Dual core combined Ghz? Hybrid hard drive or not?

Noob question really: I'm torn between getting 1.80 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 800MHz OR 2.00 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 800MHz.

How do I find out what the equivalent processing power of a dual core is compared to a single processor?! Would the 1.80 GHz Duo be the equivalent of a 3 GHz processor or something?

The reason I'm asking is because it is hard to judge minimum/ recommended system requirements of programs etc I need as they always refer to single processors.


Second, since I'm opting for Vista, I've heard it really benefits from the new Hybrid hard-drives: does anybody know if these hard drives are optimal when running rather graphics-intense games etc?

Surely heavy applications would require the HD to spin continuously and the Hybrid is only beneficial when running "normal" and not too resource-heavy applications? Yes or no? My basic concern here is that if I'm getting a Hybrid and running lotsa heavy games & applications it will wear itself out prematurely from continuously having to spin-up, compared to a normal drive which once up and spinning suffers little wear and tear.

Any input will be most appreciated!

 

Processor: Any dual core is going to fit todays requirements...they're just too darned fast. GHz isn't a big deal anymore, and different processor speeds never were really comparable.

Hard drive: SSD drives will barely impact performance. They'll decrease loading times, but you are not going to get extra FPS. Hybrid drives also cost a TON of money right now, and only offer lower capacities, higher prices, and decreased seek times. Not worth it.

 

Dual core processors are not always faster than single cored processors. It all depends on the application. For example, a non-multithreaded game, cannot use the two cores so, the processors effective speed will be whatever the clockspeed is. However, quite a few games are now multithreaded, and Windows can use its resouces better if it was a dual core processor at its disposal. Like night_2004 said, any dual core processor will do the job these days, and I agree.

 

It doesn't work like that. A 1.80GHz dual-core processor is, well, essentially two 1.80GHz processors. If you run a single-threaded application, it will run as fast as it would on one of the 1.8GHz processors.

 

Quoted for truth

See my post here for proof. I had already tested my laptop but decided to see what the DT could do... I multi-task all the time on my laptop and never get slow down. This crap desktop I'm using now on the other hand... on my laptop I run Foobar, firefox and Pro Evo (its a soccer game yanks) at the same time no probs

sinnasmurfen, look at your potential purchase, then look at mine. Have no more worries

 

Thanks guys. Anybody know anything about the Hybrid hard-drive (see first post) because I'm getting contradictory info here, some say its faster and better others the exact opposite! Only thing people agree is that it will decrease loading times, but this is not my primary concern, which is longevity.

I did find this:
Robson 1GB + 160GB HD 5400RPM
Seektime: 20ms random access
Seektime: 15ms full stroke access
Transfer Rate: 32MB/s
Power consumption: Theoretical values max: 3.2W
Power consumption: Theoretical values min: 1.2W

160GB HDD 5400 RPM
Seektime: 30ms random access
Seektime: 25ms full stroke access
Transfer Rate: 34MB/s
Power consumption: Theoretical values max: 2.2W
Power consumption: Theoretical values min: 0.6W

Samsung 160GB Hybrid HD 256MB
Seektime: 18ms random access
Seektime: 16ms full stroke access
Transfer Rate: 35MB/s
Power consumption: Theoretical values max: 2.1W
Power consumption: Theoretical values min: 0.6W

@ night_2004: thanks mate, but I don't think the price differential is that bad: my Hybrid is only £20 or so more expensive than the standard drive, same rpm and size.

 

LFC we must have posted at the same time! Cheers mate, looks good, real good.

 

between the t7100 and t7300 - definitely pick the t7300, its the best cost/performance chip

it doubles cache from the 7100-7300 and its only about a $50 upgrade - which will improve your performance

 

double the cache? i'm game, thankee

any kind soul wanna have a go at the hybrid question? it is really hard to find info on.

 

If it is only 20, then you are not talking about hybrid drives. You're talking about the Intel Turbo Memory chip, which is supposed to act as a larger buffer for magnetic drives. Hybrid drives currently run around $500-$1000USD more for the same amount of space (estimated cost here).

Anyway, Intel Turbo Memory has already been rejected by several companies that state there is no real benefit for the consumer. HP was the first, and they have the research labs and credentials to back that claim up. Save the 20 and put it somewhere else...like a larger hard drive .

 

Dang have I mixed the terms up? This is what I'm looking at: "160GB Hybrid 2,5" 5400RPM - SAMSUNG", or a 120GB same specs. Costs only £20 more than the SATA at same rpm and capacity

 

I have seen the 160GB Hybrid 2,5" 5400RPM - SAMSUNG... I'm getting it with my Zepto 6224W. It's got a 256MB NAND flash attached to it.

One thing I was wondering about, as you are, will the HDD constantly spin when I'm running a game, or will it load data to the flash stop spinning and once I need data again it will empty start spin etc? If it does it seems like you would get nice 20 seconds pauses when gaming, plus it would really wear down the HDD since it has to spin up and down so much. Well I hope that is not the case. I actualy hope one can choose what you want to be loaded on the flash and keep that static instead of dynamic, since if it is dynamic it can reduce the life of the flash if it gets used to much.

 

Mate we're in the same boat: I'm buying the zepto 3415W, and whether to go for this hybrid thing or standard hard drive is my final choice before placing the order. I'll give them a ring early next week, I'll post back here if you're interested.

 

Erm, Hybrid drives aren't that expensive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=flashon&x=0&y=0
They do carry a rather hefty premium over regular drives of the same interface/capacity though. Hybrid drives are regular hard drives with a bank of flash memory.

You may be thinking of SSD (Solid State Disks). They're all flash memory.

 

Yeah, you're right. SSD...

 

A dual core CPU is twice as efficient as a normal, single core CPU, but it is not necessarily twice as fast, so you may not get any speed differences between a Dual Core, and a normal CPU. Programs would normally use just one Core. However, if you were using two programs at the same time, you will hardly notice any slowdowns. Any slowdowns you do experience would probably be down to other bottlenecks, such as a lack of RAM maybe.

Most people vastly over estimate the amount of processing power they need. Any dual Core CPU these days will handle almost all current applications. I would go with the cheaper of the two options of CPU.

 

I sent an e-mail about the Hybrid HDD all I have gotten back is that they will have them in stock on the 20th of June and it has a 256MB NAND flash; you can check this on the SAMSUNG site too. I forgot to ask about the flash and HDD interaction (during gaming especially, I would feel safer if it spins up and continues that way while I'm gaming, and once I'm finished it can spin down and start using the flash). The guy said it's worth the wait thought (the hybrid costs 200 SEK more than the regular 160GB... so like €20 extra)

 

yeah man, the gaming spin-up wear and tear is my concern too. If it wasn't for Vista really being optimised for using the hybrid flash memory I would have just safed it and gone for the normal hard-drive deal, tested and true.

Ideally the Hybrid will spin up and simply keep spinning when the computer is running resource-heavy stuff and be smart enough to use the flash for basic stuff such as word processing or whatnot. I don't even know if the stuff needed by a game is even capable of being fitted in the flash memory, but I really don't think so.

Keep digging, I'll do the same

 

Well, to me the whole spinning up and down during gaming sounds stupid, especially when you consider this: Hybrid HDD's is something Microsoft has been working to have released along with Vista, which in turn was also designed to be for gaming too. So if Vista and Hybrid HDD's are made for each other and Vista is promoted by MS as a gaming OS I think they might have given thought to this problem about the spinning up and down. And if it is a problem I would think there would be a way to disable the flash if you want to, or even have software to manage and restrict what can be loaded on to the flash.