G4 with dual/quad-core support ?

[guest_jo]

I´m thinking about buying a new PC anyways, so KE can you give me any information if G4 supports dual and quad-core machines and if it definitely uses more than one core ?
( I am not talking about advantages that you get because of background processes. )

[Joe Teibel]

I´m thinking about buying a new PC anyways, so KE can you give me any information if G4 supports dual and quad-core machines and if it definitely uses more than one core ?
( I am not talking about advantages that you get because of background processes. )

G4 will run on a dual-core machine - we use several at the office. There are cetain features of RealFlight that use multi-threading, most notably, loading of textures and the OS *should* be taking advantage of the dual-core in those situations.

[bluesky123]

... if G4 supports dual and quad-core machines and if it definitely uses more than one core?
If the bottleneck is the video card and not the CPU, paralellizing algorithms for the multi-core CPU will have no effect on the performance. Besides, with the current crop of compilers, developing such code is more difficult than single threaded code.

Boris

[0xdeadbeef]

Writing a multi-threaded application doesn't depend on the compiler and was possible since Win95 (not to talk of other OSes). Then again writing a bullet proof multi threaded application needs some knowledge about synchronization. Also not every functionality is easily split into two or more threads.

[guest_jo]

Thank you Joe, that clarifies it. :)

[leonard]

I am currently running G-2 and want to upgrade. I have a Dell XPS Gen 5 with a P4 640 (3.2GHz) single core HT processor, 3 GB ram, 256 MB Nvida Geforce 6800 video card. Will this computer run G-4 with all the options on, or should I go to G 3.5 while it is still available? The computer is under warranty until 7/09 so I am not planning on upgrading the processor or the computer until well after that date.

Thanks for any advice

[nemo_uk]

try downloading the demo of 3.5 and see how your system does with that?

http://video1.hobbico.com/demo/RealFlightG3Demo.exe

[leonard]

What I need is a demo for G-4. My system meets or exceeds the requirements for G3.5 so I wouldn't think there would be a problem running it.

What I am concerned about is the dual core processor in the G-4 requirements. How necessary is it?

Thanks for the link, I will run the G3.5 demo to make sure it runs well.

[opjose]

Well no... with your machine you will NOT be able to turn everything up to maximum in G3.5.

But you will get decent performance with foliage set to about 55%.

A Dual Core system will do better, provided it has a decent clock speed and a better video card.

While the 6800 is not a slouch, it can't keep pace with say the 8800's or the 8600 GT's.

I was unsatisfied with the performance of my 3.6mHz HT system with an Nvidia 6800 Ultra.

I had much better results with the 8600 GT on the same machine, but I finally went over to a dual core 3.2gHz system with an Nvidia 8800 GT SLI setup.

[leonard]

Thanks for the info.

According to the bios my motherboard can take a dual core processor (and it was a pricey option when I bought the system), but I guess I will stay with G2 as I am unwilling to update the video card or the processor while the system is still under warranty. I will revist the issue when the warranty expires.

[josh0987]

Seems like I'm going to end up buying a dual core 3.2gHz system with an Nvidia 8800 GT SLI setup... Wonder if I'll have enough for G4! :eek:

[Zelatio]

Seems like I'm going to end up buying a dual core 3.2gHz system with an Nvidia 8800 GT SLI setup... Wonder if I'll have enough for G4! :eek:

If you mean graphical power for G4, yes. Crysis, no.

If you are speaking of $$$ for G4, no. Crysis, on the other hand, yes.

[josh0987]

Is dual core really needed? The price of RealFlight G4 is fine.

[James1701]

Go quad or go home. If you are going to spend the money, more than 125.00 then get the Q6600. You might regret it later.

[josh0987]

$125? thats not bad! :D

[guest_jo]

Here actually 215 €

[leonard]

Looks like I can get an Extreme Edition Pentium D 840 dual core HT 3.2 Pentium processor for $110 right now. The upgrade option for the same processor when I bought the system was $1,130.

Will this processor increase performance enough from a Pentium 4 640 3.2 HT single core to be worth the upgrade?

[opjose]

Looks like I can get an Extreme Edition Pentium D 840 dual core HT 3.2 Pentium processor for $110 right now. The upgrade option for the same processor when I bought the system was $1,130.

Will this processor increase performance enough from a Pentium 4 640 3.2 HT single core to be worth the upgrade?

IMHO yes, but this will be one of those things that will not initially slap you in the face.

You'll find that the computer will "feel smoother".

The difference will be especially noticible when you go back to an older machine.

However be aware that you may also require a new motherboard to support the quad core machine. Not all chipsets are quad core compatible.

Check to see if your motherboard can handle it first.

If so GO FOR IT! It's a great upgrade a minimal cost.

[guest_jo]

Hm, this cpu from 2005 needs a lot of power and cooling... 130 watts

There are different benchmarks for this one and most of them are below a Core 2 Duo E4300 you can switch between the benchmark types.
http://www.tomshardware.com/de/charts/desktop-cpu-charts/gaming-supreme-commander,343.html?p=693%2C705%2C691%2C688%2C689%2 C744%2C752%2C696%2C686%2C676%2C694%2C738%2C731%2C6 75%2C736%2C719%2C726%2C733%2C721%2C717%2C715%2C663 %2C666

It burns only 65 watts, see http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9TB

What are the prices for C2D in your country maybe its an option.

Jörg