Intel GHz.. Does 2X actually mean >2X

[ICE_9]

I was wondering about upgrading the farm. I currently have 6 computers here and am looking at lowering power consumption by consolidating my processing power. I have a 450 MHz, 500 MHz, 700 MHz, and a 1.7 GHz Intel processors. I wanted to drop these processors and sell them (or donate) so that I could get ahold of some Moderate to highend P4s.

The question about GHz is, does a 2.0 GHz P4 equal two 1.0 GHz P3s or is it actually more? I know that compairing them means that things like bus speeds, memory specifications, etc will probably have affects on performance. Does anyone have this information handy?

The reason is due to last months $185 power bill. Compaired to an expected $120 max during the hot months, this is quite a change. Thanks for your help.

 

[SmokeRngs]

If you are going to compare two 1 Ghz P3s versus a 2 Ghz P4, then no, you will not get twice the same production between them. The 2 P3s will actually get more work done. Whether they will do that with consuming less power I doubt.

Anymore, it's usually better to go A64 and get rid of some older slower machines. The AMDs are generally better on power than P4s anymore and the A64s will usually crunch WUs as well or better than P4s. I know this is not what you were asking exactly but it would probably be better than P4s if what it's going to do is folding.

 

[towert7]

Yea, a P4 presscott will run at about twice the wattage as your slower computers. (140w compared to about 70w).

I have a Pentium 3 stock at 0.8Ghz and it puts out about 42 points per day(PPD) MAX, and that is with no one using it. This machine uses 84watts at full load.

I have a Pentium 4 2.8GHz stock (dell SC420 server) that averages around 250 points per day. This machine uses 140watts at full load. (it uses two consoles with HT).

Now, as far as wattage goes, the pentium 4 is a better value.
Also, as far as Pure Mega Hertz goes, if we take the PPD and divide that by the mega hertz, the Pentium 4 would be expected to have 147PPD, but infact it has 250PPD. So its also out performing the P3 hertz for hertz.

Now, try this on for size. My Pentium M 1.5Ghz laptop, without HT, uses about 30watts under full load, and puts out 225PPD. This is much more efficient then both the Pentium4 and Pentium3.

Now, im not sure if you were thinking of buying one or building one, but if you are going to build one, how about this:
If you want to just have a dedicated folding box, you might consider a MicroATX case, MicroATX board (DFI makes a nice one), and a pentium M. Uses very little power, and puts out PPD very similar to the Pentium4 with HT. (again, i have a 1.5ghz... they make 2GHz pentium M's now).

~Hope this helps

 

[marty9876]

Don't forget to add the ~2x scoring boost for running big WU's.

 

[ICE_9]

What kind of differences can I expect with getting a Pentium M? I have never worked with one and am kinda curious about seting one up. Also I am horribly biased about buying an AMD processor. I truely believe that both companies make great products but I think that the better buy is Intel.

<---ducks as the sh*t hits the fan!

Am I wrong? Maybe. Do I care? NO! I know I get a great product because I MAKE THEM! I like paying for my own paycheck. It makes me feel happy.

 

[marty9876]

Pentium M score the most points per watt, even the AMD crowd has to give you this one. One of the guys here did a comparsion with a bunch on AMD chips and a Pentium M, M scored the best by far.

Pentium M's cost a boat load, period.

Everyone says, time and time again, AMD's are the best for points made vs. wattage used. Yea, I'm sure they are right.

But with the advent on QMD's, Intels do score the most period on these WU's. How long will this last, who knows. When will AMD's start doing QMD's, who knows.

 

[towert7]

Well, if your bent set on buying an Intel, I would highly recommend the Pentium M.
It has the best of both worlds, execpt 64bit computing. According to some reviews, it even matches the amd64 processors in gaming.

marty is right though, its at a bit of a price premium. But, if that does'nt turn you away, go for it.

Edit: I recently made a little list of the computers at my home. What type, how fast, how much watts they use under load, and the average PPD they put out. The pentium M that I have is the best in terms of power and megahertz.
Among the laptop((1.5ghz pentiumM), i had a amd opteron 252, amd XP 1500mhz, p3 800mhz, p4 ht 2.8ghz, p2 233mhz, pentium 233mhz, p2 350mhz. In some cases the Pentium M is 40 times more efficient.

 

[Mattman]

Now you need to get a Pentium D and an X2 and see how they stack up!

 

[towert7]

Now you need to get a Pentium D and an X2 and see how they stack up!

Haha, boy do I wish I could. I'm having one hell of a time just getting my dad to bring me to the local compusa. 160gb seagate for 40$ after MIR. Too bad he does'nt understand the concept of a good deal.

 

[unhappy_mage]

Here's what I'd suggest getting to lower electricity prices: motherboard and processor. The board is a desktop P-M board, so it works with standard power supply/case/whatever, but with the PPD advantage of the PMs.

 

[Hito Bahadur]

One note on the Pentium M's:

They suck (big time) on Tinker cores. When I get them I can average under 80-90 PPD (versus well over 250-350 for Gromacs). Unfortunately, I have been getting a lot of Tinker cores lately. This is with a 1.8 Ghz Pentium M.

 

[Mattman]

One note on the Pentium M's:

They suck (big time) on Tinker cores. When I get them I can average under 80-90 PPD (versus well over 250-350 for Gromacs). Unfortunately, I have been getting a lot of Tinker cores lately. This is with a 1.8 Ghz Pentium M.

This is one of the reasons we have had a love affair with AMD processors around here. They have offered good performance per $ and never sucked on any protein I can remember since the start of folding. It's always good to have a little bit of a mix of processors though, since every now and then one comes along that Intel processors love.