[opensuse] Hardware recommendation - CPU, etc.
I may be given money to buy one or more new computers for my work. I am currently happily using a Dell Optiplex GPX240 2GHz that I have recently upgraded with an nVidia graphics card, 1 GB of memory, USB 2.0 and a couple of external 360GB MyBook harddrives. When I was an admin, I developed (and retain) an affection for Dell systems. I currently run SUSE Linux 10.0. My primary use besides wordprocessing and statistical analysis are Java/J3D development for medical images using Eclipse and I use other medical imaging software (e.g., Amira). I run MSWindows programs either in wine or under vmware. I have not kept up with the performance issues surrounding the latest processors (Dual Core, Quad, etc.) and whatnot. For instance, the latest processors speeds don't seem comparable to those of older CPUs as a performance indicator, and 32 vs. 64 bit issues in a Linux environment are a mystery to me. So... What should I look for in a new ~$3000 system that would include a 20in Flat panel monitor. TIA, dslice -- Dennis E. Slice Department of Anthropology University of Vienna ======================================================== -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Saturday 24 February 2007, Dennis E. Slice wrote:
I have not kept up with the performance issues surrounding the latest processors (Dual Core, Quad, etc.) and whatnot. For instance, the latest processors speeds don't seem comparable to those of older CPUs as a performance indicator, and 32 vs. 64 bit issues in a Linux environment are a mystery to me. So...
Me too. The clock speed arms race is over, now its the multi-core race, instruction pipeling, prefetch, yadda-yadda. The Core-2-Duo processor at 2.13GHz will beat the living snot out of a Pentium 4, 3.2Ghz EVEN when a task is restricted to a single processor (not allowed to use the dual processors built into the core 2. My experience with AMD processors is somewhat limited, and I can't comment on which of those compares directly with any Core 2 machines. The best bet is to search the web for some of the processor shoot-out articles and see who wins most of the categories they test (even if some of them are not directly germane to your needs). Then shop price. If you research the basic chip prices for raw (oem) CPUs you can get an idea of the price side of the equation. Of course a good chip in a bad box will still be a dog, but given you like Dell (as do I), and Dell does both AMD and INTEL you can pretty much buy the same machine with either chipset you choose based on the shoot-out articles. Hint: most dell product lines with odd numbered models are AMD and even number models are Intel. Most dell high performance models are intel. That tells you something right there. Check your watch when you make any judgments, because thing change rapidly.
What should I look for in a new ~$3000 system that would include a 20in Flat panel monitor.
Right now dell has a special that includes a 22inch. Sweet. -- _____________________________________ John Andersen
John Andersen wrote:
Hint: most dell product lines with odd numbered models are AMD and even number models are Intel. Most dell high performance models are intel. That tells you something right there.
That's a good point, but I'd be careful reading too much into it. Dell and Intel have a lot of back-door dealings with each other. Dell didn't buy from AMD at *all* for years, for that reason. It could be Dell has an agreement with Intel to use their stuff in all the high-end boxes. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (3)
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David Brodbeck -
Dennis E. Slice -
John Andersen