CPU cache/fsb/speed more important?

[mrbigsexy]

Looking at the quad cores, I see the Q6600 which has a nice 8MB, but runs at 1066 bus, and 2.4Ghz.

The Q6800 has 2.93Ghz, but only 4MB cache, and 1066 bus.

And then the Q8200 has 1333 bus, 4MB, and 2.33Ghz.

Looking at these three different specs, which one is more important for a gamer? Overclocking aside that is.

Also, what about the Xeon and Opteron processors, are they even worth considering for a gamer or would they be completely inappropriate for that application?

 

[TrainTrackHack]

Looking at these three different specs, which one is more important for a gamer? Overclocking aside that is.

Clockspeed. Generally, cache size increase beyond 1MB is only noticed in heavy games, file compression, and multimedia applications such as video/graphics editing, and cache increase beyond 3/4MBs is only noticed in extremely intensive applications. At stock speeds, the extra cache of the Q6600 isn't going to make up for the higher clockspeed of Q6800. Bus speed here is a minor consideration when performance is concerned, though the lower bus speed make the Q6x00s better for OCing since it's going to take a far higher OC to reach the FSB ceiling.

Also, what about the Xeon and Opteron processors, are they even worth considering for a gamer or would they be completely inappropriate for that application?

These are workstation/server CPUs, and are designed to run under constant load for long periods of time without crapping out, you're paying for reliability as they perform very similarly to their desktop counterparts (as a matter of fact, some are made to run slower for that extra bit of reliability and stability).

 

[fade2green514]

Xeon processors are just tested more heavily and therefore given a different name. they're meant for servers that need to be processing for hundreds of days at a time without ever being under 50-100% cpu load. any instability is not tolerated with them. however, when you're looking at the average user, you might use 100% of your cpu for 4hrs at a time, and then leave it off overnight every once in awhile.

as for the Q6800 im pretty sure that processor has two caches, each sizing 4mb, one for each dual core (intel quad cores are really two dual core processors). just like the Q6600 and the Q6700.

the Q6800 would be your best bet for gaming out of those three. cache size matters, but frequency does too, and they're all quad core so really you wont have any trouble in the next two years. oh, and as for the Q8200.. its bus frequency is 1333, but that just makes it more difficult to overclock because its multiplier is so low compared to what FSB the board can probably hit. it wont overclock to speeds any higher than the other two at least, depending on your motherboard.

edit: also note boards that support the Q6xxx series MAY not support the Q8xxx series of processors!!