Can someone explain processor speed to me simply

[hargi]

So most stuff I understand.
However CPU's really throw me... I understand that the faster the speed the faster the computer will be and the more cores it has the better. It can do more 'jobs, threads' at a time.

So for example my current computer has an Intel Dual E2180 @2.00Ghz 2.60 Ghz
This must be at least 5/6 years old.

A computer I'm looking at for work is a Xeon Quad Core L5520 2.26Ghz.

Would I notice any difference in the processors. Is it much of an upgrade?

Thanks

 

[JonJ678]

Simple answer - yes, the L5520 is lots better, unless your current work is sufficiently simple that the E2180 does everything faster than you need anyway.

Moderate answer - comparing different processors based on a single number doesn't work very well. It's a bit like comparing cars by colour. You might prefer a blue one, but it doesn't follow that all blue cars are better than all red cars.

Real answer - try to find benchmarks comparing the two processors online, for work similar to work which you do yourself.

 

[Doomedspeed]

Jon has explained it very well, i just want to add another factor to it too. Arcitechture.

This is how CPU's operate and the arcitechture changes between each CPU generation (tick-tock). This means numbers are basically irrelivant as what the respresent (in comparison to older generations) is completely different and only relivant to themselves..

In car terms (as everyone understnads that). Its like comparing a 1.6L 1992 VW golf to a 2012 1.6L VW Golf. Yes, they have the same number but they are completely different.

 

[hargi]

Cheeers so here is my current set up

Gainward BLISS GeForce 8800 GT 512MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) -
Intel Core 2 Duo E2180 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.00GHz (800FSB) -
Pioneer DVR-212DBK 18x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black)
Abit IP35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Antec NSK 6580 Super Midi Tower Case - 430W Earth Watts PSU
OCZ 2GB (4x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series
Western Digital Caviar SE16 400GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
Windows Vista

Here is the set up I'm thinking of

HP Z600 workstation 
 
1 x Xeon Quad Core L5520 CPU 2.26GHz
12 GB DDR3 10600R ECC RAM
100GB SSD
1TB HDD
Quadro NVS 290 GFX
DVD R/RW
Win 7 Pro & restore Partition

It will be my work machine to do web dev on. My current set up has been OK but is struggling a bit now with Visual WEb Developer 2010 and running a MS SQL server on it. Nothing drastic but takes a minute or so to reload new projects.
Also Id like to be able to play with VisualBox and Server 2008r2 in VisualBox Which my old computer cant do.

I know the SSD and extra RAM will speed things up dramatically, but was just wondering what the CPU would do

 

[Doomedspeed]

It will be an improvement but it's still an old chip, on the 1366 socket IIRC.

May i ask how much you have budgeted for this, so i can scout around and see if theres a decent alternative?

That NVS 290 isn't a great card atall, current gen on-board graphics are better.

 

[hargi]

Well that Spec was going to cost me £390 Ex VAT. So something around that area please Doomedspeed.
Just need the base unit with new OS, I run two Screens so got told that card would support dual monitors.

 

[jak731]

Instructions per clock - IPC, is an important factor. Simplified, Cores x frequency x IPC is a better measure processing power than frequency alone but it depends on the type of work/thread making it difficult to define IPC so manufactures don't bother. For instance 1 core of a 4670k will be far more powerful than an old pentium 4 at the same speed, cache size/speed and RAM also comes into it.

 

[hargi]

Budget wise £500 ish

 

[hargi]

@Doomedspeed any alternatives?