Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Future proof PC

Jul 16, 2005 8:25AM PDT

We're planning to purchase a Media Center PC, but the one we like (Evesham e-box) comes with Pentium 4 processor. I've read a bit about the new 64 bit processors, and wonder whether we should instead look for an AMD 64 system (and dual layer?), or even wait for the 64bit Pentiums to come fully on stream. I'll be using the system for video editing, as well as normal WMC tasks. We're not that bothered about gaming performance.
Many thanks

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Simple. Get one with the P4 dual core with EM64T.
Jul 16, 2005 8:40AM PDT

That's a mouthful, but Intel is making a very nice dual core P4 with 64-bit now.

Bob

- Collapse -
(NT) (NT)Proffitt said all, and P4s can game
Jul 16, 2005 1:57PM PDT
- Collapse -
Future Proof PC
Jul 17, 2005 10:13PM PDT

Many thanks for your suggestions. However, I've not seen any Media Centers that use Pentium 64bit (at least not in the UK). Also, I think that such could be prohibitively expensive. If its a choice between AMD64 and Pentium 4, what would you recommend (given that the heaviest use will be for video editing)?

- Collapse -
It's here in the US.
Jul 17, 2005 10:36PM PDT

They are available.

However, the real future proof PC is ... in the future. Maybe early 2006 we'll see that Intel based Macintosh. It they issue a 64-bitter, that's it.

Bob

- Collapse -
Future proof PC is Dual-Core Processors, 64-bit &
Jul 18, 2005 12:48AM PDT

getting a computer that has a PCI-Express x16 graphics card slot.

Dell has a presence in Britian:

Dell Dimension 9100 models with Pentium D Dual Core Processors. All Pentium D in the 8xx series also have the 64-bit support (EM64T)

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx?c=uk&id=dimen_9100&l=en&s=dhs

Dell Dimension 9100 models with Pentium 4 Processors 6xx series. The 6xx series processor has 64-bit support, does not have a Dual-Core Processor:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/desktops_Q2_W11_dimen_9100_D07916?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Dell or other brand computers with Intel 5xx series processors do not have 64-bit support or the new Dual-Core processors.

Hewlett Packard has a good number of Pentium D 8xx series Dual-Core (with EM64T) computers. Also Pent 4 6xx series with EM64T (non dual-core) :

http://www.hp.com/country/uk/en/howtobuy.html

List of UK e-partners:

http://h40059.www4.hp.com/e-partners/hpstore_hho.html

- Collapse -
Not sure if you get the Dimension 5100 & 5100c
Jul 18, 2005 1:35AM PDT

in the UK. It is a fairly new 'value' Dell line in the US, and it has a 5x1 series Pent 4 processor with EM64T (no dual-core).

- Collapse -
Future proof PC
Jul 18, 2005 6:03AM PDT

Thankyou. I guess from what's been said that you would recommend Pentium over AMD, if putting the 64bit processors head to head? Since we want a Media Center Edition PC, I think we might have to wait for them to be available in the UK (the Dell website didn't come up with any MCE PCs), or, more likely, make do with a 32bit system.

- Collapse -
uh...
Jul 18, 2005 6:41AM PDT

idk if anyone has said this
you can use a normal desktop as a media center, and don't tell me it's not possible
it's rather simple

you just connect the video card's S-Video output to the TV's input, it's that simple


i'd also say for video editing (that's not lightweight btw) to get the Pentium D (from Intel) as it will give you the fastest rendering compared to a Pentium4 6xx or Athlon64

i'd avoid 32-bit AMD K7 (AthlonXP/Duron/Sempron) and Pentium 4 Skt478 (as it's not going to support PCIE)

i'd suggest a PEntium D or a Pentium 4 6 series

- Collapse -
Future proof PC
Jul 18, 2005 9:21PM PDT

Many thanks; that's really helpful.

- Collapse -
you can use a normal desktop as a media center,
Jul 19, 2005 6:59AM PDT

True!! XP has the MCE2005 edition, but so far I have been under-whelmed by it. Just get XP Pro and add what you want to it. John