E6850 or Q6600

[fretman]

Cannot make a decision on the E6850 or the Q6600.

Here's what I plan on doing and not doing....based on this info maybe you all can help me make up my mind. Thanks.


1. Don't plan on overclocking
2. Want to play the latest and greatest games today and tomorrow
3. Don't plan on upgrading computer for the next 3 to 5 years

 

[StevieD]

Games only?

No brainer ..... E6850.

Heavy Multitasker, render videos, use photoshop for hours on end, CAD etc then go with Q6600.

That is HEAVY multisaking. Heavy multitasking is NOT defined as keeping 5 web browser windows open along side 3 pages of Word or Excel.

 

[cory1234]

next 3-5 years? Hard to say E6850 will be better right now for games..but in 3-5 years games will benifit a lot more from more cores. Id go with the Q6600 more future proof imo.

edit: check the cpu section next time...there is already many topics with your same question..

 

[choirbass]

agreed. if you had said that you were only keeping it for maybe a year or so, then the dual core would be the better option... but for up to 5 years, you shouldnt go any less than quad core.

 

[ches111]

Games only is NOT REALLY a no brainer.

As it turns out some of the multi-core capable games are already releasing and they have numbers that are starting to shock when the quad is compared to the dual. Please reference quad vs dual demos for supreme commander and the comments made by the Crysis devs which are loving the quad.

 

[ches111]

Even as early as a few months ago many would have agreed with the 6850. But with the Q6600 pricing and its newly released benchies there is likely to be a little bit of revisionist type comments to float

 

[chuckshissle]

3-5 years you will be needing more cores so get the E6600. Multicore is the way to go in gaming and other applications. Not so much for gaming today but it will catch up and will be very useful next year and hopefully for couple of years more to come. Also get the best cheapest DDR2533 1Gb sticks you can as you're not planning to overclock and it wouldn't make much difference.

 

[jaywalker256]

i would take the q6600 because in future games you will benefit more from a fast quad core than a slightly faster dual core

 

[fretman]

Truely appreciate everyone's responses. Only thing I find upsetting is that the Q6600 is only 2.44 and the E6850 is 3.00. That seems to be a huge difference especially since I don't know how to OC.

Right now, I'm running an AMD 1700+. I have Ad-aware scan going and it took me 15 seconds to open a word document.

Is this where dual and quad core would come in handy?

 

[elbert]

Truely appreciate everyone's responses. Only thing I find upsetting is that the Q6600 is only 2.44 and the E6850 is 3.00. That seems to be a huge difference especially since I don't know how to OC.

Right now, I'm running an AMD 1700+. I have Ad-aware scan going and it took me 15 seconds to open a word document.

Is this where dual and quad core would come in handy?

For games the GPU rules so the money would be better spent on a video card upgrade.

While yes the Q6600 runs at 2.4GHz and the E6850 is 3GHz its just not that simple. On dual core only games the difference is .6GHz but in quad core programs you must multiply the Q6600 2.4GHz by 80%. At 2.4GHz the Q6600 would require a 4.32GHz dual core to match its performance. The difference of .6GHz in dual core is less than half the difference in quad core programs were the Q6600 would be a good 1.32GHz faster.

 

[Maziar]

E6850 if u want only gaming
Q6600 if u want to kepp if

so my vote goes for Q6600 :
http://anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3038&p=8

 

[airblazer]

Defo go for the Q6600. These are being overclocked to over 3ghz so you're not really losing to the E6850 unclocked.
You'll definitely get more long term benefit out of the quad-core.

 

[aevm]

agreed. if you had said that you were only keeping it for maybe a year or so, then the dual core would be the better option... but for up to 5 years, you shouldnt go any less than quad core.

100% agreed

 

[zdvil]

I vote for the Q6600, even though you said you dont plan on OCing, there is a possibility you might in the future (if you plan on keeping it as long as you say). Ocforums.com has some helpful guides for OCing.

Just as a side note, I ordered an E6850, but since it has yet to be shipped am looking to change it for the Q6600.

 

[aevm]

Right now, I'm running an AMD 1700+. I have Ad-aware scan going and it took me 15 seconds to open a word document.

Is this where dual and quad core would come in handy?

Absolutely. You have only one core trying to do two things. A dual core would help.

Now let's say you also some DVD playing (or being copied, whatever) and a download going on. In this case the quad core would do even better than the dual core - one core for Ad-Aware, one for PowerDVD or whatever, one for Word, one for the browser.

 

[Canuck1]

What if:
1. No plans for overclocking
2. Won't be gaming, maybe the odd game
3. Computer will be used for video work

Still, the Quad? I can only find the Q6600 for $320 if I want G0. Is that worth it?

