[Gllug] increase performance by increasing RAM or increasing in Core

[j.roberts]

Diana Scott wrote:
> My linux box has 2Gb Ram in a Centrino at 1.7Ghz running ubuntu 8.10 
> 32bit. If i were upgrade to the highest latest spec such as 4Gb Ram in a 
> Dual Core processor running ubuntu 64 bit, what are the significant 
> speed increases that can be easily noticeable apart from the speed of 
> loading up programs ?

For normal desktop use you would be unlikely to notice much difference 
IMHO in the circumstances you describe - 2GB is quite a reasonable 
amount of memory for desktop use. But 4 *is* better, all things being 
equal. 16GB is quite good :) It would show up if you were working with 
*big* files.

> Would a Dual Core 1.7Ghz processor with a 2Gb Ram can be faster than a 
> single Core processor with the same spec because the Dual Core has a 
> double processing engine ?

I would have to disagree with other answers and say, yes, a dual-core 
processor of the same speed as a single-core processor is notably more 
responsive, to the extent that I will *never* go back to a single-core 
machine now.

This is assuming you are using a GUI. It won't show up in the console 
though - already fast enough.

The differences in Linux are invariably less than in Windows - Linux 
manages resources very efficiently on the whole.

Of course, a dual-core does not (except in special circumstances - such 
as music synthesis or graphic rendering) generally give near 200% of 
single core performance in an application - something between 120-160% 
is typical IME. Quad cores approach 320% at times.

MeJ


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