Does 1mb of cache make windows "smoother"?

S

sarbz

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Feb 1, 2005
Messages
1,319
There have been many threads about cache, and if they improve performance in games or specific apps, or whatever. I want to know from those who have had 512 & 1mb cpu's in their computers if it makes a difference in the day to day usage of windows. This isn't something that can be benchmarked, but more of a "feel" issue.

Does 1mb really make things seem "smoother"?
 
sarbz said:
There have been many threads about cache, and if they improve performance in games or specific apps, or whatever. I want to know from those who have had 512 & 1mb cpu's in their computers if it makes a difference in the day to day usage of windows. This isn't something that can be benchmarked, but more of a "feel" issue.

Does 1mb really make things seem "smoother"?
Click to expand...

I think I can help. ;) I went from a socket 754 1MB L2 cache Clawhammer to my current processor, a Venice. Obviously, it gains dual-channel over single-channel on 754, which everyone claimed made up for the cache before I got it. Guess what? It doesn't. But clockspeed does. Namely, I did some real world "feel" testing to see where exactly this Venice felt like my clawhammer did. Mind you, benchmarks were faster and other stuff felt snappier, but my everyday work wasn't as fluid @ 2.4GHz as it was on my Claw at the same speed. For me, it felt "smooth" like my Clawhammer @ 2.6GHz...that was the plateau...after that, it just added more snap at it's jobs. I'm perfectly happy at 2.7GHz, as it seriously is noticably faster than the claw, and feels just as smooth. 2.6GHz is the very least I'd want on 512K of L2...dual-channel might help in gaming a little and benchmarks, but everyday feel, no.

Hope that answered your question.

 
That much cache will only benefit you in cache-hungry applications.
 
thanks, tsuehpsyde. that does help. That was exactly the type of reply I was looking for. I'm planning out my next build, and I'm wondering if 1mb is worth it.

I built a PC for the company I work for with an X2 4400+, and it's insanely fast. It NEVER hesitates to do anything. Unfortunately, I can't afford that for my home PC. So it's between the X2 3800+, a sandie, or a venice. Whatever cash I save from buying one cpu vs. another, I'll put towards more ram. And I don't want to oc my next chip very much. I actually would rather have lower voltage, less heat, and much lower fan speed.
 
sarbz said:
I built a PC for the company I work for with an X2 4400+, and it's insanely fast. It NEVER hesitates to do anything.
Click to expand...


That would be more because of the dual core rather than the cache. Once you use an X2, you will never want anything less.
 
Devnull said:
That would be more because of the dual core rather than the cache. Once you use an X2, you will never want anything less.
Click to expand...

yeah, I realize that. but can't afford one anyway.
 
Devnull said:
I couldn't afford a X2 3800+, but I got one anyways :p
Click to expand...

been there, and done that before too :cool: (buying hardware that I can't afford that is)

it's harder to upgrade now that I'm married....too bad the wife isn't a hardware geek too.
 
I don't really use my pc for much more than games and surfing. I went from a 3200+ Winchester to my Opteron w/1mb cache. The 3200 ran at 2.6 and the Opty runs at 2.7. So far I can not tell the difference at all. However, I don't think my graphics card can keep up with either one (I play at 1600x1200). Maybe with the new OS coming out or as graphics cards get better, I will hopefully notice the extra cache. Just another opinion for you. :)
 
sarbz said:
been there, and done that before too :cool: (buying hardware that I can't afford that is)

it's harder to upgrade now that I'm married....too bad the wife isn't a hardware geek too.
Click to expand...


I knew I had a respectable reason for not being married...
 
wadec22 said:
I don't really use my pc for much more than games and surfing. I went from a 3200+ Winchester to my Opteron w/1mb cache. The 3200 ran at 2.6 and the Opty runs at 2.7. So far I can not tell the difference at all. However, I don't think my graphics card can keep up with either one (I play at 1600x1200). Maybe with the new OS coming out or as graphics cards get better, I will hopefully notice the extra cache. Just another opinion for you. :)
Click to expand...

yeah....at around $150, the s939 opteron is a good option too. From what I've read, you can get decent OC's from stock voltage (or even lower). OC & low heat...best of both worlds.
 
computerpro3 said:
if you get a cabne opteron even the 144 or 146 expect 3ghz stock volts. I have one :D
Click to expand...

Only if you are cooling on water. I have one as well. With some more tinkering I know I can get 2.8, 2.9 is a stretch on air. For me anyways, YMMV.
 
wadec22 said:
Only if you are cooling on water. I have one as well. With some more tinkering I know I can get 2.8, 2.9 is a stretch on air. For me anyways, YMMV.
Click to expand...

wow, thats the lowest clocked CABNE I've ever seen. Sorry you got a "crappy" one. Mine booted 3ghz stock volts stock heatsink, and is 100% stable with xp-120. I've got a DFI board coming tomorrow to replace my now dead asus to see if I can get 3.2ghz on air.
 
Going from a 128kb Sempron at 2.4ghz to my current 3700+ Clawhammer, the additional cache was a big improvement when multitasking.
 
computerpro3 said:
wow, thats the lowest clocked CABNE I've ever seen. Sorry you got a "crappy" one. Mine booted 3ghz stock volts stock heatsink, and is 100% stable with xp-120. I've got a DFI board coming tomorrow to replace my now dead asus to see if I can get 3.2ghz on air.
Click to expand...

