pc processor specs new vs old

[Soundguy]

Is it current software (ie: are these current specs, or specs from 2006)? A 2.4GHZ 3rd generation i5 is significantly faster than a 2.4GHZ P4...

Aaron Z

Current software... it's one of the sonar versions. / cakewalk. like X3 I think.

Cakewalk - SONAR X3 - Compare versions

 

[IXLR8]

Current software... it's one of the sonar versions. / cakewalk. like X3 I think.

Cakewalk - SONAR X3 - Compare versions

If you look at the specs, they recommend 2.67GHz for a dual core processor or 2.4GHz for a quad core processor. So if you get a quad core processor, you don't need as many GHz. This also suggests that the software is setup to use multiple cores. It also recommended at least 2GB of RAM, I would want at least 4 GB of RAM, preferably 6 GB, especially if you are going to be running Win8.

 

[aczlan]

If you look at the specs, they recommend 2.67GHz for a dual core processor or 2.4GHz for a quad core processor. So if you get a quad core processor, you don't need as many GHz. This also suggests that the software is setup to use multiple cores. It also recommended at least 2GB of RAM, I would want at least 4 GB of RAM, preferably 6 GB, especially if you are going to be running Win8.

Only 6GB? I am ordering 8GB for our new machines at work... $40 more than 4GB if you get Crucial RAM through Amazon.

Aaron Z

 

[Ilikeurtractor]

i remember in the not so long ago days.. when you looked at a pc processor spec.. it would be like pentium 4, 3 ghz etc. or AMD athlon 1.3 ghz.. etc.

Nowadays.. you go look and you see I3 , I5, or I7, and no speed specs.

Wife is looking for a laptop to run some music software and hardware.. and the software is giving us speed specs it wants. IE.. 2.67ghz processor.. 7200rpm hdd.. etc...

IWhy is no one publishingthe speed specs on the id tags on the machine boxes? ( this was at a best buy ) . I just walked thru at lunch yesterday to look.. etc.

This is one reason I switched over to tractors - so much simpler. No need for patches, no getting viruses, no reason to upgrade the "operating system" or browser, no internet connection required (except for TBN of course ), much more "stable build", still works fine after 30+ years old, etc, etc.

 

[RobertN]

No. Speed AND core count both affect performance. More cores at slower speed will outperform less cores at higher speed. High core and speed is good, but are high end $$$

I guess I should add, so does the memory speed, and the bus speed of the CPU and motherboard...

are all I# the same speed ( and I5 and I7 ).

IE.. if I see an I3.. is it assumed to be the same speed in all platforms. .. etc.. a toshiba and an hp for instance.. if both have an i5 proc.. are they they same speeds?

 

[RobertN]

RAM is so cheap now 16GB... or more if board/system will support it.

It also recommended at least 2GB of RAM, I would want at least 4 GB of RAM, preferably 6 GB, especially if you are going to be running Win8.

 

[MossRoad]

well.. that did answer some questions. since this will be a mobile platform.. I'l either need the very fastest o f the I5 since they top out at 2.8 Or i will need an I7... ( starting at 2.7 and go up.. etc.. ) the software i am going to use will require 2.67ghz

i5 doesn't hyperthread... do you need to hyperthread? H*** I don't know!!! :laughing: But here's an explanation of that, too.How Hyper-Threading Works (and When You Want It In Your PC) For reference, I have both i5 and i7 laptops of the same speed. I can't see any difference in my daily work, which involves MANY windows open at the same time. But nothing with high demand graphics. I've yet to lock either up.

 

[aczlan]

i5 doesn't hyperthread... do you need to hyperthread?

I'll have to disagree. My laptop has a Intel i5 M430 CPU (specs) which is an i5 and it hyperthreads (dual core chip, but Windows shows 4 cores in task manager).

Aaron Z

 

[RobertN]

It is processor specific, not I3/I5/I7 specific. You really have to look at the specs.

More core, more threads, usually more computing power. But... it also usually means higher price points.

i5 doesn't hyperthread... do you need to hyperthread? H*** I don't know!!!

 

[MossRoad]

I'll have to disagree. My laptop has a Intel i5 M430 CPU (specs) which is an i5 and it hyperthreads (dual core chip, but Windows shows 4 cores in task manager).

Aaron Z

From the following article:
Core i5 uses Hyper-Threading to make a dual-core CPU act like a four-core one, but if you have a Core i5 processor with four true cores, it won't have Hyper-Threading. For the time being, Core i5 tops out at handling 4 streams, using four real cores or two cores with Hyper-Threading.

