2.0 Dual Xeons or 3.0 Single Pentium4

[mikescave]

I want to learn a little about advantages of using slower speed Dual Processors vs using faster speed Single processor. From what I understand Dual 2.0 Gig processors should work as if they were a 4.0 Gig Single processor right? Or is the advantage in the Hyper Threading? Also is the Xeon processor far superior to the P4? I'm buying a new machine and I wanted to know a little more before buying it. I'll be running Max, Maya and Auto CAD.

[STRAT]

in theory you'd expect a dual 2.0 to run like a single 4.0. but speeds do vary.

 

in my experience always go for a dual. they operate and (out)preform single procesors every time. eg, a dual 2 gig will be faster than a single 4 gig.

 

and most 3d software benefits from hyper threading these days, so even a 'slower' xeon will leave a fast single cpu standing still.

[bigcahunak]

There are benefits to each side.

The singles benefit is that you have more machines to work on - you don't render all the time, right?

For programs that benefit from the dual setup, a 2x2gh should be faster than 1x4gh machine.

A 4gh machine will render a single bucket faster than a 2gh machine, but not twice as fast (probably about 50% faster). But, the dual will render 2 buckets...

But thats in good programs that are really dual optimized.

[Greg Hess]

I'm going to have to take an opposing viewpoint to Strat. I'm also going to have to agree with him .

 

Generally a faster single processor (especially if were talking 1.75-2.0x the clock speed of one of the cpu's in a dual system) will be significantly faster then the dual in most operations.

 

Why is this? Because most operations run on a machine are single threaded. The boot process, opengl, direct3d, most cg operations (besides rendering), most non professional applications, ALOT of professional applications, are all single threaded.

 

This means in a dual cpu system, only the first cpu will be utilized when these types of operations are being executed.

 

Aka if your playing Neverwinter Nights on your dual 2.0 Xeon, your friends 3.06 P4 will spank you across the playing field.

 

Viewport operations in max are also singlethreaded. Though there are cases of manufacturers providing multithreaded drivers (3dlabs/FireGL (NOT ATI)), these are few and far between, and usually are more trouble then their worth.

 

This gap increases even more substaintally when you note that most single processor systems are geared towards the latest trends in performance. (800 FSB, PAT, PC3200 DC-DDR) while the dual systems lag a bit behind (533 FSB, PC2100 DC-DDR).

 

HOWEVER. YES HOWEVER!!!

 

Anytime you hit the render button, especially if your running a 3rd party renderer like vray...the dual processor systems will really show their worth. Even at substaintally lower clock speeds (a dual 2.0 xeon vs a 3.06 HT P4) they'll still wipe the floor with the faster single proc.

 

With a dual xeon you get FOUR buckets in Vray/Brazil. Thats alotta horsepower.

 

Dual proc systems are also extremely efficent at handling multiple operations at once, multitasking, and are generally much more stable then their single processor brethern. (Which is also why their not on the forefront of technology).

 

A dual processor system with dual displays is so addictive, that once you've experienced it, everything else seems to be in slow motion.

 

If you find yourself doing more then one task at once (working in photoshop and viz at the same time), rendering, or generally multitasking, a dual processor system is worth its weight in gold.

 

If your primarily playing games, doing just one thing at a time, and doing much more modeling then rendering, a faster single proc is the better solution.

[mikescave]

Thanks guys.

 

I'm defenitely leaning towards the duals, I don't play many games on my PC, I'm starting to work on my demo reel for school and I want something I can render out here at home rather than make long trips back and forth. I'm also tailoring it (the reel) alot towards set design and lighting effects (high res meshes, volume lights, raytraces) and I hate to wait for renders.

 

One question though-

Greg wrote-

 

A dual processor system with dual displays is so addictive, that once you've experienced it, everything else seems to be in slow motion.

 

Is that a simple thing to set up? And while I'm doing that does that mean that the PC acts as two machines? Or will both processors work together when I hit render?

 

Mike San German

3D advocate and aficionado

[Cesar R]

Both processors will work at the same time when you hit render.

[Cesar R]

While you moving in the viewport as you model, think of the second processor as a helper to the first one.

 

For example:

 

Let's say several boxes need to be taken from one room to another. You have a team of two medium sized guys, and the other team is just one huge dude, whose stengh equals the strength of the other team. (this is a competition) So the race begins. The first team can take turns on moving boxes, or both can work together to pick up a very heavy box and transport it faster and more efficiently with out strain, while the large guy can pick up this box, but may take a little longer because he is all alone. In addition, while the larger competitor has to walk all the distance between the two rooms, the team of two can meet in the middle and be much quicker; while one delivers the box the other is bringing another to the meeting point. -

 

This is my idea of dual CPU & one.

[Cesar R]

I hope this helps.

 

[ June 22, 2003, 10:48 PM: Message edited by: Cesar R ]

[mikescave]

Thanks Cesar. Totally makes sense. So yeah I'll be expanding my workforce by two big guys or four smaller guys(as far as the buckets are concerned).