Hi,

I'm building a gaming system and I'm facing a decesion that is really hard to answer. Quad or Duo ? I know that most of the current games doesn't realy use more than 2 processors but I could perfectly run current games with a Q6600 processor. The questions is what will come?

As I see it now, most of the new systems are build with quad processor and that is ultimately what the game designers will look at - what people have. Please help.

Also take into consideration that a Duo 3Ghz processor costs about the same as a Quad 2.4 processor. Don't compare same processor speeds, my funds are not unlimited . thanks

well if you have unlimited funds go with the Quad.

hi
see if you are a casual gamer and not a hardcore one like getting the juice out of your silicon piece and extract every bit of it's compuiting power then Q6600 will do fine the E84xx series is also good.Get a descent cheap card for casual gaming like the ATI 2400 od 2600(these are really cheap) or any nvidia 8800/8600 series card.I play bio shock on my Q6600 and ATI 2400 series card and it runs fine all the effects on!!.i am a casual gamer and play on stock speeds.If you have any more doubts check the cpu charts from ----http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/desktop-cpu-charts/supreme-commander,397.html?p=1268%2C1266%2C1264%2C1262%2C1260%2C1259%2C1241%2C1303%2C1298%2C1239%2C1236%2C1288%2C1294%2C1297%2C1225%2C1232%2C1230%2C1283%2C1277%2C1222%2C1282%2C1318%2C1315%2C1314.
Bye

If you plan to upgrade your processor in the next year or so go dual. If you want a more long term solution go Quad. Games are going slowly going quad so that is where the future lies. But Intel's new processors architecture is coming out Q4 08/Q1 09 which will limit your upgrade path. You could get an e8400 now and then whatever 3.0 GHZ quad is available in a year, or just grab a Q6600 and a good heat sink and overclock it to 3 GHZ. I would say get the quad now and next year upgrade your platform for nehalem.

Its s tough decision as the current Intel chips are so good u dont really lose either way.
I went with a Q6600 when the B3's were all that existed. Knowing what i know now, i would still go quad.

I've been wondering about the same thing. A Duo E8500 is comparatively priced with the Q6600, so if I were a gamer who plays Crysis and other
graphics intensive games, which cpu would I choose? I wouldn't say I'm a hardcore overclocker, but I will OC within reasonable amounts.

I don't do much video work or 3d design or whatever.

Heres the thing if your not hardcore in the game thing, go dual and save the money. As it is now most games really dont push dual core. The exception are games like Command and Conquer, and such games will perform better on a quad. If your more of an enthusiast then you would want to go quad. However, when two really great CPU's are price against each other go with the better of the two. It becomes more of a business type choice. Where price/performance play a bigger role than being a casual gamer or enthusiast.

what a nice discussion, thanks guys.

I'm no a hardcore gamer, however I want to enjoy the newest games at the best details (1680x1050). I'm building a system with 2x HD4870 (I'll buy the second one later, there is no need to have two of them now). I play racing sims a lot, I'm preparing for Fallout3 and Spore... I don't play FPS as much anymore, don't have time for that... Anyway a realize that whatever I buy now, it will be a very hard decesion how to upgrade because of Nehalem.... I'm thinking of getting the second 4870 whithin a year. I really doesn't make much sens to me to think that I will be able to upgrade CPU in 1-2 years without changing mobo. From that point of view, I just need to get what(CPU + Mobo) will perform good enough for next 1-2 years and then get a new CPU and mobo, probobly keep those two GPUs. hmmm.....

forum search is much better imo.this is the 100th time ive seen a thread like this

get a e8400 instead of the e8500 and with the money you save get a nice mobo and overclock it to 3.6 on stock cooler and thats being safe. buy a heat sink and overclock it to 4 ghz

Sounds to me like you want a powerful gaming rig if you are going to Crossfire 2 4870's.
It's really this simple. If you are comfortable overclocking, get a 6600 Quad, and overclock to the speed of an 8400. It is really easy to do, with no voltage changes or heat problems. Then you have a Quad core running at 3 Ghz. (same as the 8400)
If you are not comfortable overclocking, get an 8400.

For gaming though, it's really personal preference. Either of these will run anything out there (especially the games you mentioned) very, very well.

+1 e8400

$175 at The Egg

lasttarget: The difference in ebuyer between E8400 and E8500 is £23. I'm getting a nice mobo anyway -Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 iX48

jitpublisher: I'm not an overclicking expert but I'm planning on OC whatever I get, there are good guids on Tom's Hardware... Does E8400 not overclock?

Nik_I : thank you

BIG_FOOT: I don't have that much money to spend, Q9450 is for £200 (== $400). That's too much for me now...

MrsBytch : Q9300 doesn't look so sexy... although is only £160, it has only 6mb cash....

well I'm planing on OC anyway. I'm definitelly getting a CPU cooler (probobly the XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 or the Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7). The Q6600 can ho up to 3 Ghz and the E8500 can probobly go up to 3.8 Ghz. So which one of those is a better pick looking 1-2 Years in the future? Please don't consider prices rebates on Egg, I don't have the possibility of shopping there as I'm in UK...

Prices on ebuyer:

E8400 £110
E8500 £134
Q6600 G0 £116
Q6700 £148
Q9300 £160
Q9450 £200

both CPU's overclock like monsters, 3.0 ghz is practically free OC, and 3.6 is attainable with voltage for the q6600, and 4 ghz and above isvery much a possible speed for the e8400/500, so for games now (e.g. crysis) get dual if not get quad

Think of it another way... if you wanted an E8400 to be a quad, you'd have to be 2 of them, and glue them together, which would cost £220....

go for quad future proof