Dothan, 820D, or Prescott

[Natedog]

Which system would be better for video encoding, fluid dynamics volume code crunching, and general heavy browsing? I dont really care about benchmarks but I do need a real world fast system that will last. Something like a 730 Dothan or the 820D? Either would be overclocked and watercooled. To make the choise even more complex I already have a IC7 and am also considering a 3.0E. Both the Dothan and the 820 will cost roughly the same and the 3.0E would come in a good bit cheaper. Is it worth it to jump to another mobo or just get a prescott?

Does the Dothan/CT-479 require an Asus mobo?

[Pinnacle]

If you have the IC7, then get the 3.0 E0. I have it and its a great chip, got it at 3.7.

The CT-479 could only be used with a Asus Mobo :(

[wwwww]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=65261

[mache]

go with the 3.0E ... it's cheaper and at least for 1-2 years you shouldn't worry 'bout having problems...

[vtx_]

dothan and video encoding... is a no

[mr_knowitall15]

for video encoding, prescott usually comes out on top. you can get a 3.2 pretty cheap nowadays. they OC well, a friend of mine has one that goes up to 4.1 on air cooling at stock VCore. Its 100% stable at 3.8 on air with stock VCore. Just make sure to get an E0 stepping CPU, D0 runs hotter and doesnt seem to OC as well (its what i have).

[masterofpuppets]

For gaming and distributed crunching projects, and benching: Dothan
For video encoding and important work: Prescott

[Natedog]

thanks for the replies, Curious, why is nobody voting for the smithfield?

[toledo]

thanks for the replies, Curious, why is nobody voting for the smithfield?

Cause you haven`t mention multi-tasking . :D . In single task prescott and dual cores have basically the same performance (most of cases ) , it only worth the extra money if you are heavy user of multi-tasking .

[Nosfer@tu]

For Encoding the D820 is best, low price to.

but for gaminging you will lose about 5-8 %

[Mr. Tinker]

Depends on if the video encoding app takes advantage of multi-processor systems.

[Natedog]

I do like to multitask a good bit but normally I have to restrain myself because I run out of CPU. The smithfield is looking nice, along with the 64bit support.

[saratoga]

fluid dynamics volume code crunching

Custom app or commercial? Either way, stay away from Dothan.

You'll also have to be very careful overclocking too if the results are remotely important.

[Natedog]

Fluent. ~8million cell models on 5-10 computers running in parallel (I work for an IRL car manufacturer)

[freecableguy]

For gaming and distributed crunching projects, and benching: Dothan
For video encoding and important work: Prescott

Prescott®©: The Processor for People with Important Work™

[illmatik]

Get one of each! Thats what I did. Sold/traded all my 754 rigs and their cooling and I've got a prescott 3.0E on quiet air(htpc) and a dothan (fun machine) under vapo and 820D (work/research machine) under machII in the works.

[illmatik]

For straight code crunching, it depends on how yer crunching. If your app is dual cpu aware then the 820 is gonna be 'yer one' ;) For a single threaded app, then the dothan may be a better choice. Overclocking-wise, the 820D is gonna be one hot motha (as is the 3.0E), so for water you may achieve the highest/coolest clock w/ the dothan.

[Nasgul]

Well, let me be the first one to say: Pentium D 820, if future you want, then invest in someting that will be good for it and it's dirt "inexpensive".

You have an IC7 but you forgot to mention, what processor you're currently running on it? I'd say anything less than 2.6 HT, then yes, I recommend the Pentium D 820 with a nice ASUS 945P $130 MoBo and the Corsair XMS DDR2 675 $138. BTW, I don't have any problems at all gaming with my Prescott, and we know Smithfield is Prescott's cousin, so Smithfield it is.

[illmatik]

Nasgul makes some good points. If your 478 board was an Asus P4x800 series, the dothan path would almost be a no-brainer. $50 for ct-479, and the rest of your gear is still good to go. Even still, considering the price of p4p800-se's and p4C's I would still give the dothan some serious thought. With a couple of extremely inexpensive modifications (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=66343) and a good dothan, you might be able to skip the water cooling and get FX-like(or better!!) performance on air.