Pentium D vs. Core 2 Duo & Core 2 Extreme

thanks. doesn't look like there is a $505 difference between the 2.67GHz and the 2.93GHz. but thanks for the link   :smileyhappy:

I agree. If I get the E6700 I'll probably be able to get 4GB of memory and the dual GTX vid cards. :smileyhappy:

Your computer can't be 5 years old because a P4 2.8GHz with HT didn't exist then. Also, you wouldn't have been able to upgrade to that CPU when it became available. My guess is that it's 2-3 years old. But since you want to upgrade, forget about the Pentium D. It's obsolete technology. The Core2 Duo is tons faster despite its lower clock speeds. Clock speed doesn't matter anymore as both Intel and AMD have moved to dual core CPUs and increased efficiency. You really can't look at clock speed when comparing different CPUs. It only matters when comparing the same CPUs as in a Pentiun 4 2.8GHz vs. a 3.2GHz. The architecture of the Core2 CPUs are entirely different. They can execute 4 parallel instructions per clock vs. 3 for the Pentium 4. The pipeline of the Core2 is only 14 stages long vs. 31 stages for the Pentium D. In sum, it's a FAR more efficient CPU.

 

You could get a the E6600 Core 2 CPU which would be much less than even the E6700 but not a lot slower. It's the sweet spot of the Core2 lineup. The Core2 Extreme is only for those who just want the fastest no matter what the cost. Save the money, get an E6600 and a great video card. You'll be happy you did!