Dual Core Processing Power/Performance

C

CBrewster

New Member
I really don't understand how dual core processors work and what processing power they have. A guy recommended one to me because they run cooler - I have two computers in my room, and when I boot up my gaming PC, the room heats up like a furnace.

I currently have a P4 3.0GHz processor. The guy recommended an Intel 1.8GHz Dual Core processor instead, since he said it will provide equivalent performance in my games and runs a lot cooler. Although this doesn't make sense to me, since I'm going from a 3.0GHz processor to a 1.8, and I have read that some games only utilize one core in a dual core, which to me means I'd basically be playing on a 1.8GHz processor. Should specify, the 1.8GHz processor I'm looking at is the Intel Core 2 Duo E4300.

Now, I'd love for the computer to run cooler, but my main concern is processing power. I use this computer purely for gaming, so I don't want to take a step down in my computer's performance - I built it completely around gaming performance. What sort of Dual Core processor would I need to maintain the power that I'm used to with my P4 3.0GHz? Will the 1.8Ghz Dual Core provide me the same power I'm used to, or is it a step down? I don't want to take a drop in my frame rates.

Just to clarify, I'm not necessarily looking for an explanation on how dual core processors work - any explanation will probably go over my head. I just want to know if Dual Core 1.8GHz is a drop down in gaming performance from a P4 3.0Gz. And if so, what processors should I get instead that has comparable/better performance than the P4 3.0GHz, but runs significantly cooler?

Thanks in advance.
 
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Which CPU model do you have currently?

and uhm.
Don't forget.
Dual core = You can set one core just for your game.
Then the other core to run background apps like windows, MSN/AIM or whatever.
So you have a full 1.8Ghz going in to your game, and not 3.0Ghz that's divided between running apps.

Oh, and you can OC that E4300 so it'll mop the floor with your 3.0Ghz cpu you have now.
But then that may create the heat issue that you want to avoid ;p
 
The Core 2 Duo's are Intels new CPU's, and can process data much more quickly and effectively when running at a lower speed (1.83 vs 3.0). Even if you only have single-threaded games, the E4300 will still perform better.
 
Clock frequency is NOT everything, Intel has moved away from that. So now the CPUs are clocked lower but their performance is higher, they did this by vamping up the FSB to 1024Mhz and changing the architecture. Its true that if a game is not built for a Dual core CPU, then it will only use one core and the other core is unused, however dual core CPUs are not really THAT new, and most games have support for dual core CPU and so ultilise BOTH cores. I know Vista has native support for dual core CPUs and same goes for Windows XP x64 edition.
 
At the moment the best value Core 2 Duo CPU is E6600, I have a X6800 and it overclocks like crazy and the performance is just phenomenal.
 
The best value is the e6300, considering when over clocked it nearly performs at the same levels as its other OCed counterparts.
 
A 1.8 GHz Core 2 Duo will run at about the same performance as a regular Pentium 3.0 GHz. It should run cooler. Game frame rates are more dependent on the price of your graphics card.
 
elitehacker said:
Clock frequency is NOT everything, Intel has moved away from that. So now the CPUs are clocked lower but their performance is higher, they did this by vamping up the FSB to 1024Mhz and changing the architecture.
Click to expand...

This is true. Different architecture means all bets are off and numbers don't mean the same thing. So going from a 3GHz P4 to a 1.8GHz C2D doesn't mean the same thing as going to a 1.8GHz P4 (which would suck, by the way :P).
 
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