Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > CPUs > Is the only advantage of a quad core over a dual core multitasking?

Is the only advantage of a quad core over a dual core multitasking?

Forum CPU & Components : CPUs - Is the only advantage of a quad core over a dual core multitasking?

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
skyturnred   07-02-2009 at 05:34:14 AM

If the cores for both CPUs were the same, would that be the only advantage?

More specifically, I plan on getting the AMD Phenom II X3 710, but it just occured to me that all I would be using my computer for would be basic gaming, and basic video editing. It's not like I woul really be able to do those both at the same time right? Maybe I would listen to iTunes at the same time of surfing the web, playing games or editing, but not much more multitasking. So I figured maybe it would be more practical to get the Phenom II X2 550, which is the same price but has stronger cores. What do you think? Thanks in advance for the help.

Message quoted 1 times
Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
505090   07-02-2009 at 07:01:46 AM
- 0 +

i would stick with a stronger dual core unless you you will be consistently using multithreaded applications

------------------------------ E8400 : GA-EP35-DS3L : mushkin 4GB DDR2 800 : HD 2600PRO : 450W ATX12V : Windows 7
 Reply to 505090
royalcrown   07-02-2009 at 09:01:27 AM
- 0 +

If you do stuff like convert a lot of dvd's to other formats, get more cores, if not then it wont make a big diff. If you run a lot of virtual machines, more cores is good, if you don't, then not really.

------------------------------ E8500,GA-EP45-UD3R, 8 GIG MUSHKIN, XFX 4890 , ASUS 22", WD 640 X 2, CM 532, CM 650TX
 Reply to royalcrown
neon neophyte   07-02-2009 at 09:31:24 AM
- 0 +

gta4 uses more than 2 cores.

something else that should be pointed out about quadcores. core2quads dont work so great as quadcores. yes, there are 4 cores, but it exceedingly difficult to write code to get multithreading working properly past 2 cores. stems from the design, 2x2, not an actual quadcore.

this is sort of where corei7 will shine.

Reply to neon neophyte
buzznut   07-02-2009 at 09:33:04 AM
- 0 +

actually, you should check this article on multi-core scaling:
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2280.html

The 710 is good, but I would recommend the X3 720BE.

Reply to buzznut
jaydeejohn   07-02-2009 at 09:39:32 AM
- 0 +

Or, wait for the 730

------------------------------ I went drifting, thru the capitols of tin, where men cant walk and cant freely talk, and sons turn their fathers in
 Reply to jaydeejohn
Bronze CPUs badge jsc   07-02-2009 at 11:30:12 AM
- 0 +

skyturnred wrote :

Maybe I would listen to iTunes at the same time of surfing the web, playing games or editing, but not much more multitasking.



There is more going on than that in your computer. Pop up Task Manager and look at all the processes loaded or running in the background. As soon as you have a multicore CPU, CPU utilization rates become less important.

Reply to jsc
huron   07-02-2009 at 02:55:27 PM
- 0 +

It really does depend on how you use the computer. For my gaming computer, I have a nicer dual core, as few games took advantage of more than two cores.

If you do a lot of encoding or serious multi-tasking, the quad will be a good choice.

We are moving more to quad core (as more apps now are supporting multiple threads), but now, more programs seem to be written for two or less cores.

------------------------------ Antec 900, MSI P7N Diamond, E8400,
4 GB (2 x 2GB) Crucial Ballistix 4-4-4-12, 8800 GTS 512 SLI
 Reply to huron
wisecracker   07-02-2009 at 03:17:41 PM
- 0 +

Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz

$129 With Promo Code EMCLTPL32

I think I got the last one this morning :kaola:

They sold out yesterday and again today - the special runs through July 6.

The extra core(s) will definitely help with most video editing/encoding applications. More RAMs (and faster disk I/O) is of greater benefit if you are a serious multitasker.

Reply to wisecracker
jaydeejohn   07-02-2009 at 06:00:39 PM
- 0 +

OK, since I havnt seen it mentioned yet, everyone is bypassing what really the true potential of 2 vs 4 can mean. Multi threading is more important to any particular single app alone, and having more cores will help there, as well as multi tasking

------------------------------ I went drifting, thru the capitols of tin, where men cant walk and cant freely talk, and sons turn their fathers in
 Reply to jaydeejohn
meodowla   07-02-2009 at 09:04:27 PM
- 0 +

I think, Hyperthreading available in Corei7 and Core2's but not in Quad Cores...


Message edited by meodowla on 07-02-2009 at 09:04:45 PM
Reply to meodowla
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > CPUs > Is the only advantage of a quad core over a dual core multitasking?
Go to:

There are 677 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.399 seconds
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them