How noticeable?

[Ub3r_n00b]

In light of the price drop of the P4's, I want to upgrade my current CPU. My current CPU is the P4 1.7ghz (256k, 400FSB) and I want to upgrade to a P4 2.4A (512k, 400FSB).

OK, so I know that the cache being doubled should show a big performance gain, and the added 700mhz shouldn't hurt either .

But my question is where will I see performance the gain and how much of a gain do you estimate will I see? I mostly use the computer for gaming and a fair bit of video encoding (vcd/svcd).

(FYI, I'm cheap and trying to justify the purchase. I also have to convince "the boss" if you know what I mean)

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[LtBlue14]

get a 2.4B not A
then you can tell your wife (i read right through you haha) you're getting a 133fsb, plus 256k extra L2 cache
it will run cooler too
and overclock well if you're into that =)
you will see good improvements in video encoding AND in gaming
i would imagine video encoding would pretty much get better by a 1:1 ratio (go from 800mhz to 1.6ghz, and cut your time in half? not quite but close maybe? that's actually a guess someone else will know more)
what type of ram do you have? if it's pc2100 then you'll be able to run your ram synchronously for another small performance boost
there are many advantages to getting a new processor!
but as i said, get the 2.4B!
you will definitely see a big difference, going from 1.7 to 2.4 with a 1.8a (overclocked) helped my 3dmark 2001 score by like 1000 or even more (if you're not familiar with the program, that's a significant boost)
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[Ub3r_n00b]

Right now I Have 384Mb of PC800 RDram. And my motherboard only supports 400FSB (its the Intel 850 chipset, not 850E), so thats my reason for choosing the 2.4A.

I don't know if this is right but
2.4A = 24 x 100 = 2400mhz
2.4B = 18 x 133 = 2400mhz
So wouldn't putting a 2.4B 533FSB CPU in a 400FSB board make it 18 x 100 = 1800mhz (ie make the 2.4 run at 1.8)?

<font color=red> Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question... just stupid people. </font color=red>

 

[o1die]

Check your mobo specs carefully if you decide to try a "b" northwood, with 533 speed. Some boards won't run at 133 fsb (533 quad pumped). Most sis chipset boards will run at the higher speed with a bios flash, but some Intel and via chipset boards won't.

 

[ChipDeath]

So wouldn't putting a 2.4B 533FSB CPU in a 400FSB board make it 18 x 100 = 1800mhz (ie make the 2.4 run at 1.8)?

As far as I'm aware, yes, so if your mobo has no options for going beyond 100FSB, it would be essentially a wasted purchase. I would definitely recommend getting a mobo that supports a faster FSB, but I don't know whether your RAM would cope, and you might end up having to replace that too... If I was you, I'd wait until I could afford the whole shebang(CPU, mobo & some decent DDR RAM) and then get that, rather than buy a chip that you might not be able to use when you do get a new mobo...

Unless you can get a real good deal on the 2.4A that is.

---
:tongue:

 

[Quetzacoatl]

Ouch, you're on an i850 motherboard, and possibly stuck with the Willie. Check to make sure you have the socket 478 version of the i850, because if you're using the older wilamette (which i'm guessing) on socket 423, you're limited to a 2.2Ghz wilamette, which sucks, and isn't a big upgrade (slow, hot, you get the picture). Video editing and encoding, if you aren't up to 512mb ram, upgrade your Rimms to that, and make sure you have pure Pc800, not the Pc600/572 or Pc700/712

Instead of Rdram, why not just merge 4 Sdram channels...

 

[dhlucke]

If you're stuck with a williamette, I would suggest buying a new motherboard. Depending on the task, my Tbird 1 Ghz is faster. The williamette is a lemon.

Spend your money wisely.

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