Dual vs Quad

[LORD]

This is a hypothetical one really, but :-

If I were speccing a new PC i'd be looking at two Intel chips.

E6850 Dual core running at 3Ghz

or

Q600 Quad core running at 2.4Ghz.

Now obviously the E6850 is running faster but the Q6600 has double the cores (I think that's correct).

I've heard the Q6600 is very easy to O'c up to 3 Ghz but assuming they're left standard which would be the better choice for gaming performance, especially Crysis.

Thanks :)

 

[Dwarfer]

he! i got shouted at on here a few months ago for even suggesting THINKING buying quad-core (partially because it isnt supported by some programs) but according to toms hardware quad core kicks dual-core's bum!, at least for gaming:

CPU Charts | Tom's Hardware

(if that didnt work click me) and then click "Charts")

it has all the info you need on cpu benchmarks
Enjoyé! :D

 

[LORD]

Thanks for the chart link Dwarfer, i've been looking for something like that for ages :D

Seems the E6850 edges ahead of the Q6600 in most gaming tests. Only slightly though. I wonder if the Q6600 will be a better bet in the long term though? :doh:

 

[Dwarfer]

I wonder if the Q6600 will be a better bet in the long term though? :doh:

thats where overclocking comes in handy :D i would think that quad-core IS the future, the two processors are about the same price (well in the UK it is) and you can expect the dual and quad cores to be the king for a long time!

im able to overclock my E6850 to 3.50 without problems (with stock cooling) but anything higher and i get stabilty problems in windows (even 3.55ghz). you can get 4ghz in post, but that wont boot

i would buy a quad-core and overclock in future ... if and when i needed the extra power :cool:

 

[LORD]

I read the Q6600 is quite easily O'clockable to 3ghz (although it's not something i've delved into before) so perhaps it's best to go for that one. Hmmmmmmmm:D

 

[Dwarfer]

I read the Q6600 is quite easily O'clockable to 3ghz (although it's not something i've delved into before) so perhaps it's best to go for that one. Hmmmmmmmm:D

I wish i did! if its performance your after (and of course it is) all the benchmarks are in tomshardware (links above)

enjoy :)