I'm using 2 Intel 830 - 3GHz dual core based PCs (Gateway refurbs) mostly for render farm use. I get ~23% faster with one dual core PC compared to my Dell 370 workstation with a single 3.6 GHz CPU. Unfortunately Intel didn't implement Hyperthreading on this CPU. I imagine I would see ~30-35% better if both cores could Hyperthread?

I would go with the dual core based system, as Carrara (and most other 3D apps.) will use them. You can likely get 2 basic 840 (3.2 GHz) based, or AMD (which is faster)X2 based systems for the cost of a single dual processor PC.

If you want Mac, go for the new Quad system, or wait for the new Intel Macs.

Message edited on: 01/18/2006 14:53