Will a quad-core CPU clocked at 2.4 GHz be better than a dual-core clocked at 3.0 GHz?

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Billspear

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Edit: Just to be very clear, this is NOT a gaming PC. I rarely play anything and if I do, they're older titles or retro system emulators.

Assuming the CPU is from the same generation and the only difference is the amount of physical cores, clock speeds, and amount of cache memory.

Paired with 4GB RAM and a GT 1030. Applications would include general web browsing with a few tabs open, streaming video in 1080p, light gaming (Minecraft, Oblivion, CS: GO. Satisfied with medium settings at 30fps), etc.

If the quad-core with a lower clock speed is better, why is that? Will the quad-core with a lower speed be better at handling video streams? i.e. CPU not being close to maxed out during full-screen in 1080p.

This is just a general question because I want to understand how the processor works better in general application.
 
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k1114
The quad core is better overall. For single threaded or lightly threaded tasks, they tend to not need much performance hence why they aren't highly threaded in the first place. For general usage and browsing, you shouldn't see any difference. Even an old core 2 at 2ghz doesn't see any difference than a modern i5 at 4ghz for mundane tasks. Things like video and games will use more cores plus you want extra for os processes. 4 cores at 2.6ghz is more performance than 2 at 3ghz.
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Robert Cook

Robert Cook

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Some games will want 4 cores minimum. so I am guessing that is a Q6600 you are looking at, and I would say get/use that if possible. with a 1030 in there a faster CPU cores would make less of a change compared to having enough to run a game versus not.
 
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Colonel Kernel

Colonel Kernel

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The quad-core is better, most particularly at multitasking. The dual-core will be faster while just using your desktop regularly, but it can not handle the other tasks as efficiently as the quad-core. Games, for example, are tough on a CPU, and have many computations. The more cores you have, the more computations you can do, albeit slower. The quad-core will be fine for video streaming.

The only problem with the build is the amount of RAM. 8 Gbs is pretty much the bare minimum acceptable amount of RAM, especially for gaming. 4 Gbs simply can not handle games well at all.

-Cheers!
 
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Billspear

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Sorry, can't quote on mobile device ATM.

A Q6600 is in fact what I'm looking at. Your answer is understood taking the gaming side of things into consideration, however would the PC run better overall (faster and more efficient) in general with two extra physical cores even though the clock speed is lower? My current dual-core can reach usage percentages up to 95% simply streaming HD video in full-screen.

I don't have a 1030 yet but would purchase it alongside the Q6600 if it's that much better. Gaming is not my focus.

Edit: and thanks for your answer Colonel Kernel. My mobo supports four sticks of memory so I can always buy 2 more 2gb sticks (currently have 2x2GB)
 
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k1114

k1114

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The quad core is better overall. For single threaded or lightly threaded tasks, they tend to not need much performance hence why they aren't highly threaded in the first place. For general usage and browsing, you shouldn't see any difference. Even an old core 2 at 2ghz doesn't see any difference than a modern i5 at 4ghz for mundane tasks. Things like video and games will use more cores plus you want extra for os processes. 4 cores at 2.6ghz is more performance than 2 at 3ghz.
 
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Billspear

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Thanks for the great answer k1114.

And was that an E6700 that you used Robert Cook? I've had that one as well.

Perhaps for a few dollars more I'll just get a Q9400 since it has a lower TDP out of the box and I've heard it has better overclocking abilities (I'll have to research and learn how to do that).

All answers are appreciated.
 
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