A new rule I follow when upgrading

[Johnnytoxic]

I have just upgraded from a Q6600 @ 3.2ghz to an i5 SB @ 4.6ghz.

The upgrade in most applications is 2x as quick as my Q6600. Pi used to be calculated in around 16 seconds and it is now 8.

The next time I will upgrade is when pi can be done in 4 seconds and most applications are benchmarked twice as quick as my i5. Probably in a couple of generations

 

[Johnnytoxic]

But will you only consider single threaded performance? Pi might never be done in 4 seconds. Perhaps the coding over the next few years will come to take advantage of more and more cores so that processors will tend towards that over single thread performance...?

Yeh good point. Most applications Compression / Video / .NET etc take advantage of more cores.

If these applications are twice as quick benchmarking then it would be time.

 

[Johnnytoxic]

Just seems pointless keep upgrading when theres not much benefit.

Say I'm video encoding for 5 hours and with a new rig i could do it in 4.

Hardly worth the difference. My Q6600 has served me well until now.