dual core or not?

[Beyond]

my new setup will be mostly used for gaming.

the two options are the 3500+ @ 2.2ghz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533

or the x2 3800+ @ 2.0ghz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562


yeah there is a price difference, but my question is which should i get? i think in gaming the 3500+ will give me a slight advantage (i think i saw a benchmark of around a 10fps difference)

i guess part of the question is should i invest in one of the lower end dual cores, and would the extra money actually be worth it?

 

[Ctcoyote16]

I would have to say, from an unbiased opinion, that you should go with dual core. Not only would you basically have twice the processing power (just split between two cores) , but you will be able to really hold on to your cpu for much longer. Dual core apps are already breaking through into the scene, and evetually everything will start to take advantage of it.

*extra side note*- wouldn't you love to alt-tab in an out of every program you have running without a hiccup? lol

 

[The_Other_One]

The problem with duel core right now is that many programs currently AREN'T setup for it and some won't work. Now, I've never really played with duel core, but I do know duel processors are slower than single processor setups unless the software actually utilizes it.

Personally I wouldn't go duel core, at least not yet. It's cool technology, but for the most part I don't think it'll really be of much use just yet... Save your money and get a faster single core processor

 

[Bobo]

Not only would you basically have twice the processing power

no you wouldn't

but you will be able to really hold on to your cpu for much longer.

yes

Dual core apps are already breaking through into the scene, and evetually everything will start to take advantage of it.

but they aren't right now so you would not notice a real difference

 

[Beyond]

bobo, would you say a dual core or the 3500?

another option is if i get the 3500 i can upgrade for a 2x512 dual channel kit to a 2x1gb, which would help for bf2 obviously.

 

[Bobo]

If it were me, i would get the dual core. But I don't know from a gaming standpoint, because I don't do gaming. Right now I have a 3400, and it serves me just fine for what I need it for. But if you are not planning to upgrade for a while, then get the x2, because the 3500 will be outdated in a matter of a year or two.

 

[dcharks]

Hmmm, I'm having a similiar problem in deciding if I should go duel core. And should I consider getting Windows X64 or stick to Windows XP Pro?

 

[Bobo]

For now stick to regular XP, because XP64 does not support very many user programs, it is for business who need 64-bit and only use 64-bit programs. Every program that you run on your computer right now is 32-bit or 16-bit, and XP64 does not support any of them. A better choice might be longhorn(or whatever the hel they call it) when it comes out. But if you want to discuss this more in depth, please start a new thread.

 

[Modoman]

3800 is not bad. it's great for alt-tabbing out of a game to do something else for a moment, as my friends' single cores cant alt-tab out of a program to do ANYTHING. i can have bf2 running, alt-tab so i dont have to close it, browse the internet, open fruityloops, burn a cd all the same time..
but, at least for me, it has it's setbacks. for one, all sorts of video card drivers and games have lots of little problems/bugs. i lag really bad with some drivers, and some games just dont play like they should (quake 4 lags terribly for no apparent reason, other than a possible incompatibility with my cpu/driver combo)

 

[tweaker]

Get the X2 3800.

Sure the singel core would outperform it in single threaded games but you'll need benchmarks to tell the difference. I won't go back to building with single core chips (higher end machines that is) because I got to say the multitasking performance is just amazing to have. Besides, more and more games are going to be multithreaded in the near future taking advantage of the dual core chips. Just my two cents.

And as far as problems concern, just because you run a dual core CPU you don't necessarily have to use both cores for a specifik task should it be a problem. You can always disable one if needed forcing that specifik task to utilize only one of the cores, I've yet to experience a problem running any of my tasks on both cores though.

Obviously the X2 can be oc as well if your into that.