Q6600, Q9300, SSE4.1 and RAM limits

ID:47975
 
Sep 11 2008, 11:42 pm
Keywords: computer
I was all set to order my new computer after posting this week's Tech Tree. I had changed my mind from some sort of Dell Inspiron to a Gateway DX4710-UB002A. Then I saw that Dell was offering daily specials this week and an XPS 420 is offered today.

Gateway DX4710-UB002A XPS 420 offer
Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (2.40GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 8MB cache) Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q9300 (6MB Cache,2.50GHz,1333FSB)
6GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM 4GB of Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit) SP1 Windows Vista Home Premium w/ Digital Cable Support SP1
- supports SSE4.1


I'm not sure which option is more future proof. The XPS 420's SSE4.1 instructions will supposedly be useful soon, but I don't do a lot of multimedia encoding and the RAM appears to be maxed out. The Gateway DX doesn't support the instructions, but it starts out with more RAM, I can add more later, and (although, it's not my area of expertise) it's supposedly faster when overclocking.

I'm leaning towards the Gateway DX just because I can apply old standards. Unfortunately, I don't know if they apply.
Sep 12 2008, 8:20 am
The sticky part about the XPS system is that it doesn't specify whether it's the 64-bit or 32-bit version of Vista. If it's not the 64-bit version, you're incurring overhead with your Q9300, which is a 64-bit processor.
Sep 12 2008, 10:20 am
Spuzzum's advice aside (since I can't speak to processor issues), the Dell system is faster on just about every level. The extra memory would be the main reason to go with the Gateway machine aside from the possible 32/64 issue, but Dell has a much better reputation for tech support issues than Gateway does these days. 15 years ago you often couldn't do better than Gateway unless you built the system yourself, but these days I don't think that's true. I'd ask Dell about the Vista 32/64 question and if it's 32-bit, find out what kind of overhead you're really looking at.
Sep 12 2008, 11:05 am
I second Lummox. The 6 GB of memory is just huge, though! You must be getting into the big stuff.
Sep 12 2008, 11:40 am
Too late. I already ordered the Gateway DX.

I used Dell chat and confirmed that the OS on the XPS was 32-bit. Perhaps I could have upgraded it later and replaced the 4 sticks of RAM, but I'd rather just switch out 2 sticks.

The RAM on the DX might be slower, but the processor on the XPS is only about 7% faster in benchmarks. Overclocking both, the DX's Q6600 supposedly comes out ahead. I'm guessing that makes them about even in the long term if I don't care about SSE4.1.

As for getting into the big stuff, I'm not. I've just been using an 800 Mhz PIII running Windows 98SE for a decade and have no idea how long I'll be using the next computer. =)
Sep 12 2008, 6:20 pm
Just watch out for the blue screen of death! New Vista desktops seems to get them a lot, just look at Deadron and my family's HP desktop, which blue screens every time you try to shut it down (15 minutes of nothing + blue screen).
Sep 12 2008, 8:31 pm
Fortunately, that could happen on either computer. Vista probably believes in equal opportunity. ;)
Sep 13 2008, 5:31 am
Jeff8500 wrote:
Just watch out for the blue screen of death! New Vista desktops seems to get them a lot, just look at Deadron and my family's HP desktop, which blue screens every time you try to shut it down (15 minutes of nothing + blue screen).

Ugh, happens to me as well... why the hell did they decide to go for flashy looks instead of stability? I should've bought a Mac...

Funny thing, when I tried to hibernate a few times yesterday, it would lock me and stay at the login screen... ugh.
Sep 13 2008, 6:00 am
No, I managed to escape Vista's racism with my laptop, which is why I defended Vista for quite a few months (AKA before my family got our desktop). My laptop never has problems unless you count Norton's "har har har u waz playin spore and didnt save har har har RESTART IN 4 MINUTEZ har har har enjoy ur ice cream." I wish I could uninstall all symantec hardware, but I don't know if it's integrated into Vista or not.