Quad Cores of Today.............

When someone ask whether he/she would get a dual or quad processor, the answer is get a dual because it runs faster in games or get a quad because its better in video encoding or software are still not optimize for quads...

Its true most softwares are still not optimize for quads for slowly they are getting there...

But OS are optimize for multi-core...especially in a desktop environment..sometimes when I'm not playing games or after playing games, i just minimize the game and surf the net usually have 15-30 tabs in firefox...while also listening to music..not to mention the anti-virus & firewall in the background..after surfing the net, I just minimize it again and go back to my game..

So for me, or for people like who like to do everything on a PC and jump for software to another, be it at games or surfing the net, or video encoding and you don't want to notice any slowdown, quad is really helpfull..

I really notice the difference in doing many things at once in my PC w/c is a C2D and my bros C2Q...we have the same specs...except for the processor..his rig is smoother to multi-task, no hiccups..unlike my C2D...

You can watch the processor spike when you open a window or program though and that I think it is where it comes handy.... It will tear through whatever it is doing at that point then it will settle down yes. I have a new E6750 @ 3.7Ghz right now and will be getting a new Q6600 G0 this Thursday and will tell you if I see any difference in speed on my system, and my system is as fast as any out there besides my GPU but, I still have a pretty fairly ovrclocked ASUS EAX1900XTX so.. I will be getting a 3870 here soon.

I would go with quad for tomorrow's games and applications.

I have a quad. Or did have until I knocked Booze into my system last night I'll see how that goes later.

However,
If you are editing large photos, Editing video or doing any sort of 3d work get a quad.

Current games wont use it, but I have AV and a firewall running + loads of other crap so its all gets used. I'll need a dual quad chip soon

Future games will need it.
Games in 2 years will think a Q6600 is too slow.






If you are playing games

EdzBourne you said ''the answer is get a dual because it runs faster in games or get a quad because its better in video encoding or software are still not optimize for quads... ''
-that is not correct.

Even for games a quad 2.4GHZ will be equal to a dual @ 2.4
once there optomized for 4 cores however the quad will own.

The real question is how much money you want to spend because clearly a 3ghz quad is VERY expensive... but it will definatly equal a dual core at the same clock speed.

the memory is 2GB...and the memory used was only 1.3GB in the task manager....so basically not the memory...

Dude I thought Id never see the day when a stinkin web browser woudl take up 3/4 GB of freakin RAM. Doesnt anyone know how to code anymore! Dang!

Crysis actually doesn't benefit from a equally clocked quad vs a duel. On a quad the game runs the four cores at 30% or lower, with the rare spike up to 50% during mass physics. This has been reported by many at crysisonline, and incrysis forums. Also I haven't seen benchmarks from reputable hardware sites that prove otherwise either. A duel core does run the game close to 100% at times, so you see the game has sufficient CPU power with even a duel. It is badly GPU limited at this point.
Soo few games run better on a quad core, and so few are even planned for this year I hate to disappoint you quaders here, but this is kinda like when 64bit CPU's came out like the Althon X64. How many years did it take before we got those chips used to their full potential? Now I don't think multi cores will take as long to be better utilized, but to even say--- "We'll get plenty of quad core optimized games this year" is misleading when non of those games will really need more then a duel core...... Yes Crysis is optimized to use a quad, but the lie is "it will run it better then a duel core can" ----not true!

(edit-- the games right now that do benefit from a quad vs duel, is Supreme Commander and Unreal Tourny 3, but the difference isn't earth shattering in UT3)

By the time we get games that use a Q6600 to a point that the E8400 looses badly, we'll have 8 cores, and the Q6600 will be poor at playing games that properly utilize an octa core. It is a possibility..... Of course it is more likely that games won't properly need or use octa until years after it's arrival either lol.
So buying a Q6600 to future proof yourself?.... It's a gamble! Is it the best odds? maybe..... My strategy- Buy a duel core now, and save up money for a "real upgrade" with nahalem or something later. Games and quads aren't married yet, thus this year will really come down to what ATI and NV release in regards to hardcore gaming needs.

But yeah, if you like to have 15 browser windows open, video encoding software running, virus scanning working, crysis running in the backround, all while watching a movie, sure a quad is going to be MUCH better at that then a duel..... But who the hell needs or wants to do all that at once? I'd rather save money on my electric bill, as a 4ghz E84 duel is plenty for my needs.

I can't wait for some Q9450 benchmarks that either prove it is an amazing OC'er or a terrible one.... That way I can finally decide on what to get....