You have a kick ass chip. If you head over to xtremesystems forum, where there a lot of CABNE owners, most are getting around 2.7 to 2.8 Prime95 24hour stable on air. Many can push theirs to 3 and beyond but not 24 hour prime stable. (mine will post into windows at 3.1) And most on water get 3+.
 
Devnull said:
That would be more because of the dual core rather than the cache. Once you use an X2, you will never want anything less.
Click to expand...


No doubt on that one....
 
cache is more important when you have alot of RAM.

But on AMD 64 it makes less difference because of the integrated memory controller.
 
I just ordered the 3700+ San Diego, and picked it specifically because it has the extra L2 cache. I will be doing some really intense image editting in photoshop, and I figure that since it uses up a ton of memory, having the extra cache will help. Unless I'm totally wrong about this, in which case I spent an extra $100 on a processor for no reason :p

Anyway, hopefuly I'll test it out myself once my new hardware arrives and see.
 
The one meg cache helps speeds for filters and such. An Opteron 146 would have been a better/cheaper way to go than the 3700, but the low quantity seems prohibitive.
 
I wanted a socket 939 board... Plus I wanted a system balanced out for gaming and image editting so I decided to get the 3700+. I think I made the right decision, but either way it'll definitely be a lot better than what I had before.
 
robberbaron said:
My Opteron had no problem on my socket 939 DFI board
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=958540
Click to expand...
Very nice! See, when I picked a processor I knew nothing about AMD. I've had Intel systems up until now, and decided to try something different and stop my !!!!!!sm (fangirlism?)

I'm actually getting a DFI board as well :cool: I'm very excited to try out the new system. The Opteron processors sure do look awfully nice though.
 
Sabrina said:
Very nice! See, when I picked a processor I knew nothing about AMD. I've had Intel systems up until now, and decided to try something different and stop my !!!!!!sm (fangirlism?)

I'm actually getting a DFI board as well :cool: I'm very excited to try out the new system. The Opteron processors sure do look awfully nice though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you'll be happy with the DFI then. Make sure to read Eclipse's guide for OC'ing so that you get the most out of your board and chip, and feel free to ask for help upon doing so :cool:
 
tsuehpsyde said:
I think I can help. ;) I went from a socket 754 1MB L2 cache Clawhammer to my current processor, a Venice. Obviously, it gains dual-channel over single-channel on 754, which everyone claimed made up for the cache before I got it. Guess what? It doesn't. But clockspeed does. Namely, I did some real world "feel" testing to see where exactly this Venice felt like my clawhammer did. Mind you, benchmarks were faster and other stuff felt snappier, but my everyday work wasn't as fluid @ 2.4GHz as it was on my Claw at the same speed. For me, it felt "smooth" like my Clawhammer @ 2.6GHz...that was the plateau...after that, it just added more snap at it's jobs. I'm perfectly happy at 2.7GHz, as it seriously is noticably faster than the claw, and feels just as smooth. 2.6GHz is the very least I'd want on 512K of L2...dual-channel might help in gaming a little and benchmarks, but everyday feel, no.

Hope that answered your question.

Click to expand...


Hmmm. That makes those $120 DTR Clawhammer 3000+'s tempting.
I'd still prefer a 3000+ Newark, if I could get one. Perhaps I should just crank the Vcore up to 1.7+ and make this sempy cry.
 
sarbz said:
it's harder to upgrade now that I'm married....too bad the wife isn't a hardware geek too.
Click to expand...

Mine tells me I have to buy her hardware... like laptops and she commandeers my desktop all the time.
 
Ruiner said:
Hmmm. That makes those $120 DTR Clawhammer 3000+'s tempting.
I'd still prefer a 3000+ Newark, if I could get one. Perhaps I should just crank the Vcore up to 1.7+ and make this sempy cry.
Click to expand...

Yes, those DTR's are very appealing. If I still had a 754 board (well, I have one in my possession, it's not mine tho) I'd get one just to play around with, and end up using for some cheap folding points. ;) But IIRC, the lower Newarks diddn't fare so well...but, I only remember seeing results of one 3400+ Newark, and it diddn't hold a candle to Ozzi's late-3700+ of doom.

But just remember that even the 3700+ Clawhammer, which will net at least 2.6GHz unless you get a complete dud, is only $215 OEM shipped from the 'egg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103461

It should get around the same overclocks as that DTR, but it still has the IHS, and extra multipliers.

 
tsuehpsyde said:
It should get around the same overclocks as that DTR, but it still has the IHS, and extra multipliers.

Click to expand...

IHS?
We don't need no steeenkeeing IHS.
:p

As an aside, is removing the IHS on these things only helpful to OCing if you are temp limited? My temps are kept low with my decent water cooling system.
I'm wondering if uncapping will buy me some speed w/o extra voltage.

I recall that uncapping my old Tualatin Celeron bought me 2C cooler temps but not any extra speed at all.
 
Ruiner said:
IHS?
We don't need no steeenkeeing IHS.
:p

As an aside, is removing the IHS on these things only helpful to OCing if you are temp limited? My temps are kept low with my decent water cooling system.
I'm wondering if uncapping will buy me some speed w/o extra voltage.

I recall that uncapping my old Tualatin Celeron bought me 2C cooler temps but not any extra speed at all.
Click to expand...

Not sure, but you can ask ozzi as he de-IHS'd his clawhammer (and abused the core as well). I'm not sure if he gained any speeds, but I do know that the 130nm's are generally more prone to gaining speed from lower temps than 90nms IIRC.

 
my newark 3700+ is for sale if you want it... PM me if your interested... it comes with no IHS already.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top