Hi,

The  cpu with 1mb L2 cache is the new Intel Prescott, which will replace the Northwood with 512kb L2 cache...

With the current 3.2Ghz speed there is not much of a performance difference, but as the clock speeds go up, there should be a sigificant difference..

Heres a few reveiws that will give you an idea of what to expect :)

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040201/index.html

http://www.anandtech.com/cpu/showdoc.html?i=1956

Good luck

Dimension 8200
Pentium 4 2.6ghz / 400mhz
1024mb Samsung pc800 rdram
160gb Western Digital 8mb cache
120gb Western Digital 8mb cache
16x Samsung DVD
24x Nec CD/RW
Creative Soundblaster Audigy 2
10/100 3com Network
Sapphire Atlantis 9700 pro Graphics
Win xp Home

3dmark 2001se - 14251
3dmark 03 - 4994

Hey Down Under,

Maximum PC Magazine has a great article on these processor's  http://www.maximumpc.com/features/feature_2004-02-16a.html

The new Proc's will not hit there stride and are actually slower until they start ramping up there speed.

So the Proc. you can get now should be faster. The question you might want to ask "Is whether or not you can up grade to the new Proc., when there clock speeds get up around 4ghz

Message Edited by dfonda2 on 02-20-2004 11:50 AM

Message Edited by dfonda2 on 02-20-2004 11:50 AM

Hi.

 

Thanks people for responding.

I am not to sure what the clock speed business means,

but from what i gather,

you are saying, that even if i did wait till dell

released the new prescot 1gb L2 Cache in "April"

that - of that actual first release, i will not notic ea difference /

that it may actually be slower,

however, when that master the new verion of 1gb cache

(say in about 6 mnths)

then the newer 1gb cache will be better

 

so,

 

after all,

i am guessing it is right to say

that with my 3.2 proc and 512 cache

it is still going to be just as good??

 

also - no one actually said how and what is th actual noticabel difference ....

 

examples ....

i.e.

when im watching live streams on media player

or when im watching dvd movies on p.c.

or when i am waiting for applications to open is longer ....

......

 

I dont think there will be any noticeable difference no matter what apps you are running, you have a good amount of memory and plenty of hard drive space and an excellent graphics card, the difference in the 2 chips atm wouldn't be worth holding on... but one thing i would do, is call Dell and ask them if the motherboard that comes with the 512kb northwood chip, is the same as the one with the Prescott chip, because you dont want to find that later down the line, you cant upgrade to a Prescott because of incompatibility with the board...

Good luck 

hi.

i called dell just now and the tech people told me  - in response to what you wrote "but one thing i would do, is call Dell and ask them if the motherboard that comes with the 512kb northwood chip, is the same as the one with the Prescott chip, because you dont want to find that later down the line, you cant upgrade to a Prescott because of incompatibility with the board..."

....

 

they told me that - no - i cant upgrade to a prescot, i have already reached my max 3.2 processor speed for that bundle.

if i want to go to a 3.2 pro with 1 gb cache

i cant

i have to replace teh whole motherboard

and dell does not support yur warranty when u replace motherboard.

 

:(

 

i dont know how many times i have had to ask this

but can someone please explain what the actual noticable difference is between a 512kb cache and a 1gb cache?

dell now advised me that - to put it i simple terms

when i oen ICQ or when I open ADOBE PHOTOSHOP or when i open

dvd burner application .... like nero ....

it simply takes a few seconds longe to retrieve and open that application.

is this true?

 

he also said my best bet is to get a 2gb memory as this will make my p.c.

heaps more powerful instead of worring about the wait of the 1 gb L2  cache

 

DUDE its not 1GB of L2 CACHE!  IT is 1MB! 512KB is 1/2 of 1MB so the Prescott has 2x L2 Cache! ha okay after that I just wanted to say that the prescott isn't going to be a great buy for a nother well 10 months. 

Mr Dude

 

Ok.

Sorry, I did mean to say 1MB

 

anyhow,

 

after all that

not one of u still gave any examples so i think i'll give on on asking what the

noticabl differences are when actually sit in front of p.c.

 

anyhow

 

i have decided to NOt wait and will just go with the 512KB Cache

in about 1-2 years i will just give away my p.c and buy a whole new one.

 

cant stand old technology

 

cheers guys

 

 

---

lukejd87 wrote:

I just wanted to say that the prescott isn't going to be a great buy for a nother well 10 months. 

---

That is good advice. 

?

 

what do u mean it wont be a great buy?

 

do u mean the performance wont be good until

intel masters it?

 

or do u mean $$$$ wise it wount be a great buy

 

i dont care about $

 

just great performance.

 

anyhow

 

i have gone with the currecnt northwoood 512 l2 cache

 

could not be stuffed waiting till april 04 release

The 3.2Ghz Northwood (512KB) is faster than the 3.2Ghz Prescott (1MB) because of technical reasons.