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FAQ: should I get a dual core or quad core?

1354 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  iampoor
2
Hi

Ihave seen like a new thread on this everyday so I want to fix that


Q6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017
Price:480$

for a performance comparison we will use the e6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115003
Price:222$

In most games benchmarks (3dmark06) there is a 1250 point increas
Zero Point
8800gtx
2gb of ddr2 800 memory.

however that is most likly due o a bottleneck in the graphics.

Q6600
PROS
4 cores
fast
decent overclocker

CONS
Price

E6600
PROS
great overclocker
Price

CONS
when quad becomes standard/more mainstreme you will need to upgrade

OTHER THOUGHTS.
The quad core is 250$ more. However it has double the cores. Currently the only FULLY multithreaded game is supreme commander (if I rember correctly). WHen using 4 cores the speed up is immense. The E6600 is still great but when quads are mainstream you will have to upgrade.

CONCLUSION

Buy a e6600 if
you will upgrade in a year
don't need the best
need that 200$ for different system upgrades

Buy a Q6600 if
You will not be upgrading too soon
do video or music editing
you want (close to) the best

For 200$ could get more RAM and really nice cooling for your case however when Quad Cores are more mainstream you will need to upgrade soon enough. I think the q6600 is the beter deal.



EDti thsi information will be updated as the price drops come on July 22nd.

Also More games to support all 4 cores include a game by Alan Wake and Crysis
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Great job....so going for the e 6600 now and buy a decent videocard along with it, and a mobo and new memory and....and.....and...... anyways rep+ for all that work you put into that
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Decisions may change when the Q6600 drops down to $266 next week. (July 22nd)
2
Quote:


Originally Posted by TaiDinh
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Decisions may change when the Q6600 drops down to $266 next week. (July 22nd)

Well I'll have to make a new one


ANyways the e6600 price (should drop) too. SO nothing will have really changed
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I have to disagree with just about everything that's written here. First, Supreme Commander does not take full advantage of all 4 cores, and neither does any game on the market. Read up on it more and you'll find out that, with regards to Supreme Commander, the extra cores can only be used to help with a second video card driver or sound card. Therefore, the performance difference is negligible.

Quad core CPU's also generate much more heat and will therefore not clock as high as an equivalent dual core. The chipset that the quad core is sued in can also limit overclocking potential. As an example, currently the 680i's clock well with Duo CPU's but are somewhat limited with Quad's, which is down to the way the MCH in the NorthBridge splits memory access between the four cores. For gamers, a dual core clocked sky high is currently the best chip. Your statement about needing to upgrade when quad core becomes mainstream is sort of silly. By the time quad core is mainstream, all current cpus will be outdated and need to be replaced.

With all of the above being said, explain to me again where the advantage is of buying a quad core today? I expect newbies may give you some Rep for this post but quite frankly, it doesn't appear to have any effort at all put into it and seems more opinionated more than anything else.
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Well, most of what you said is obvious and pretty much common sense. It will probably help some people though....
You know what sucks? For the time being... Dual core's perform better with today's games. Sooooo until games are optimized for quad core processing, C2D are going to be #1 for gaming.

EDIT: Correct me if I'm wrong.
quad is worth it. if i had the money id go out and buy one (after the price drobs obviously, which will be here in a little over 2 weeks in europe probably)
the retail price being around 300 bucks (266 is only in 1000 unit quantities directly from intel) that would translate to around 200 euro's.
thats a mere €44 more than i paid for my 6420.
2
Quote:


Originally Posted by Fatal05
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Well, most of what you said is obvious and pretty much common sense. It will probably help some people though....

well I'm looking to help those people that this ISN'T obvious to
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If games are starting to support multiple core processors now (Alan Wake and Crysis supporting Q6600), and you are planning on upgrading your cpu anyway, then it only seems logical to buy a Q6600 in July when the price drops take effect.

I'm simply blown away to think that a Q6600 will be selling for only $46 more than what I paid for my E6400 in January!
Well remeber thats what its EXPECTed to be

OFFTOPIC: why would anyone rate this badly?
Quote:

Originally Posted by iampoor View Post
Well remeber thats what its EXPECTed to be

OFFTOPIC: why would anyone rate this badly?
This is true. I like to remain positive--when word spread about the AMD price drop, prices were dead-on. I hope the same trend will follow.
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Quote:

Originally Posted by PeaceMaker View Post
This is true. I like to remain positive--when word spread about the AMD price drop, prices were dead-on. I hope the same trend will follow.
I believe it will be 266$

however if it isn't I don't want people to ba all disappointed an stuff
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dude.. u gotta explain to me your avatar. WHAT IS IT!? mr. dell??
2
Quote:


Originally Posted by PeaceMaker
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dude.. u gotta explain to me your avatar. WHAT IS IT!? mr. dell??

it mr dell talking to the devil and starting dell after that
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Wait until July22nd and get quad core. Or dual core if your not going to be extreme multitasking. Q6600 should be around $266 on july 22nd, E6600 should be about $170, its worth the wait IMO. Wish i would have waited
Payed $223.00 off newegg about a month ago, and coulda used my P4 for a month and saved money, or just got the Q
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4
Quote:


Originally Posted by itslogz
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Wait until July22nd and get quad core. Or dual core if your not going to be extreme multitasking. Q6600 should be around $266 on july 22nd, E6600 should be about $170, its worth the wait IMO. Wish i would have waited


already posted on the first page


Thanks for trying to help altho
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