Quad Core Processors

Petros

Thief IV
Joined
19 May 2003
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Quad Core processors are finally here, and they're actually affordable. On benchmarks where programs are designed to use all four cores, they roast dual-core parts. Do you think we'll be seeing this same trend spill over to games?

An E6850 (dual core) runs today's games better than a Q6600, but will that be the case in a year? Two years? What would be a wiser purchase right now?
 
As more and more games are designed to be multi-threaded, you will see a bigger performance difference.

At the moment, I think there are only a couple of games that are significantly multi-threaded. Company of Heroes or some other similar game is supposed to show pretty decent performance improvements.
 
flight sim x has the service pack to allow multi core. you will see gains there.
 
Here's my thought after a little consideration:
Over the next couple of years, apps and games are expected to utilize multiple cores more and more. Buying a quad core makes sense for future-proofing, because even though your clock speed may fall behind the curve, you are still staying on pace as everything starts using multiple cores.

After the games you mentioned, I looked up a few more. It seems almost every major next-gen title will benefit from more cores. Bioshock, Crysis, Hellgate: London, and a bunch of other graphics and physics powerhouses will be coded to take advantage of the extra cores. I think the Q6600 might be my choice for this round.

If I do pick one up, I can't wait to try it with Bioshock! Hopefully I'll be able to scrape together enough to buy one in a month ;) Upgrading from a 939 processor, so I have to get DDR2 and everything.

By the way, the maps in Alan Wake are freakin huge. Like WoW huge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DetnKgOxrSI
 
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Why?

It's about time y'all lamers get on the ball and Vista-fy yourselves :cool:
 
Vista is 'orrible!
XP is tried and tested, does everything I want it to do and does it well. Why do I want to go to an OS which doesn't support some of the things I use, has issues with drivers and will result in games not running as well?
 
Vista is 'orrible!
XP is tried and tested, does everything I want it to do and does it well. Why do I want to go to an OS which doesn't support some of the things I use, has issues with drivers and will result in games not running as well?

So wait a year then get Vista, that way its been tried and tested a fair bit. Then get a quad core :p
 
Anyone have a reasonable idea of when this will become common techonology in the UK and at a reasonable price? As this is the major piece of technology I have been waiting for before I build a new rig - I'm still one of the rearguard who has a non-duo processor here :p
 
The Q6600s took a bit hit in price last month, I waited until a few days after before I bought mine. They're about £175 now.
The whole rig in my sig, including Logitech G15 keybaord and MX518 mouse, but without a monitor, cost £951 if that's an indicator.
 
November 11th.

Penryn quads :cool:

I was waiting and waiting for a drop date and prices :cool:

http://www.dailytech.com/Intel+Sets+Penryn+Launch+Date/article8451.htm

E5440 2.83 GHz 80W 12MB $690
E5430 2.66 GHz 80W 12MB $455
E5420 2.50 GHz 80W 12MB $316
E5410 2.33 GHz 80W 12MB $256
E5405 2.00 GHz 80W 12MB $209

The more affordable ones :cool:

Penryn folding farm FTW !!!

You and your news! ARRRGH it keeps making me want to wait for the next big thing. Blah I'll just buy whatever is best when I have the money scraped up.
 

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Also Hi EP and people. I found this place again while looking through a oooollllllldddd backup. I have filled over 10TB and was looking at my collection of antiques. Any bids on the 500Mhz Win 95 fix?
Any of the SP crew still out there?
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Just did some crude math and I apparently joined almost 18yrs ago, how is that possible???
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