better to make choices based on your needs, that can at least save you money.