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Best processor price/performance for emulation only

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Cakemeister:

Okay, I've done a few benchmarks.

Mame version 0.120u1

System:
CPU: Phenom II X2 550 dual core 3.1 GHz
RAM: 1GB DDR2
OS: Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium

I used MAME Compiler and checked "AMD64", "64 bit", and "Dual Core".
MAME options: -str 90 -video none -nosound -nothrottle -norc -nosleep

crusnusa 284.90%
gauntleg 105.27%
blitz 79.12%
daytona 421.81%
radikab 68.40%
ridgerac 67.99



SpeedEng:


--- Quote from: u_rebelscum on December 15, 2009, 01:02:44 pm ---Minor corrections:


--- Quote from: Lilwolf on December 12, 2009, 03:54:08 pm ---I'm looking at upgrading my arcade machine (lots of reasons).  I was thinking of going to an e8600 (3.0 dual core intel) , but having troubles finding them... and really, they are a bit more expensive then I wanted to spend.
--- End quote ---

The e8600 is 3.3 Ghz; the e8400 is 3.0 Ghz.  And while it's "dule core", more technically it Core 2tm duo.  (BTW, I hate that Intel branded "Core")


--- Quote ---So, I started looking at a e5300 (2.6 dual core intel).  70 bucks seemed pretty cheap and could handl 95% of all the games I care about... (sure would have been nice to get a processor which could overclock and get some of the latest)...

--- End quote ---

The e5300 is a dual core Pentium 4.  An older generation than the Core 2tm, and gets almost half the speed per Ghz as the Core 2tm (in mame).  IOWs, the e8600 will have about twice the power as the e5300 AFA mame goes.  (This of course doesn't mean it will twice the number of games, only the few that are boarderline.)



--- Quote ---but here is the question... If I'm going to spend 70-120 bucks on a processor... and if its really for mame only (maybe a dreamcast emulator or something)... should I look at AMD these days?  Do they give better bang for the buck with emulation?  I always hear that intel does better these days, but enough to make consider for the price?

Also, I'm considering building a PVR at the same time (different machine).  I might want to get two systems if cheap enough... should they handle HULU without a prolem I'm assuming)
--- End quote ---

If you're looking at the e5300 (a dual P4), then AMD is a great (IMO better) alternative.  AMD is slightly more powerful per Ghz then P4 for most games in mame (psx games excepted for some reason), and cheap to boot.

Review:
If you don't mind spending the $120-$170, I'd suggest the e8x00 (Core 2tm) series. 
If you don't mind spending more, the Core i5/i7tm might be a choice, but an overkill IMO for mame only machines, and $$$.
If you want <$100, I'd suggest AMD, mostly the Phenom II, but Athlon II & Athlon64 aren't bad either.  Like AMD Phenom II @ 3.1 Ghz, or Athlon II @ 3.0 Ghz.

--- End quote ---

umm a e5300 is not a p4 (or has anything to do with net burst procs) it's a c2d with a neutered l2 cache

u_rebelscum:


--- Quote from: SpeedEng on December 21, 2009, 03:45:38 pm ---umm a e5300 is not a p4 (or has anything to do with net burst procs) it's a c2d with a neutered l2 cache

--- End quote ---

Oh, dang, I stand corrected.

Did I ever mention I don't like Intel's branding, especially ever since the whole "Core"tm junk started?

Hmm... I guess I need to review my understanding of Intel's branding/naming mess.  Correct me if I'm wrong with this Intel Branding summary:

Pentiumtm: "586"
PentiumProtm: "686"
Pentium IItm: "686"
Pentium IIItm: "686"
Pentium 4tm: "NetBurst"
Pentium Dtm: "NetBurst"
Pentium Mtm: "Yohan", more like "786" or "686.5" than P4
Coretm: "Yohan" (but see next)
Core 2tm: first "Core Microarchitecturetm" cpu, "886"?
Pentium Dual Coretm: "Yohan" or (lower end) "Core 2"
Core i7/i5/i3tm: "Nehalem" (2nd full generation of the Core Microarchitecture), "986"?

Celerontm: PII, PIII, P4, PM, or Core2; lower end than matching brands at time of release
Xeontm: PII, PIII, P4, PM, Core2, or Nehalem; higher end than matching brands at time of release

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