Is there any reason to get a dual core processor instead of quad core?

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svchiefs19

New Member
are there any advantages to having a dual core processor now that you can just as easily get a quad core processor? im looking to get a new computer and am debating which CPU to get, dual core vs quad core.

ive been told that dual core processors are better for maximizing computing power towards ONE thing, such as playing a game or running a single app at a time. and that quad core processors are better for multitasking, like having the internet, itunes, video editing, pictures, etc... all open at the same time. is there any truth to that?

once again, is there any reason to buy dual core instead of quad core?
 
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Jamin43

banned
Budget is the only reason not to get a quad core for a new build. I can't think of an advantage to dual over a quad core cpu except maybe power usage.

Many of the dual cores are quad cores that were binned from quad cores anyway. You just lose the extra processing power for apps that take advantage of multiple cores - or while multiprocessing.

In the future - as more PC's have quad core - there will be more apps written to take advantage of their extra processing power.
 
tlarkin

tlarkin

VIP Member
The only reason is power and heat in embedded and small systems like laptops. If it is a desktop, get a quad core.
 
Analizer

Analizer

New Member
If you aren't gonna play (newest) games get Dual-Core processor. Currently there are barely any applications/games that use Quad-Cores. If you want your computer for fun (games etc.) get Dual-Core as it will make better use of the performance than quad. Really you shoudn't buy computers 'for future', which means for the next 2 or more years. You buy a PC for now and then if you'd like to change it, move forward and invest into quad-core.

But anyway, as technology move forward I'd go for Quad-Core
 
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svchiefs19

New Member
the only reason im asking is that i can get a laptop with a quad core processor for about the same price as a similar model that uses dual core. it seems to me that quad core would be the logical choice as its not costing me anything extra.
 
Mitch?

Mitch?

banned
if it's a free upgrade there's no reason not to take it. if it's on the same laptop you'll notice a decrease in battery life, but you'll also have quite a bit more power.
 
jasonn20

jasonn20

New Member
svchiefs19 said:
the only reason im asking is that i can get a laptop with a quad core processor for about the same price as a similar model that uses dual core. it seems to me that quad core would be the logical choice as its not costing me anything extra.
Click to expand...

What are the two laptops you are comparing..??

There is a trade-off in some circumstances between the two...
 
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svchiefs19

New Member
im looking at these two:

hp dv6t - http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...e=dv6t_series&a1=Category&v1=High performance
hp dv6 quad edition - http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...dv6tqe_series&a1=Category&v1=High performance

hp lets you customize each computer so you can select which internals you would like. if you selct 4gb ram, 500gb hard drive, and the 1gb nvidia geforece gt 320m graphics card, then the price differential is minimal. the only difference come with the processors. check it out for yourself
 
jasonn20

jasonn20

New Member
either of the quad i7's would be awesome.... dual core ones are respectable in there own right though.. I would go quad ...
 
linkin

linkin

VIP Member
Contrary to the popular belief almast all new programs can use four cores. every game since 2007 can! Crysis included. GTA IV actually needs a quadcore for any smooth gameplay, and it lists a Q6600 as part of the recommend specs...

Don't waste your money on a dualcore now, get a quadcore and you'll be good for another 4-5 years.
 
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Ihatethedukes

New Member
Every game since 2007 can use multi core? Not true. Dark Void, a game not yet released is single core use only. EDIT: don't quote me on this but I don't think the source engine got multithreading until episode 2.

In fact very few games show improvement going from a dual core to a quad core. As a matter of fact, I've had multiple instances where I've had a performance increase going to a dual core because they'll usually overclock much higher.

However in this laptop's case there is ZERO reason to get the dual core because the quad will use turbo to a speed that's actually faster than the dual cores. The only reason not to is battery life but because of the constant downclocking the difference will be small except in high CPU use times.
 
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meticadpa

meticadpa

New Member
Ihatethedukes said:
Every game since 2007 can use multi core? Not true. Dark Void, a game not yet released is single core use only.

In fact very few games show improvement going from a dual core to a quad core. As a matter of fact, I've had multiple instances where I've had a performance increase going to a dual core because they'll usually overclock much higher.

However in this laptop's case there is ZERO reason to get the dual core because the quad will use turbo to a speed that's actually faster than the dual cores. The only reason not to is battery life but because of the constant downclocking the difference will be small except in high CPU use times.
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Indeed.

I moved from a Q6600 (3.6GHz) to an E6750 (4GHz) for a short period of time, and every game I played (I don't own GTA IV) showed an increase in performance.

Now that I've gone to my E8500 (4.5GHz) my framerates have improved yet again.
 
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svchiefs19

New Member
Ihatethedukes said:
As a matter of fact, I've had multiple instances where I've had a performance increase going to a dual core because they'll usually overclock much higher.
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If i want to overclock the CPU, do i have so manually configure it to overclock? or will the CPU automatically kick in when it needs to be overclocked?
 
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87dtna

Active Member
I would get the quad I7 because the turbo boost kicks it to 2.8ghz (or 3.06 if you get that one), which in a laptop is gonna seriously kick azz.
 
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Ihatethedukes

New Member
svchiefs19 said:
If i want to overclock the CPU, do i have so manually configure it to overclock? or will the CPU automatically kick in when it needs to be overclocked?
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Typically you do not/cannot overclock a laptop. These ones will auto overclock themselves to ~3.0GHz in single threaded apps to appear much faster (and they will be). I'd take the quad core hands down.
 
meticadpa

meticadpa

New Member
Ihatethedukes said:
Typically you do not/cannot overclock a laptop. These ones will auto overclock themselves to ~3.0GHz in single threaded apps to appear much faster (and they will be). I'd take the quad core hands down.
Click to expand...

Indeed, again. :p

I would not overclock a laptop, period. Not only is the cooling solution in a laptop less than one would want if you're going to be overclocking (they're designed with the TDP of the CPU in mind, and no more), but the battery life would also be severely be diminished by an overclock.

The small gains you might see just aren't worth it, at all.
 
driverdj2000

driverdj2000

New Member
linkin93 said:
Contrary to the popular belief almast all new programs can use four cores. every game since 2007 can! Crysis included. GTA IV actually needs a quadcore for any smooth gameplay, and it lists a Q6600 as part of the recommend specs...

Don't waste your money on a dualcore now, get a quadcore and you'll be good for another 4-5 years.
Click to expand...


+1 :good:
 
linkin

linkin

VIP Member
You were comparing a 3.6ghz, 65nm, first generation quadcore to an E8500, which is 45nm and you had at 4.5ghz. of course the E8500 is going to win :p

To make this fair you should look for some Q8400 vs E8400/E8500 benchies, and make sure they have some GTA IV results. (Many games do benefit from 4 cores. i was sketchy when i said all games from 2007 onwards. what i meant was that games were emerging in 2007 that could utilize four cores. crysis and crysis warhead can, they were made in 2007.)
 
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87dtna

Active Member
I would say a Q9400 would be the best to compare, that way they both have 6mb L2 cache. But I can see comaring a Q8400 to the E8400 because they are the same price at $170. Q9400 is $190, I would pay $20 more to have the extra cache though.
 
2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
I would not get a laptop unless you really need portability. Laptops are so much slower than desktops. Desktop computers also have a lot more options if you want an upgrade.
 
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