Dual-Core Processor for Encoding

[Aimee Wilbury]

I'm planning to upgrade my computer sometime, and I'm gonna be getting a decent GPU (I'm a bit of a gamer -- no more crummy integrated thing!) and a spare hard drive.

Currently I have an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ which is which is 2200.0 MHz (no overclocking for me).

I've been considering replacing that with a dual-core processor, mainly for faster media encoding, I don't really have any problems with the current one in games. A quad-core is unnecessary right now, and a bit out of my budget. I'm gonna be sticking with an AMD.

Would a dual-core processor be worth the money?

Thank you.

[ep620]

As long as it doesn't have a crummy integrated thing!

[direwolf-pgh]

you should seduce someone into buying it for you. its cheaper that way.

[AAR.oner]

yes, watch out for the integrated grahics cards on some "models"...but i'd say it'll be well worth the money when it comes to rendering/encoding times

[ep620]

Start a thread in the lounge. Someone might have a used computer.

[Aimee Wilbury]

Thank you.

[paddington]

Originally Posted by Aimee Wilbury

I'm planning to upgrade my computer sometime, and I'm gonna be getting a decent GPU (I'm a bit of a gamer -- no more crummy integrated thing!) and a spare hard drive.

Currently I have an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ which is which is 2200.0 MHz (no overclocking for me).

I've been considering replacing that with a dual-core processor, mainly for faster media encoding, I don't really have any problems with the current one in games. A quad-core is unnecessary right now, and a bit out of my budget. I'm gonna be sticking with an AMD.

Would a dual-core processor be worth the money?

Thank you.

I'd wait until you can get a quad-core and run a 64bit OS. They're getting cheap, and a new 32bit proc will be outdated in a couple years.

[Aimee Wilbury]

Thank you again.

My current priority right now is to get another HDD, as my crappy Maxtor seems to be wearing out, and we all know MAXTORS SUCK. This is what I get for getting a prebuilt.

[so|omonster]

I agree with JamesKG. It's not going to be that big of a difference to warrant the change to dual core. Quad core is pretty much the same price anyway. That would be worth doing.

[Five]

imo design your computer around what you want to be able to do gaming-wise. FLAC will be happy with more horsepower any way you slice it.

[Karst]

Get a Mac, sexy, sleek, no virus nonsense and fast as lightning.

Go to an Apple Store and talk to a Genius.

You will be amazed.

[Aimee Wilbury]

Originally Posted by Karst

Get a Mac, sexy, sleek, no virus nonsense and fast as lightning.

And EXPENSIVE AS HELL!!!!!

[LeifH12345]

Originally Posted by Aimee Wilbury

And EXPENSIVE AS HELL!!!!!

and in my experience, (though I don't mean to bash Apple) their products don't last as long.

[SundayDriver]

Originally Posted by Karst

no virus nonsense

Unfortunately, that's rapidly changing.

[dude87]

Originally Posted by Five

imo design your computer around what you want to be able to do gaming-wise. FLAC will be happy with more horsepower any way you slice it.

Have to agree - audio processing is a pretty light load for most processors today. Also, newer AMD motherboards (based on the 780g and 790gx chipsets) actually have decent (not great, but decent) integrated graphics chips that will handle some degree of moderate gaming.