I have a micro ATX case and looking for a mobo \ CPU combo. That being said I found a 2.66 GHz Dual Core Pentium at roughly the same price as a Celeron 3.33 GHz combo. I am wondering if I am better off with the a faster CPU or a slower dual core processor. I am also wondering if the VIA chipset will hose me over.

I have two of these micro-ATX cases, so I will initially use the first assemble machine as a combo front \ back end machine. Any guidance for making decisions is appreciated as well as any links to an inexpensive CPU mobo combo.

GRACIAS!

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R7.3: 0.22.20091023-1, Hauppauge PVR-500 (Philips FQ1236A MK4), Gigabyte Gigabyte EG45M-UD2H, E5200 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GEFORCE 256MB

I'd recommend the Pentium D.

Thanks for the recommendation.

If one of the senior members ,like TJC or Cecil, were to comment on the chipset quiestion, that would help me out. I think I know the answer, however, I would feel better if the more experienced members commented.

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R7.3: 0.22.20091023-1, Hauppauge PVR-500 (Philips FQ1236A MK4), Gigabyte Gigabyte EG45M-UD2H, E5200 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GEFORCE 256MB

Take the Duel Core, for me its no brainer if the price is the same. Dual Core is basicly like having a two processors.. so while the actualy speed might be a bit slower.. cpu tasks (processes) can run in parallel (at the same time)..... so the actual time it takes to complete multiple taks (instructions) is faster.

The following visualization might help.. but keep in mind a cpu scheduler works differently then shown.. but the concept I am trying to show still applies.

Visually:

Dual Co: < -- Process 1 AND Process 2 -->
Celeron: < ---- Process 1 ----> < ---- Process 2 ---->
Time: 0..........1x..........2x..........3x..........4x..........5x

Get it?

-Mike

Sounds like the dual core is preferable: that assumes that the KM's algorithms can be run in parallel. Can anybody confirm that this is the case?

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R7.3: 0.22.20091023-1, Hauppauge PVR-500 (Philips FQ1236A MK4), Gigabyte Gigabyte EG45M-UD2H, E5200 2.4Ghz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GEFORCE 256MB

I'd not have recommended it, if it wasn't supported.