Or go for E6750 which can be had for $205 (+ tax).

I'm in Canada, too, so please don't tell me to order from Newegg or Fry's. Thanks.

I discovered if I buy from Tankguys, I can get a Q6600 for $299 but then the customs/brokerage fee brings it up to $360. I found one place I can get it for $320 but I didn't want to spend more than $300 (if that). The E6750 price is perfect but the main usuage for the computer is video work (encoding etc.). What to do?

 

[aevm]

Absolutely the quad. Video encoding is exactly the area where quads shine most.

CAD$ 325 at NCIX:
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=43016F&vpn=BX80562Q6600&manufacture=INTEL - PROCESSORS

I'd also check the local shops. I got my Q6600 at www.shoprbc.com (in Ottawa) for $290 on July 27. They raised the price a bit since then. I guess it's because the Canadian dollar took a dive since then, or maybe too much demand for the Q6600, I don't know.

It's absolutely worth it. Let's say, for example, that a $2000 PC with E6750 will do the job in 8 hours while a $2150 PC with Q6600 will do it in 5 hours. And this happens day after day for 2 years. Why would you even look at the E6750???

 

[Canuck1]

aevm, some people are saying they are getting B3 stepping from NCIX. I have bought stuff from there so I'm not criticizing them. The store (you mentioned) in Ottawa is where I was going to buy it.

Doesn't it depend if your video applications use the extra cores? Do all of them or only the ones you notice in benchmarks? I'd look into Nero, Avi2dvd, avidemux and perhaps, some linux ones (which don't use the extra cores as far as I know. At least not yet).

But, you're probably still right. Hmmmmmmm.

 

[aevm]

You said no plans for overclocking. This means B3 is just as good as G0 for you. OK, it will consume 10W more, but that only means 15 cents for every 100 hours, 15 dollars more in Hydro bills over the total 3 years or so you'll use this CPU.

Network Supply (somewhere on Merivale Road) has it for $324.
http://www.networksupply.ca/product...00011&manufacturers_id=76&products_id=2421673

Shop RBC (at Moodie & Robertson) has it for $322.
http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?pid=23565

PC Cyber (Wellington St at Tunney's Pasture) $330
http://www.pccyber.com/scrItem.asp?product_subtypes_id=820&product_types_id=19&product_id=11967

www.everbest.on.ca - site not updated, still shows $600+
www.fedacom.com - $350
www.compunation.com - $333, $347

You could try calling some or all of them and asking about availability and about G0. The phone numbers and addresses are on the web sites.

Good luck!

Edit: 100% right that you also need smart software that does use those cores. If you find something really good please post the name here, I'm sure plenty of people would benefit. My Dad for example...

 

[fretman]

Looks like the person at ShopRBC also recommends the Quad core. I went this morning to get a quote and package. Here's what he gave me. Let me know what you all think...

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz 8MB/1066FSB S775 CPU, Retail
Asus P5KC iP35 S775 ATX Mainboard w/Audio/GB/DDR2&DDR3/eSATA/FW
OCZ Vista-Upgrade 4GB DC PC2-6400 DDR2 Memory Kit
Seagate 7200.10 500GB 7200RPM 16MB SATAII Hard Drive, 5Yr
LG GSA-H62N 18X DVD+/-RW SATA Drive BLACK, OEM
BFG Geforce 8800GTS OC2 320MB PCI-E Video Card
Antec SonataIII Mid-Tower Case w/500W PS, Black
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Edition DVD (64Bit - OEM)
RBC Standard Warranty Package w/Assembly

 

[aevm]

It's beautiful

Edit: have you made a contract already, or can you still make changes? I told the guy at ShopRBC that Compunation sells the BFG 8800 GTX OC2 for $651.02 and they matched the price, instead of charging me $770. If it's not too late you could try it for your GTS or motherboard. Don't bother for the other parts, they got the best prices in town already for those.

 

[fretman]

Thanks...too bad I couldn't get the Quad at your price though

 

[aevm]

Read the edit above, I don't know if THG sends notifications for that.

Yeah, I actually went there the day when the Canadian dollar was at its highest in 30 years, and it dropped a full cent the next day. That was lucky indeed

 

[fretman]

I haven't made any contract yet. As a matter of fact I believe the Q6600 is on back order until mid-August.

As for the video card that's quite a jump in price. Almost a 50% increase.

Can you justify that for me please?

 

[Maziar]

If u play in resolutions higher than 1600x1200 , then 8800GTX is definitely worth the money

If u play in resolutions under 1600x1200 , then a 8800GTS 320 is good ( and in this resolutions , its equal to 8800GTS 640 in many games )