Help me decide: e4500 vs. e6550

[singingigo]

I'm buying a new computer to power our church's media presentations. I'm wondering which CPU to go with: The e4500 or the e6550. Will I notice a performance difference doing:

1. slideshows
2. Live video recording via firewire
3. playing DVDs

We might be doing two or three of these things at the same time using dual monitors/projectors. Obviously, being a non-profit, we try to pinch our pennies. In terms of a)performance and b)longevity, is the additional $50 worth it?

We will not be O/Cing this system, as our corporate discounts on OEM is too good for me to spend my time building it myself.

 

[jbj190]

Just get the E4500.

 

[chookman]

You would get away with an e2180 no probs... you could even Overclock it to get a bit more out of it.

 

[zenmaster]

E4500.

Example - My System runs stable at 3.2 Ghz, but the fan is a little noisy when under full load so I choose to run at 3.0 ghz.

I can't feel the 200Mhz difference.
I doubt you will notice the difference either.

 

[singingigo]

I CANNOT OVERCLOCK! This is not a home build. It is a business class machine that I have to purchase on a corporate account. OEMs like Dell and HP do not allow overclocking. I have to decide if I'm going to get $50 of performance boost with the e6550 or if sticking with the e4500 is okay.

 

[singingigo]

I guess I'm wondering if the higher FSB and larger cache will be of any benefit to the things I will be doing...the MHZ is really insignificant. Thanks for the advice though!

 

[cnumartyr]

I guess I'm wondering if the higher FSB and larger cache will be of any benefit to the things I will be doing...the MHZ is really insignificant. Thanks for the advice though!

The cache + FSB will amount to something like a 10-15% increase in most applications. I don't think it'd be enough that you'd notice it too much... but it might be worth it for you, I don't know.

 

[singingigo]

Ah...$50 is worth 10-15% for me...thanks a ton!

 

[metrazol]

If it was just for business I would say the E4500, but as it is for a church you will need the most powerful CPU possible because it will be getting stressed by processing an incredible amount of bullshit. I might be wrong if the E4500 is using a bank of illogic processors though.

 

[anthropelexis]

lol..... great post above!

 

[starcraftfanatic]

get the E4500, slideshows don't create alot of stress, and nothing else that you might use on a church computer that I can think of would require a E6550.

 

[justinmcg67]

I own an E4500 and it's the best CPU I've ever had. Money well spent. No question about that.

 

[zenmaster]

Get the E4500.

You won't be able to feel the difference.

 

[singingigo]

If it was just for business I would say the E4500, but as it is for a church you will need the most powerful CPU possible because it will be getting stressed by processing an incredible amount of bullshit. I might be wrong if the E4500 is using a bank of illogic processors though.

Ah yes, we can't all be tolerant now, can we? Some of us have to be bigoted and think that since we don't believe the same, the others must be bullshitters...

 

[TSIMonster]

I would go E4300, if that is an option. It will handle what your planning to do fine.

 

[singingigo]

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up going with the E6550. It came down to concern with processing live video feeds and A/V presentations simultaneously.

 

[TSIMonster]

You really couldn't go wrong with either choice. So it really only comes down to the money. I'm sure the CPU will be very happy with the tasks your give it!