Duo vs Quad

[topgun505]

So I whipped up some specs like 6 months ago for a new PC but Murphys Law promptly went in to effect and I had to shelve the plans for a while on building anything. Now I am revisiting those specs and updating them.

I plan on making a mid-range gaming rig (around $1400 in all). This rig will be playing things like Crysis (but not at insane resolutions), and will not be overclocked. It will be running MS Vista Business 32 bit and most likely 4 GB DDR (and yes, I know it won't utilize 100% of it).

The first CPU I looked at was a Core 2 Duo e8400 but after some more poking around I see that the price for that CPU is about the same as the Intel Quad Q6600.

I am trying to keep electrical usage, heat, price, and performance in mind. With the price being about the same would it be better to go with the quad ... or would it not really be utilized much since the main focus of the system will be gaming?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[1971Rhino]

An E8400 should be good for what you want....even with an OC it runs fairly cool.

Honestly though...you can't really go wrong with either one. Of course if you're really concerned about energy feeding two cores takes less power then feeding four.

 

[linksolo74]

It depends on how long you plan on keeping the processor. If you don't plan on keeping it long and upgrading often, then i would go with the e8400. If you plan on keeping it for awhile then the q6600 might be better.

 

[halcyon]

Welcome to the forums Top. Check this out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum1.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=28&post_cat_list=|28*tomshardwareus|29*tomshardwareus|30*tomshardwareus|31*tomshardwareus|33*tomshardwareus|13*tomshardwareus|44*tomshardwareus|&orderSearch=0&recherches=1&resSearch=20&jour=6&mois=4&annee=2008&titre=1&search=DUAL+QUAD&pseud=&daterange=2&searchtype=1&searchall=1

 

[gaiden]

It depends on how long you plan on keeping the processor. If you don't plan on keeping it long and upgrading often, then i would go with the e8400. If you plan on keeping it for awhile then the q6600 might be better.

that's non-sense to me, e8400 is brand new technology and overclocks very well also it does out perform q6600 gaming-wise. i'd go w/ e8400. q6600 is a go IF you also process videos and encoding stuffs. e8400 also consumes less power, less heat, better overall performance. nough said.


gl

b

 

[linksolo74]

Gaiden, i mean that more games will take advantage of the quad in the future, but not at the moment. So if he/she plans on keeping the processor for a while it will be more beneficial to get the quad for future games. Now if he/she plans on upgrading often (like in the next 1-2 years) then the dual core will be better.

 

[halcyon]

Guys, this has been discussed until boring. Check the link I posted. Nothing's changed.

 

[galta]

For you, it doesn't really matter. Choose whatever is cheaper.
By the time quad core games are around, they'll need quad core processors with 16Mb-cache-plus-2000MhzFSB-blablabla, and people will be discussing if, for a gamer, it's better to buy a quad or an eight core, the former being more overclockable, the later having more cores and cache blablabla...

 

[1971Rhino]

In the "future" when games really need a quad the q6600 will be at the low end of performance with what's available in the "future" just like everything else that's available now. You'll be wanting something more anyway. Sure it's a good processor but it's not the end all solution for the "future".

 

[th_username]

quad

 

[kad]

E8400 Now is the best
and after 1 year if lot of games need 4 cores you can upgrade to Q9650@3GHz which is comming soon and will affordable

 

[topgun505]

Ok ... points well taken. The current loadout is:

Thermaltake M9 case
2x Aerocool XtremeTurbine 120mm fans
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
CPU Intel e8400 w/stock cooler (I will upgrade later as necessary)
2x OZE Reaper HPC OCZ2RPR10664GK (2 GB DDR2 8500 for a total of 4 GB)
Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750 watt ps
EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR 8800 GT superclocked video card
2x Western Digital WD740ADFD 74 GB 10k RPM SATA Raptor hd, mirror-raided for OpSys
Seagate ST3750330AS 750 GB SATA for data/programs
Lite-on DH-4O1S-08 combo Blu-ray player / DVD-RW
+ one Dual layer DVD-RW I already have on-hand.

Total cost after rebates is roughly around $1375

One question I have is will the PS be enough. It is rated for dual 8800 GTX SLI so I would imagine so. The other question is, I've heard there might be some stability issues with the OCZ memory. Is there any truth to that? I've haven't built a system from the ground up for a long time so haven't messed with any voltage or timing settings on RAM in ages so would rather not have to mess with it (also why I'm not going to attempt any OC'ing).

 

[halcyon]

Ok ... points well taken. The current loadout is:

Thermaltake M9 case
2x Aerocool XtremeTurbine 120mm fans
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R
CPU Intel e8400 w/stock cooler (I will upgrade later as necessary)
2x OZE Reaper HPC OCZ2RPR10664GK (2 GB DDR2 8500 for a total of 4 GB)
Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750 watt ps
EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR 8800 GT superclocked video card
2x Western Digital WD740ADFD 74 GB 10k RPM SATA Raptor hd, mirror-raided for OpSys
Seagate ST3750330AS 750 GB SATA for data/programs
Lite-on DH-4O1S-08 combo Blu-ray player / DVD-RW
+ one Dual layer DVD-RW I already have on-hand.

Total cost after rebates is roughly around $1375

One question I have is will the PS be enough. It is rated for dual 8800 GTX SLI so I would imagine so. The other question is, I've heard there might be some stability issues with the OCZ memory. Is there any truth to that? I've haven't built a system from the ground up for a long time so haven't messed with any voltage or timing settings on RAM in ages so would rather not have to mess with it (also why I'm not going to attempt any OC'ing).

Actually the PSU is overkill...which is not a bad thing, it should last you through another build.

EDIT: I used that case for a customer's build recently. TBH, I was not impressed with its quality.

 

[topgun505]

Hmm after some more research it appears the Seagate 750 GB drive might have some quality issues (that or else there's a rash of people that got drives damaged as a result of poor packaging by the shipper). What is Seagates reliability of their devices these days. Last I heard they were pretty good.

 

[halcyon]

Personally, I've used Seagate and had pretty good luck. ...but when buying a drive I'd go with Western Digital...even if it costs more. I have 2 x 2-disk RAID 0 arrays on Western Digital drives that I've had for over two years without so much as a fart from the drives. I see why they can offer a 5-year warranty.