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What type of CPU should I get?

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  • CPUs
  • Core
  • Computer
Last response: in CPUs
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July 29, 2008 9:05:58 PM

I am planning on building a new computer with a budget of $1200, and I was thinking on whether I should go with a Quad core or a Core 2 duo. This will primary be a gaming computer. The reason I am asking this is because I remember hearing that Core 2 duo's are better with games than Quad cores.
Any advice would be helpful, thank you.

More about : type cpu

July 29, 2008 9:23:28 PM

the c2d 8500 kills the q6600 in gaming by like 15%. the q6600 kills the 8500 in almost everything else. so if your main focus is gaming get the 8500.

also people are overclocking the 8500 to 3.8ghz on air
a b à CPUs
July 29, 2008 9:27:02 PM

for now the dual is better choice, quad is more future proof though because new games will most likely support multicores. (at least more than current ones :p  )

How long are you planning to keep the computer before upgrading? Though with nehalems coming, upgrading will most likely mean whole new rig anyways...
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July 29, 2008 9:41:16 PM

Do you intend to overclock? If so, a quad core is your winner. Any Core2 at 3.0Ghz and higher will handle anything you throw at it, and the only difference you'll be able to see will be in benchmarks. Q6600's routinely beat that speed, and the new Q9xxx procs are a bit faster yet.
July 29, 2008 10:09:25 PM

You know, being sort of a "Graphic Design Enthusiast", it's really hard for me to recommend a dual-core over a quad. Especially since a quad can do so much better at 3ghz than a dual at 4ghz in the applications I use.
But if all you care about is gaming, then I have to admit that a dual-core will be the better choice for you.

**Random musing about the power of a modern quad:
When comparing a 4 year old P4 530j@4.0Ghz to a Q6600@3Ghz at rendering the same scene using final gathering in Mental Ray, the Q6600 was nothing less than 20x as fast. No joke. These are good times for 3D animation.
July 29, 2008 11:48:17 PM

It's amazing how much computing power we can get for the $ these days, is it not?
July 30, 2008 12:10:13 AM

jkflipflop98 said:
It's amazing how much computing power we can get for the $ these days, is it not?


Yep.

Isn't this a wonderful country!
July 30, 2008 2:20:56 AM

B-Unit said:
Do you intend to overclock? If so, a quad core is your winner. Any Core2 at 3.0Ghz and higher will handle anything you throw at it, and the only difference you'll be able to see will be in benchmarks. Q6600's routinely beat that speed, and the new Q9xxx procs are a bit faster yet.


Did you forget the e 8000 series also overclocks, and would therefor stay ahead of the quad in most games still, except the ones where a quad does better anyhow ?

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