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Friday, February 9, 2007
I’ve got the PC blues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is one of those times I’m glad my wife doesn’t read my column. I’m feeling that old itch again.
I want a new computer. Notice I said “want” not need. Truth is, the computer I have runs my programs well, works with Vista and has a relatively fast 3-gigahertz processor.
This itch is all too familiar
I’d hate to tote up all the times I’ve given in to it. Almost every day now I shop for a computer online and plug in all the options I want. The first time I ended up - honest to gosh - with a $4,000 PC. Since then I’ve gotten the price down to $1,400, but it’s still too much. My car needs new tires, and our heating system is inhaling so much natural gas I’m afraid Al Gore will accuse me of contributing to global warming.
So while I’m marking time until my bank account gets healthy, I’m easing the pain by convincing myself that a new computer with a dual-core processor is really a bad idea.
Most of the machines I want use the relatively new dual-core processor. My guess is that your next PC will have one. Heck, there are already quad-core processors out there.
So let’s talk a little bit about dual-core processors. Maybe it will make me feel better.
One chip, two processors
Dual-core processors contain two processors on a single chip. The processor is the engine of the computer - in a way, it is the computer.
Business-level computers have long had more than one processor chip - so it isn’t some newfangled notion. The idea is to split up the work so it goes faster. Dual-core takes the idea to the next level. Instead of separate chips, you have one chip that contains two processors.
There’s a real advantage to that. The distance data travel is a lot less and - skipping some electronic theory here - keeping the data pathway on one chip speeds things in other ways as well.
The big argument for dual-core has been that single processor chips are bumping into the heat ceiling. When you increase the chip’s speed, you also increase the heat it throws off. Even now, a processor chip gets hot enough to literally fry an egg. Dual-core chips can avoid this speed limit by running a bit slower and still - in theory - outperform a faster single-processor chip.
That’s why most of the machines with dual processors are rated at slower speeds than single-processor PCs. For instance, a popular configuration using an Intel dual-core chip might run at 2.4 gigahertz vs. my antique 3-gigahertz machine at home.
For software that is written to take advantage of dual-core, the work gets split up and - just as two slow house painters can finish a job quicker than one fast painter - the job gets done in less time.
The key here is that the software you use must be written with multiple processors in mind.
Windows Vista takes advantage of dual-core technology, as do some computer games. But most of the programs on my computer at home do not. (Software packaging or the maker’s Web site should let you know.)
Feeling better
Here’s where I can make myself feel a little better about my pitiful bank account: If a program doesn’t have the computer code necessary to take advantage of the dual-core technology, it won’t run faster. There’s no doubt that this technology is how PCs will work in the future, but for now it’s not a huge advantage for most folks.
To be fair, there’s another way dual-core can outperform single-core chips, even for folks who run programs that are not written for the new technology. If you often run more than one program at a time, dual-core technology will speed things up noticeably. I usually stick to single-tasking, but you may be one of those folks who listens to iTunes while arranging your photo library and writing e-mails all at once.
That’s the best I can do at dampening my lust for a new machine. But maybe if I empty out the half-gallon wine jug that holds most of my savings in quarters, dimes and pennies, I could get a nice new monitor or maybe a video card. I think I’ll go online and price a few of them.
Do me a favor: If you bump into my wife, don’t mention any of this.
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