Dual 867 MHz vs Single 933 MHz

kali · August 21, 2002 8:12PM

The "old" 933 MHz G4 is the only recent PM I can use as a comparison.

How do you think the new dual 867 MHz should behave in comparison to the single 933 MHz ?

Suppose you have both machines with the same configuration. Jaguar, Ram and video card (GF4MX). Is there a huge difference in performances ? Can you say the new dual 867 MHz is really much faster than the 933 MHz ?

squash · August 21, 2002 9:05PM

In the OS the dual will feel faster for sure. In apps that utilize duals it will be faster for sure. Apple apps ...itunes, iphoto, idvd,imovie, FCP, will all more than likely be faster on a dual and feel faster.

To me even apps the 933 is faster in...the dual 867 overall will still feel like the faster machine. OS X does a great job of using dual cpu's.

I'd take a dual 500 over a single 800 and the same can be said about a dual 867 over a 933. Some may not agree, but to me a dual in OS X is great and the experience overall can't be beat by a single cpu machine.

no_friends · August 22, 2002 2:23AM

I was trying to decide the say thing Kali!

I totally agree with what SQUASH said, except that he missed out that Dual 867 also has DDR Ram, it my be a hack but its good enough for me to believe its DDR.

This offers twice as much Reading and Writing power from the RAM than on the old 933 SP! So thats another major beifit.

Plus dual is cheap and if you do Build To Order, you can up grade to a Super Drive and Better graphics card. Like Me !!!!!!!!!!!

ddma · August 22, 2002 2:51AM

Well, to see if dual processors would be faster or not, you just need to do a simple maths...

First, if you are running only one task... Like says you are ripping an Audio CD to MP3... The 933 machine will be faster.

But, if you are exporting an iMovie video and ripping an Audio CD to MP3 at the same time, dual 867 will be much faster...

While one processor is ripping the MP3, the other processor is in standby mode waiting for other commands. While one processor is ripping the MP3, another processor will be in charge to export an iMovie video. That's how multi-processor works.

kecksy · August 22, 2002 3:44AM

Even if all you do is surf the Internet. Buy the DP 867 and use the other CPU to run SETI or RC5.

[ 08-22-2002: Message edited by: Son of Pismo ]

zapchud · August 22, 2002 3:51AM

[quote]Originally posted by ddma:

First, if you are running only one task... Like says you are ripping an Audio CD to MP3... The 933 machine will be faster.

<hr></blockquote>

Not if the mp3-ripper is properly multithreaded (like iTunes). If multithreaded, the dual will be faster, AND more responsive than the 933.

The dual867's makes the single933 look worthless

[ 08-22-2002: Message edited by: r-0X#Zapchud ]

kecksy · August 22, 2002 4:06AM

[quote]Originally posted by r-0X#Zapchud:



Not if the mp3-ripper is properly multithreaded (like iTunes). If multithreaded, the dual will be faster, AND more responsive than the 933.

The dual867's makes the single933 look worthless

[ 08-22-2002: Message edited by: r-0X#Zapchud ]<hr></blockquote>

Even though iTunes isn't multithreaded, OS X is, so while one CPU handles IE and OS X's background processes, the other CPU would be free to handle MP3 encoding. The dual would still be faster since iTunes gets its own dedicated CPU.

On the 933, iTunes would have to share with IE and OS X itself.

berlinchris · August 22, 2002 10:57AM

programs like finder or omniweb are multithreaded. they run on both CPUs at the same time. not like finder at CPU1 and omniweb at CPU2. so with modern applications (and there will be more and more of them) both CPUs are used, even with just one program open.

i got my dual 867 today and i am stunned how fast this beast is. got a second HD and set up a RAID. MacOS9 starts as classic in 15 sec !!!

kali · August 22, 2002 2:07PM

Thanks a lot for the replies, guys. This is really helpfull.

I'm now almost certain to get the dual 867 MHz with a full Gig RAM.

I have the money to get the dual 1 GHz, but I'm not sure it would be a good idea. I may save a lot of money with the 867 MHz and I begin to think I wouldn't see a noticable speed difference between the two machines. What do you think ?

[ 08-22-2002: Message edited by: Kali ]

sinfuldreams · August 22, 2002 2:42PM

I have read that Apple will Making the Next Round of Machines Dual Bus, Both System and Memory Buses, is this true, or hopeful thinking? If it is true Im waiting for them befor I buy anything. The Bus is the Traffic cop on the System right, or am I full of hot air? <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

dennis the phantom menace · August 22, 2002 8:07PM

[quote]I have read that Apple will Making the Next Round of Machines Dual Bus, Both System and Memory Buses, is this true, or hopeful thinking? <hr></blockquote>

Until a system like that comes out it's just wishful thinking. So don't hold your breath.

groverat · August 22, 2002 10:37PM

Dual is better, by far.

Two is better than one and such.

tigerwoods99 · August 22, 2002 11:34PM

Without question, the dual 867. Always go for a dual, especially with the clock speeds so close. You're not even going to notice much difference if any when running apps that aren't MP aware. Plus, I bet you could o/c the bus or o/c it to 933 easily. If you're like me and do a lot of multi-tasking, you're going to notice a big difference with the dual processor. Also, if you plan on selling the machine later, dual machines are always a much better investment.

multimedia · August 24, 2002 3:19PM

Depends on how much power you need for what tasks.

This is a media making machine. I ripped MP3s last night at the Jaguar Premiere in Palo Alto. the dual 867 ripped a range of 9x to about 18x. The dual GB did 12x to 22x. I expect the dual 1.25 will do 15x/28x FROM the SuperDrive. Once I add the Yamaha CRW-F1 which reads @44X, It may be even faster. No prototype/first build 1.25 GHz Macs are in the store to test yet.

I'm waiting until October to get the dual 1.25 MDD. BTW The enclosure is revolutionary.

Dual 867 MHz vs Single 933 MHz

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