Which cpu do i need?

[Tohst]

Ok so i am building a completely new pc which i will use for internet browsing, watching videos, editing pics and videos, and gaming.

Right now i am trying to decide between the Athlon II 3.2GHz X3 and the Athlon II 3.0 X4.

Do i really need a quad-core or would a triple core be fine?

 

[popatim]

The x3 will be fine for most, not all, of the current crop of games but I would get the x4 to future proof yourself alittle. For editing pics and vids you might want to consider going with the Phenom II x4 instead.

 

[Tohst]

Which games would not work with the X3?

 

[popatim]

Not that they wouldn't work, but that they work best with 4 cores.

Lost Planet/ Devil May Cry 4 - same engines
All Unreal3 engine games(ME2) - being generous here as not all perform really that well.
MS Flight Sim X
Supreme Commander
Company of Heroes
Latest Source Games - with multithread switch activated
BloodRayne2 - with Walterman's patch
World in Conflict
Bad Company 2
Dragon Age Origins
GRID
Final Fantasy XIV*
Wow*
to name a few

*you need to set it to use 4 cores

 

[Outlander_04]

Toms did a comparison on this some time ago . I cant find the article but maybe if you search ....

Few, if any , games benefit from the fourth core .

Also check the charts on this site , and the recommended gaming cpu articles