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I was gonna build one, but I might end up just buying a dell
would you:
go with a core 2 duo(4mb cache) cpu and xp pro
OR
go with a core 2 quad (8mb cache) cpu and vista
I'm leaning toward the first combo, cause I havent heard anything great about vista, BUT the pc Im using now, I built over 6 years ago, so I probably wont buy/build another for awhile. (probably get a new truck before then )
Probably the first; I'm not aware of any compelling reason to try Vista.
Have you looked at AMD processors? I went with an 3800 X2 something which was a package deal with motherboard (Nforce chipset) from Tigerdirect. Video card is a Geforce 8500 which works well for HD video playback (x264 at 720p). I haven't tried any recent games on it, but for stuff like audio and video editing the limiting factor seems to be the hard drive I/O. I've been expecting to get a BluRay or HD DVD drive for it, but it's looking like it'll be almost as cheap to just buy a complete HD DVD player from Walmart.
A six year old computer should be just fine, though, for surfing the web and pretty much everything but gaming and hi-definition video (I'm using an 8 year old computer at this moment). If you don't have a dual-layer DVD burner, that's a useful upgrade for around $50.
But if you buy the latest and greatest now, it'll cost you a lot more. And in 6 or 7 years it'll still be slow; that's what I've always found.
Just about any computer you buy today is fast enough for video editing; the limiting factor will be the hard drive, so spend some more there for a couple of fast big drives.
actually, people.... the quads ARE worth the money. if you dont think so you dont use your computer the way a quad was ment to be used. they arnt made to increase the SPEED, they are ment to increase the POWER. they are made to run multiple tasks at one time. if your not going to do that, then mabey it isnt worth the money to you.
I am a huge amd fan, and i have never owned an intel for myself, but i do buy dells all day at work, and i can say that im impressed with the quad cores. in my testing, they can do 30-50% more loads then the core 2 duo. worth the increase in price which is usually less than 30%
You will only get the use out of a QUAD core processor though if the software you run is multi-threaded and is made to utilize the Quad core.
I'd buy the dual core. Cheaper and in 2-3 years when software is made for quad cores then buy one or just stick with the dual core. In my pc right now is a Pentium 4 and i haven't even considered upgrading processors because there is no need for it.
I have a new toshiba satellite laptop with vista and it's given me absolutely no problems. I personally like vista, but then again I don't chock it full of download programs, spyware, etc. That's what our crap house comp is for.