Duo Core Workstation Laptops

[BomberAIA]

From what I've been reading on this forum, it's not worth the extra money to buy a Duo Core Workstation as the Dell M90 or the new HP 9440 that will be out May 22. My understanding is that Revit doesn't take advantage of the Duo Core processor, more than 2 gigs of Ram and high end graphics card. Is this correct?

[Wes Macaulay]

...unless you're going to be doing a lot of rendering, in which case the 2nd CPU will certainly help. But you're right on the other points. Consider the M20 which has the graphics card of choice but without the overkill.

[Lashers]

Wes . .taking an educated guess . . as a scholar such as yourself can . .heh heh . .if I was buying a laptop today, primarily for Revit (why would someone want to render on a laptop??) would it be good future proofing to go with the trend and have a dual core? Assuming that the laptop has a 3/4 year useful life.

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Revit is my primary application and where I spend most of my time but I am incredibly versatile ;) and require the ability to multi task. The reason I just bought a duo core laptop (Toshiba Satellite P100) is the improved performance when I have multiple applications open. Having Revit chew on exporting a 60 drawing set of CD's while I check e-mail and do word processing at the same time is wotrth the few extra bucks I shelled out. BTW, I didn't find the price too out of line... 17" screen, 120 gig HD, 512 Gaphics card.... nice :beer:

[Wes Macaulay]

Can't argue with Dimitri's logic... so what are you doing with your old laptop, D?

:-D

[patricks]

duo core = dual processor, right?

[Dimitri Harvalias]

from the Toshiba site

Built on Intel's new 65 nm technology, dual-core architecture with 667 MHz FSB makes use of two optimised execution cores within a single processor. These two cores share L2 cache, and each core is assigned the appropriate CPU resources for its processing tasks. The result is increased processing efficiency.

Dual-core architecture offers significantly enhanced processing power and enhanced multitasking performance for improved mobile computing

So, it's one processor but it has two cores(the calculation angine part of the processor), hence duo-CORE. What the CPU can do is assign a whole processor to each task rather than having to split procesor cycles betwen open applications. It sounds logical but it may be a whole pile of bull ;) (kinda like those shavers.... if two blades is good, twelve must be better!!!). This differs from a true DUAL core machine which has two complete CPU's and can provide true multi-threading, assuming your o/s and applications support it.

As for the old workhorse Wes, as much as it upsets my son, I may be selling it to someone at the office.

[Lashers]

Revit is my primary application and where I spend most of my time but I am incredibly versatile ;) and require the ability to multi task. . . . .
DIMITRI!! . .shhh . . DON'T let the women know that we can multi-task! You will cause a meltdown at the very root of our society!! Think . . then write, no more off the cuff stuff! :-)

Apart from that, thanks for your comments - I am hoping to upgrade this summer and need to start investigating from now . . cause I CAN'T multi task!! and do it at the last minute . .heh heh . .

[Dimitri Harvalias]

Funny you should say that.. my wife is always giving me a hard time because she doesn't think I have the ability to multi-task. Her version of multi-tasking is having me pick up groceries, hang a picture and work in Revit at the same time because I'm working from home:lol:

[iru69]

Not to step on any toes, but this is how I understand it:

The Core Duo is a dual-core processor. "Core" is the new "brand name" of Intel's new processors - it replaces the "Pentium" name (Pentiums are of course still being used in desktops and laptops, but they've reached the end of the line). Core comes in both "Duo" (dual core) and "Solo" (single core) variants. The current Core is basically a repackaged variant (capable of two cores) of the Pentium M.

Dual core chips like the Core Duo, Pentium D and Athlon x2 are true multi-processor chips. Multi-threaded applications, such as the Accurender engine built into Revit, can utilize both cores at the same time exactly the same as old fashion dual processor that have two separate chips on the same motherboard. There can be a variety of factors that play into performance, including cache design, memory controller, etc. While separate dual processor systems are often slightly faster than dual core systems (everything else being equal), multi-core architecture is generally more efficient and a better value and is definitely the future for the vast majority of desktops and laptops (quad-core chips may arrive as early as next year).

For those of you looking to get a new computer a few months down the road, Intel will release entirely new chips for the desktop and laptop markets late summer/early fall and will begin phasing out the Pentium architecture altogether... the current Core processors may very well end up as their entry-level chips in both laptops and desktops. Currently known as "Conroe" for the desktop, and the laptop derivative "Meron", they are both 64-bit, multi-core capable chips, and early benchmarking results promise significant performance increases.

Happy computing.

[Dimitri Harvalias]

So you're saying I made the right choice, right? As for rendering, I haven't had much time to give that a try yet (loading software and transfering data takes way too long :( ) but I am hoping for improvements there as well.

I figure by the time I need another new laptop all my apps will have been recoded to take full advantage of multi-threading so I can go that route as well. As for quad core, refer to my shaver analogy :lol:
Tough to keep up. As long as I keep makig money with Revit I can afford these things.

[iru69]

So you're saying I made the right choice, right? As for rendering, I haven't had much time to give that a try yet (loading software and transfering data takes way too long :( ) but I am hoping for improvements there as well.
Well, yes, I think dual core is a good way to go in general, and the Core Duo is a great chip, and you'll appreciate much faster rendering times.

However, if budget was a limiting factor (i.e. I couldn't just get the fastest dual core chip available), I'd probably go with a significantly faster single core CPU over a slower dual core version (e.g. I'd rather have a single core Pentium M @ 2.0GHz than a Core Duo @ 1.66GHz)... but it all depends on the circumstances. Enjoy the new laptop.

[mmodernc]

Toshiba Sattellite P100 Core Dual 1.83 MHz, 2 Gig Ram, 512 Mb NVidia Geforce 7300, 17 ' 1650x1050 HighBright LCD, Wireless, Bluetooth, 56k modem, scrolling touch pad...etc..
Needs to be plugged in for optimum performance. Rendering Rocks. One session of Revit per processor-seems to work more comfortably especially when linking files-Host file, with linked files on, in one session on one processor: linked files each open in second session on second processor-work on open linked files on second processor and update via File:manage Links on first processor.
My better half wanted the number pad and the pretty colour of the lid and the steamlined design. Number pad is a must! Finger pad a bit of a fiddle. Tossing between a high res blue tooth laser mouse and a Wacom 6x4 Intuos 3 tablet.
Why go backwards when there is a forwards.

[Lashers]

Funny you should say that.. my wife is always giving me a hard time because she doesn't think I have the ability to multi-task. Her version of multi-tasking is having me pick up groceries, hang a picture and work in Revit at the same time because I'm working from home:lol:
Know the feeling . .same problem here, and cook dinner!

Irusun - I have backed off the tech sites . . makes the wife panic everytime she clocks me looking at them .ha . . but thanks for your comments, I can wait until after summer so I will look forward to the next wave!

[BomberAIA]

Thanks for all the input on Duo Core. But you didn't answer the other questions about ram and graphic cards. I know graphic cards have been discussed alot, but I'm confused on the issue. If you don't need a workstation card, I'm may buy a MacBook Pro and not a Mobile Workstation. The only advantage to a workstation is that you can add 4 gigs of ram. I have 3 laptops; HP zd7000 17" all w/ 2 gigs of ram, P4 2.8 GHz w/ a Extreme Edition Chip which was a waste of money. The chip is a desktop version and crashes when it over heats. HP dv1000, 14", 1.7 GHz and a Dell Inspiron 9300 w/ a 2.0 GHz Centrino chip. My cheap HP dv1000 performs almost as well as the more expensive ones. So, what I'm hearing is wait until the new chips come out.