Dual core Intel... how hot?

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Wed, Aug 02, 2006 at 03:33:11PM -0400, Colin McGregor wrote:
> While the numbers do vary somewhat over time plus
> things vary somewhat between AMD and Intel there is
> something that seems to stay constant. Namely, of
> CURRENT generation CPU chips, the cutting edge has
> about 1.5 - 2 times the performance of the trailing
> edge. Yet, the cutting edge chip will be 4 - 8 times
> the price of the trailing edge chip. In other words
> you pay a MASSIVE premium for a fairly modest
> performance boost.
> 
> This explains why ALL of the boxes I have put together
> (starting with a AMD 386SX-25, back a lot of years ago
> :-) ) have been current technology, but near the
> trailing edge of the technology curve. 
> 
> While I am sure there are a FEW situations where going
> to the cutting edge is cost effective, that doesn't
> apply to 99% + of desktop users.

The thing is, I consider the cost and performance of the whole system
when deciding what parts are worth it.  If you are going to spend say
$3000 on the base components of a system, then a $200 cpu that runs half
the speed of a $800 cpu, may still not be a good deal, if you can use
the speed, since the slow system will cost you $3200, while the system
at twice the speed will cost you $3800.  It all depends on how much the
other components cost.  In a bargain system for $500, upgrading the cpu
is often not cost effective.  Mixing high end components into a low end
system generally isn't.

--
Len Sorensen
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