For gaming, quad core won't really matter as the only game that takes advantage of all 4 cores atm is crysis, and by the time more games use more than 2 cores, there will be something much better.
imo, i would go with the e8500, or if you really want a quad core go with the 45nm quad ( forgot the name)
Solely based on the fact that very few games use 4 cores...dual core is the way to go.
Unless you're planning on running Pro Tools and are suicidal about dropouts or something.
(Pro Tools is a music recording/editing program for those who didn't know.)
(Oh and dropouts are just when the cpu overloads and...well you have to start over with the recording. ...which sucks.)
If you're going to be doing mostly gaming then dual core is your best bet, as folks have already stated there's nothing out there that really needs quad core, unless you're just bursting to play Crysis.
Saint Del is considered a holy healer of diseases of children, but also as a protector of cattle.
Like everyone has confirmed above with reasons, get a Duo, don't go for Quadocore
The only thing I'll add is - C2Q has more cooling requirements for an overclock compared to C2D.
4 cores - more heat, the TDP is more per increase.
All that said, I do have a Quad, but my requirements are diff, I use insane programs to run 4 threads and
process 1GB of file data from the RAM (using a RAM disk)... Muhahahah I need more power !
It's a pity Quad runs at 2.4 and raising this to 3Ghz requires a lot, and after you do all that, there aren't many
games/Apps which can use all 4 cores. Video editing is a dream though...
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' Wrote:(Oh and dropouts are just when the cpu overloads and...well you have to start over with the recording. ...which sucks.)
ARRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Dropouts are possibly THE single most annoying thing, especialy if the band were in the middle of an epicly awesome take. Pro Tools does eat you processor for breakfast if you're running more than about 40 tracks, especialy if you have some of the nice compressor plugins running....
Sorry for topic swerve, someone mentioned my subject...
Dual WILL make you smile, but quad WILL make you feel like The man.
It all depends really if you are into over-clocking at all. I'd go for quad, but I'd bump it up to 3GHz region.
And get Q9450 since it's got a bigger cache (is faster) than the Q9300. And the price difference ain't that big between them.
Honestly there will not be any real benefits in gaming right now having a quad. Even Crysis and other demanding games are much more hampered by graphics cards than CPU.
The whole reasoning of getting a Quad is that over-clocking is easy and safe unless you go into the deep end. This makes up the speed difference between quad and dual. And since you are supposedly getting this CPU to last a while it's more future proof. You are more likely to get new graphic cards as an up-grade later than CPU so better do it properly while you are at it. Besides you never know when that killer game comes out.
The instances NOW you really need quad are far and between, but when you have one of those situation you are more than happy that your comp does have that extra horse power. The benefits of a quad are really emerging all the time.
Don't buy the old Q6xxx series. I suppose you are doing a complete overhaul with mobo and such?
I'd would go with the Q9450 if I were you and in the market for a new processor.
Great for multitasking and will last you quite a awhile down the road in terms of preformance. Plus you can take in the benifits of Quad core when more applications and games support it.
The E8500. I heard you can overclock to 4Ghz on air cooling