Give Me the Cache - Comparing Intel Core i5 vs i7 | PCMag.com

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a screen shot of my laptop Intel Core i7-2720QM. Its a 4 core with hyper threading. It shows 8 in the perf mon.

 

[Midniteoyl]

and still i need to see these processor speeds to see if they match up to the software specs.

I assume I'll have to go to each display computer and get system properties from my computer to see what windows is reporting as process and speed.. etc...

looks like if i limit myself to looking at I% and above it will be easier. IE.. any I7 will likely be faster than any I3 etc...

thanks

Intel® Processor Comparison

Your best bet for price to performance is a 4th Gen i5-4330M for a laptop; Intel Processor Specifications

Or

i5-4670 for a desktop: Intel Processor Specifications


IMO, of course..



Intel Core - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Midniteoyl]

are all I# the same speed ( and I5 and I7 ).

IE.. if I see an I3.. is it assumed to be the same speed in all platforms. .. etc.. a toshiba and an hp for instance.. if both have an i5 proc.. are they they same speeds?

No.. see: Intel Core - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Soundguy]

ok.. more info.. I emailed cakewalk and they sent me the updated specs needed for their software.

( requirements - minimum ).

core 2 duo at 2.67ghz 2g ram 1020x800 graphics.. reccomends 7200rpm hdd

tonight i looked at a higher end hp envy I7 4700 that was 2.4ghz, 8g ram and a 5400rpm hdd

wondering if that hdd will kill the deal.. or.. since it wants a core 2 duo.. which seems like an old spec.. if a 1tb 5400 rpm hdd of today might have some good data throughput.. or superior than what was available when the core2 duo came out?

opinions?

 

[Midniteoyl]

You're gonna be hard pressed to find a 7200rpm drive in a laptop at a good price point.. If the 5400rpm drive is set up as AHCI in the BIOS, as oppose to IDE - Advanced Host Controller Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it will be as fast or faster than the older 7200rpm drives. Newer drives also are usually running the a faster SATA spec and older HD's were also lower density and lower cache, so most modern drives are automatically faster any way.

 

[aczlan]

ok.. more info.. I emailed cakewalk and they sent me the updated specs needed for their software.
( requirements - minimum ).
core 2 duo at 2.67ghz 2g ram 1020x800 graphics.. reccomends 7200rpm hdd
tonight i looked at a higher end hp envy I7 4700 that was 2.4ghz, 8g ram and a 5400rpm hdd
wondering if that hdd will kill the deal.. or.. since it wants a core 2 duo.. which seems like an old spec.. if a 1tb 5400 rpm hdd of today might have some good data throughput.. or superior than what was available when the core2 duo came out?
opinions?

Passmark says that a Core 2 duo can be surpassed with a 4th gen i3: PassMark - Intel Core2 Duo P9600 @ 2.66GHz - Price performance comparison vs PassMark - Intel Core i3-4010U @ 1.70GHz - Price performance comparison

You're gonna be hard pressed to find a 7200rpm drive in a laptop at a good price point.. If the 5400rpm drive is set up as AHCI in the BIOS, as oppose to IDE - Advanced Host Controller Interface - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it will be as fast or faster than the older 7200rpm drives. Newer drives also are usually running the a faster SATA spec and older HD's were also lower density and lower cache, so most modern drives are automatically faster any way.

I got a 7200 RPM drive in my laptop (Dell) and it wasn't much more. Worst case, its $50 on Amazon for a WD Black in ~320GB or $65ish for 1TB Seagate. Drop another $10 on an external SATA to USB case and the OEM laptop drive becomes a external USB harddrive.

Aaron Z

 

[Midniteoyl]

You can upgrade, of course, but the 'off the self' laptops wanna add more than just a 7200rpm and thus the price rises quickly.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Depends on your budget. 7200 rpm HD's are plentiful in laptops for under $1k. HP has one.

FYI: i5, i7 and i3 all start out life as i7's. In other words, they are all the same processor. Fuses are designed into the silicon wafer. Once the silicon is sawed from the wafer and is sorted, the fuses get blown to disable functionality, creating the i5's and i3's. Saves money on tooling, design, etc.

 

[Midniteoyl]

If I'm spending close to $1k, I'm going Ultrabook

 

[troutsqueezer]

If I'm spending close to $1k, I'm going Ultrabook

I think the price on those with any amount of power is still too high. They're in the process of collecting that R&D money, IMO.

BTW, I've run Cakewalk X3 on what is now my wife's computer with no probs. Hers is an older i5, 7200RPM, 8gig RAM.