What benchmark test relates to cpu I want?

I'm thinking of getting a new workstation pc for music production (currently using Athlon XP 2200+ stock, 1.5GHZ of RAM). I'm either going to build this myself or order the parts and pay someone to do it. My comp will certainly not be mainly for gaming, but I am certainly reserving consideration for the new comp to be able to play pc games well (e.g. half life episode 2, bioshock, it sounds like a great game) so I am already prepared to spend a bit on a good video card... anyways check this out I read this on the software developer's site "If you plan to buy a computer specifically for Reason, select a processor that is renowned for high floating point arithmetic performance." I am not familiar at all with high floating point arithmetic performance.

My question however is this: What benchmark test is relevant, when wanting to find out a cpu's ability to perform well in high floating point arithmetic? It is safe to assume that a cpu that scores high in game testing benchmarks is synonymous to performing high in floating point arithmetic?

I know this may sound like a dumb question, but any advice would be great.

Very good site btw.

I can tell you that for HL2 E2 a quad core will help tremendously. Valve teamed up with Intel to make use of the extra cores for calculating physics so I whole heartildy suggest a Q6600 as I have.

Other than that games(at higher resolutions) are dependant on the GPU more than the CPU. But a Q6600 will perform high floating point arithmatic very fast and well too.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_ [...] &chart=427

Hey look, an audio encoding benchmark, maybe this is useful as it is (I think) similar to what you do, anyway seen the CPU you'v got you won't go wrong with either brand, you should consider getting perhaps an AMD 5000 Black edition or an intel E6750, depends on your budget.

If you have deep pockets do not even think about it and go with a Q6600 and a good MB, that quad when overclocked is almost unbeatable performance wise AND price/performance wise.

ok cool I was aware and had checked the benchmarks/cpu charts native to this site you are referring to. I'm just not sure which ones pertain specifically to high floating point arithmetic, so I will just do an average of the ones I think are relative to HFPA which I think are the 6 SiSoftware Sandra XI tests. I'm going to check it out again more thoroughly, after I read up on what new cpus are to be released in the 1st quarter 2008 if any (hoping for more price drop he he)

I hear so many pros about this cpu, and it is my top pick for cpu so far, I'm thinking of getting that and maybe later learn to OC it to 3.0GHZ (after extensively reading over and over about it here) I don't wanna it push to far. I'm appeased that you pointed out that the Q6600 would do just fine.

Ok so from now on I'll be comparing any other cpu I see to this Q6600. I like the price of this Q6600.

I thank you both for your advice

cool, I think that benchmark more has to do with encoding or rendering a file to a certain format like .wav or .mp4 or any audio format. I need something that won't sputter when I use multipe vst/compressor/eq/reverb in real time. How true my current cpu is quite erm "dated", it still serves well, but I want more POWER!!! ok,I'm cool, calm and collected.

So...AMD 5000 Black edition or E6750 you say? alright I'm gonna check those out and compare them to the Q6600.

My pockets aren't crazy deep, but I save purposely a portion of my earnings for pc/electronic/music stuff.My budget is going to be around $2000-$2500 (won't be needing monitors as I have a 22' Flatron Wide and a 20' LG Flatron Wide, currently running on my old 64MB dual vga nvdia card lol).

thank you for your input