Rendernode Specs

[metro_digital]

Hi, I need to start putting together a small renderfarm, to process my work faster. I just have a few questions. Currently I am working on an AMD64 3800+ processor, with 2gb ram, and also have a laptop which is a P4 3.0Ghz with 512mb ram (128 of it is graphics card though). Anyway, when I render a scene on my main AMD workstation, and the laptop, the laptop is faster. Im using 3d Studio Max and vray, doing arch viz stuff. How is this possible? This got me thinking about what to put into a rendernode. It seems 3d max and vray favour intel. The options I have for a new rendernode are:

OPTION 1:
CPU: Pentium 4 650 3.4Ghz (LGA775) 2MB L2 800MHz FSB EM64T/Hyper-Threading - R2373
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-8S661FXM - R496
RAM: 2GB Corsair Value Select Memory - (R878 x 2) R1756
HDD: Seagate 80GB SATA HDD - R542
Case: Generic Black Tower - R263
TOTAL: R5430

OPTION 2:
CPU: Pentium 4 560 3.6Ghz (LGA775) 1MB L2 800MHz FSB Hyper-Threading - R2955
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-8S661FXM - R496
RAM: 2GB Corsair Value Select Memory - (R979 x 2) R1756
HDD: Seagate 80GB SATA HDD - R542
Case: Generic Black Tower - R263
TOTAL: R6012

OPTION 3:
CPU: AMD Athlon64 X2 4400+ Dual Core - R4497
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-K8NSC939 - R872
RAM: 2GB Corsair Value Select Memory - (R979 x 2) R1756
HDD: Seagate 80GB SATA HDD - R542
Case: Generic Black Tower - R263
TOTAL: R7930

Would it be worth my while to bite the bullet and get the X2, seeing as though I seem to be getting better performance from the P4's with my current setup. Any insight on this is appreciated.
Thanks

[Syclone1]

Gona make this short and sweet, I have an AMD X2 4400 and its beating my Dual Xeon 2.8ghz with HT in ALL renders...

Go for the X2, best bang for the buck

-dave

[Da_elf]

on some scenes my dual amd 2600+MP machine outperforms my dual xeon 2.8ghz machine on other the dual xeons wins. its weird. and one particular scene the xeon is dead slow on is my famouse tower scene

[DaForce]

I must say, if you want rendering power, you would be rather foolish to not go for an X2.

They are the superior CPU at the moment.