Processors - What's Better?

[Eli]

I have a choice of using:
One Xeon 5140 2.33GHZ Processor, bought in 2007.
or
Two Xeon 3.4GHz processors, bought in 2005. I have no more information on the exact model.

The other parts are identical.

Supposedly the second option is much better, but the difference in years makes me wonder. What say you?

 

[Mise]

I don't know, but you'll probably get a better response from Computer Talk

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Moderator Action: Moved to Computer Talk.

Technically it is about technology, but probably most suited to this forum.

 

[Zelig]

Are you sure about the details? The processors don't even fit the same motherboard, the 5140 is LGA775, and available 3.4 GHz chips in 2005 were the Xeon 3.4 Nocona or Irwindale, both Socket 604 chips.

Option 1:
Xeon 5140
65 nm Dual core 2.33 GHz Woodcrest (Core architecture)
4096 KiB L2 Cache
1333 MT/s FSB
65 W TDP

Option 2:
2x Xeon 3.4 (Nocona or Irwindale)
1024 KiB or 2048 KiB L2 cache each
800 MT/s FSB each
103 W or 110 W TDP each

They'll actually be relatively similar in speed. Option 2 might be a little faster overall, but will also suffer from a serious lack of upgrade potential, and will pump out nearly four times as much heat.

 

[Eli]

These are two different computers, both of which are now standing near my desk. Upgrades are irrelevant, price is irrelevant, heat is irrelevant.

The intended use is heavy duty office work. Multiple documents, excels, engineering stuff and some other software - a total of at least 10-15 windows simultaneously. I want everything to run as smoothly as possible, without waiting two seconds every time I switch between Word windows and without waiting for 30 seconds while a new Excel document opens up.

 

[Mise]

If Option 1 runs cooler, can you overclock it so that it runs faster than Option 2?

 

[Zelig]

Actually, I just checked performance, it's not as close as I guessed. Option 1 is going to be significantly faster, easy choice.

 

[Eli]

Actually, I just checked performance, it's not as close as I guessed. Option 1 is going to be significantly faster, easy choice.

Ok. Thanks.

And over clocking is not an option.