Desktops: Fastest processors for non-gaming, non-multimedia, systems
Fastest processors for non-gaming, non-multimedia, systems
by gimplicks - 10/22/09 1:51 AMOur accountants are heavy multitaskers. They run large tax programs, finance programs (Quickbooks Pro), internet explorer (research), email, messaging, and tax research software all at once. We Norton ghost backup everything every two hours to net storage, so that, along with printing (lots), is often going on in the background. A second nic card saves us time here, but these folks occasionally push 32 bit XP beyond its memory capacity. We get hangs that are clearly memory related.
Obviously, productivity is a concern when all this stuff is running concurrently.
Given these non-gaming, non-multimedia tasks, what is the best processor for these professionals. It would seem that Intel's i5 and i7 and quads are overkill in all the wrong areas. Should we stick with
Fastest processors for non....
by gimplicks - 10/22/09 1:56 AM In reply to: Fastest processors for non-gaming, non-multimedia, systems by gimplicksOops. Need to finish my question. Should we stick with Intel duo processors, 64 bit Microsoft 7, and lots of memory? Or go up to these new offerings from Intel. MOney is NOT and issue here.
(NT) I give up...why not a quad core ?
by VAPCMD - 10/22/09 7:56 PM In reply to: Fastest processors for non.... by gimplicksPro duo vs quads, i5s, i7s
by gimplicks - 10/22/09 9:59 PM In reply to: (NT) I give up...why not a quad core ? by VAPCMDI saw benchmark data that made it look like quads are great for multimedia, audio, photoshop, number crunching, etc. but they perform worse than duos for productivity software (MSOffice), messaging, file transfers, etc.
I have no axe to grind. Just hoping someone will steer me to the fastest computer I can buy for the the things my accountants do on a daily basis.
What was the source ? Would be interested to see
by VAPCMD - 10/24/09 10:45 AM In reply to: Pro duo vs quads, i5s, i7s by gimplicksfirst hand.
VAPCMD
He VAPMCD
by gimplicks - 10/25/09 12:25 AM In reply to: What was the source ? Would be interested to see by VAPCMDSorry, it was Google. I used i7 vs i5, i7 vs quad core, quad core vs duo core and just read what ever popped up. The comment I saw on the duo was from a guy at intel.
Professional Firm Computers
by taxguy68 - 10/31/09 1:58 PM In reply to: (NT) Is thgis about 64bit - 32bit or Quad vs Duo ? by VAPCMDIts amazing no one actualy answered the question. Computer guys can drive you crazy.
Accounting software aka Caseware, Taxprep, jazz-it are not made for multi-core processors. So don't kill your self about quad i5 i7 etc.
Get a high frequency dual core with windows 7 and max out the memory i would say 1 to 2 GB per open program. Freezing is also caused by cheap video cards. Get a dedicated video card with 512 mb it will refresh faster. Note dont go cheap get the real ATI card not a cheap copy.
Why are you not making a dual image of your hard drive in case one fails.
fast processor for general office work with high loads.
by gimplicks - 11/1/09 7:54 PM In reply to: Professional Firm Computers by taxguy68Thanks for you reply. Thus far, it is the only one that makes real sense to me. I am hep to the graphics card.
I AM making a dual image. It is a Ghost image.
Core i7 is perfect for the job
by TimWoodChip
- 10/23/09 10:38 AM
In reply to: Fastest processors for non-gaming, non-multimedia, systems by gimplicks
Intel's new Core i7 is not just for Gaming and multimedia. Core i7 is a quad-core processor with hyper-threading (each core capable of handling two threads) means that Core i7s look like 8-core processors in Windows and are idea for multitasking. If budget is not a concern then I would suggest a Core i7-860. Core i5 is not a bad choice either and will probably be more readily available in SMB systems.
Good luck!
TimWoodChip
Disclosure: TimWoodChip is an Intel employee and aspirational sponsor of tomorrow.
Thanks Jim
by gimplicks - 10/25/09 12:23 AM In reply to: Core i7 is perfect for the job by TimWoodChip
I see you are an Intel evangelist...which is fine. I read that most of the day to day business software out there does not take advantage of the quad core architecture. That was the basis for my question about getting a fast duo instead.
Threads and SW
by TimWoodChip - 10/25/09 8:32 PM
In reply to: Thanks Jim by gimplicks
Correct not all software today is multi-threaded which is why Turbo is so important as a feature (Found only on Core i7 and Core i5) Turbo allows a processor to increase frequency IF there is are fewer SW threads than there are cores on the processor. So e.g. 2.85 GHz quad-core can actually ratchet up to over 3 GHz when there is processor "headroom".
BUT as I mentioned at the start of the thread not all SW is multi-threaded today but think about what your PC needs will be in 3-5 years from now.
Whether Core i7 or Core i5 you will be making a good choice.
TimWoodChip
Disclosure: TimWoodChip is an Intel employee and aspirational sponsor of tomorrow.
Threads and SW
by gimplicks - 10/27/09 12:00 PM In reply to: Threads and SW by TimWoodChip
Thanks woodchip. I'll go i7. The irony is, that in three years, when I am replacing this computer, Intel will be offering an i14 and it will be too advanced for the software current then.
By the way, just how much wood could a woodchip chip if a woodchip...
Windows 7
by rosende - 10/31/09 8:05 AM In reply to: Threads and SW by gimplickswindows 7 good performance ...but very bad vista...
Processor speed doesn't always determine OS performance.
by Porch-a-Geese - 11/1/09 3:16 PM In reply to: Fastest processors for non-gaming, non-multimedia, systems by gimplicksYou're running a resource heavy system to begin with.
If you actually want performance increase, you'd go to a RISC type of processor and a system that can utilize such.
I run 3d graphics rendering, multiple traceroutes, nmap, qemu, LAME, xine, firefox, multiple builds, konqueror. In the VM I will run firefox, make, traceroute, etc. I'm using a Sempron 3400+. I can also run instant messaging on both.
The difference is that I am using FreeBSD or Debian to do all of this.
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