Dual Core or Quad Core?

[TheComedown]

Fear 2 and RE: quad core

But telling him he can get 2 screens and a whole computer for a grand is completely irrelevant considering he already has the parts, he didn't ask for parts, he wanted a comparison.

Maybe next time before you respond to a post you should read it. He didn't want to hear about screens, video cards or PSUs, and no body wants to hear about dell, just dual and quad core processors.

 

[Corpse XxX]

I've got Core i7-920, it seems to run TF2 flawlessly..

And that is all i need

 

[Rensenhito]

Used to be that I'd suggest you get a dual-core processor, seeing as how quad cores used to be highly impractical technology for the money. Used to.
Nowadays, I dunno. It's probably about time to finally shell out for one. Me, I've been needing a new processor anyway. Might go ahead and upgrade my baby once again. You can do whatever you like, but since you've already GOT the quad-core, stick with it. That 2.8 GHz is, after all, before you multiply it by 4.

 

[D3l7a3ch0]

Hey OP, there's a lot of cool stuff you can do with a Quad core, no need to go all octo-core with it. for less than a grand. far less than a grand. I started with a Dell quad core rig from wal mart for less than $600. 22" "1080p" LCD monitor and everything, right out of the box.

my quad cores are also 2.8GHZ

just saying I agree with the Quad core decision.

on a side note, I did the same thing you did once, OP--building my own gaming PC. But it was troublesome and expensive. this is my second Dell since then. because it's just easier.

I apologize, this is just what came to my mind, it's like a magic 8-ball. I don't mean to cheapen the value of a post count incremental increase.

 

[Andronicus]

Hey, thanks for all the help you guys. This is all really educational stuff!

If anyone's at all interested in what I intend to put together, here's the list.

Mobo: ASUS P7P55D-E $175
CPU: Intel Core i5 760 $238
GPU: Sapphire ATI Radeon HD5770 VaporX $230
Case: CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced $140
RAM: 2x2GB DDR3 $112
PSU: Antec TruePower 750W $130
HHD: 1TB WD Caviar Green Power $75
OD: LG DVD re-writer $30
Moniter: Asus 24" VH242H $225
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit $130

Total: $1485

I have actually bought all of the components already, I'm just waiting for some of them to arrive before I throw it together. If there's anything that seems completely out of place, keep in mind I'm a complete newb to this whole "making your own PC" thing.

EDIT: That's $1485 Australian, by the way. Converted to American dollars, that adds up to approx. US$1360.

 

[D3l7a3ch0]

now we're talkin'.

would you be interested in seeing my full specs and prices, OP

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I wouldn't worry, you've bought a good processor already. I still have my Q6600(OC'd to 3ghz)and there aren't any games that are really taxing it.

 

[Wicky_42]

...And here's me automatically thinking 4 cores > 2 cores. So is it better to go with the CPU with the higher GHz, or higher number of cores?

If you're ever thinking of using a rendering program for 3D modelling n stuff, get the quad for sure, as most of those programs have good support for multiple cores, and you'd be rendering at almost twice the speed. Otherwise, as most people have been saying, go for the quad anyway as it's more future-proof, and even on a single core is sufficient for most uses.

Maybe have a look at the overclocking capacity of the chips. I'm running an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - stock clock's at 2.4GHz, but I've got it running stable at around 3.5GHz - one of the key reasons for me picking that chip! (Yes, that's almost a +50% overclock. No, it's on air. Yes, that is awesome )

 

[Wicky_42]

I wouldn't worry, you've bought a good processor already. I still have my Q6600(OC'd to 3ghz)and there aren't any games that are really taxing it.

Hah, what are the chances two people mentioning the Q6600 overclocked would post at the same time XD

 

[Andronicus]

now we're talkin'.

would you be interested in seeing my full specs and prices, OP

You were getting a little off-topic before, but it seems as though the topic seems to have resolved itself anyway, seeing as I've decided to keep my quad-core, based on the excellent advice provided here. Besides, I seem to done an adequate job of derailing myself as well.

I guess you can post them if you want, but remember that I've already got my parts. I'm new to this, so if there's any experience to be gleaned, I'd love to hear about any changes you, or anyone else, might make. If anyone has any more information about CPUs, I'd still be more than happy to gaze blankly at abstract statistics about data transference and such read it!

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I wouldn't worry, you've bought a good processor already. I still have my Q6600(OC'd to 3ghz)and there aren't any games that are really taxing it.

Hah, what are the chances two people mentioning the Q6600 overclocked would post at the same time XD

Heh, just a good processor, I upgraded from a dual core of similiar stock speed(because my brother was getting rid of the quad cheaply, a few years ago now)and the difference is very noticable.

 

[TheComedown]

now we're talkin'.

would you be interested in seeing my full specs and prices, OP

There are a few threads around already for ego boosting showing off your rigs if you have a look in the search bar.

Edit:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.209464-Your-Rig?page=1
There is one of them.

 

[Woodsey]

The number of cores is more important than the speed. I'd assume this applies every time, except for when there's an enormous difference in GHz.

 

[Sebenko]

Heh, just a good processor, I upgraded from a dual core of similiar stock speed(because my brother was getting rid of the quad cheaply, a few years ago now)and the difference is very noticable.

Ineed it is. I'm still using one at stock speeds in my PC, and it's having no trouble running just about everything at highest settings with a GTX275.

 

[Wolfram23]

The i5 760 blows the i3 dual core out of the water. Remember that if there's only 2 cores running on the i5, it ups the clock rate by 2 bins, so you'll be over 3ghz then. The i3's advantage is that it has hyper threading, but that's fairly minor. It's more like running a 2.5 core. In terms of raw calculating power, a quad is waaay faster than dual.

BTW I'm running an i5 750 with ASUS P7P55D Pro mobo and it rocks my socks. Overclocked it by nearly 1ghz so I'm at 3.7ghz (and I did it with turbo boost, so it goes way up to 4.2ghz max on single core/thread operations).

 

[strum4h]

here's what you can do for $1500.

Dell desktop package (quad core AMD)
2x 22" LED monitors
ATI Radeon HD 5770
BFGTech 550 W power supply

desktop resolution of 5760x1080 that runs all but Battlefield 2 Bad Company at a locked 60fps.

aaaand Starcraft 2 because according to them, it would be an advantage to see so much of the terrain at once, and the sport err, game is regulated by the Olympic Committee in South Korea.

http://i.imagehost.org/0933/budged.jpg

it's not fair.

http://h.imagehost.org/secure/0025/Fear2_Eyefinity_Full001.jpg
http://j.imagehost.org/secure/0966/super1a.jpg

How do you run games across multiple monitors? I use dual screens now but have never really tried to do that.

 

[Private Custard]

I went for 6 cores. I'll primarily be running Flight Sim X, and have a lot of mesh upgrades, additional aircraft, traffic updates, scenery and graphical enhancements. I figured a 2.8 6-core would be pretty useful!

If not, sod it, I can always upgrade again in six months!

 

[Private Custard]

How do you run games across multiple monitors? I use dual screens now but have never really tried to do that.

I was wondering too. I want to be as epic as this guy!

 

[gl1koz3]

Get more cores. Even if your one task is oh so super fast with two cores, you won't have much of "just one task" situations anymore. It's history. Period.

 

[migo]

More cores is better. You'll notice that a lot of games now have a dual core as a minimum requirement and quad core as recommended.