Not all about clock ? (P4>dual/quad)

[digitaldreams]

I currently have the 3.8GHz P4 (670) and am considering upgrading to a dual or quad....

The benchmarks I find appear to show the latest chips outdo the 3.8 P4 even at lower clock speeds (say 2.66). Is this a side effect of having dual/quad cores or are they much more efficient at executing code anyway ?? (even single thread apps).

Regards

 

[digitaldreams]

There is a topic on 'Toms Hardware' that compares several processors @2.4GHz....yet they have only chosen apps that would benefit from multi cores ! (on purpose ?).

I'd like to see a 'single threaded' benchmark comparing my 3.8 670 to say a 2.6 6700 (or Q6700). An older 3dmark or pcmark maybe ?.

<sigh>

 

[digitaldreams]

So....

If running an old 'single threaded' ap or game, would moving to dual/quad core from my 3.8 P4 (800MHz bus) slow it down ?. I'm talking at least 2.66GHz & 1GHz bus.....

Regards

 

[digitaldreams]

An old application/game not using the multiple cores. The only core in use though more efficient than the P4's cannot compete with the 3.8GHz of my current 670....

True or false ?

 

[digitaldreams]

Excellent.....

That, the fact 'Crysis' WILL take advantage of four cores and several other reasons - justifies my upgrade to Quad.....

Thanks

 

[digitaldreams]

Nice one !....I'm even more sold on the idea. Yes my bus would be going up to 1000 from 800 (or even to 1333 if I dare push my P5W64-WS Pro & 8000ul ram). Yet I hear bus speed has less effect that the other improvements..

Forgive me if wrong, but while the P4 is executing a couple of things at once, it could also be executing a floating point instruction in it's built in maths co-processor....same to be said of all later chips.

Regards