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Quad or Dual core?

UltimateBadger said:
This. I did exactly the same, then a week later I thought - this is a waste of cash and promptly sold it on again!
My 3.8Ghz E8400 is more than enough for my machine - but I only really play games and surf the web.
Click to expand...
This is exactly the case. If you only game and surf then you don't need the Quad BUT if both CPU's are going for the same price 2nd hand then the Quad is the one to go for.
 
This any good guys:



I know it is socket 775!! That mobo any good? I only want onboard graphics.

Is that CPU as good as or better than say an AMD tri core 720 CPU?
 
Here is a comparison of the E8400 and the X3 720:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=56&p2=83

However here is a comparison of the X2 555BE(which is under £80) and the E8400:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=56&p2=120

This thread is useful to read:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=227004

The £72 X2 550BE has an unlock rate of 94 processors out of 125 to a quad core and another 2 to a triple core in the thread.

Here are two comparisons of the X3 720BE and the Core i3 530:

http://en.inpai.com.cn/doc/enshowcont.asp?id=7488

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=118&p2=83

The Phenom II can also use DDR2.

I would look at the following motherboards:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-376-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-199-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482
 
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I would still think that getting a secondhand Q6600 or Q6700 would be the best way forward for the OP.

Not only are these quad cores but have 4 times the amount of L2 cache per core when compared to an E2140. This alone will improve single threaded performance even if a Q6600 or Q6700 is at the same speed as the E2140.
 
CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
Here is a comparison of the E8400 and the X3 720:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=56&p2=83

However here is a comparison of the X2 555BE(which is under £80) and the E8400:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=56&p2=120

This thread is useful to read:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=227004

The £72 X2 550BE has an unlock rate of 94 processors out of 125 to a quad core and another 2 to a triple core in the thread.

Here are two comparisons of the X3 720BE and the Core i3 530:

http://en.inpai.com.cn/doc/enshowcont.asp?id=7488

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=118&p2=83

The Phenom II can also use DDR2.

I would look at the following motherboards:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-376-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-199-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482
Click to expand...

So, would you get an i3 over an E8400 setup?
 
cavonia said:
So, would you get an i3 over an E8400 setup?
Click to expand...

Here is a comparison of the two processors:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=118&p2=56&c=1

I would get a Q8400 instead of the Core i3 530 as for video and editing the Q8400 is better:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=118&p2=89&c=1

The Q8400 is around the same price as the E8400 too:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-281-IN

Also I would reduce the cost of both the Core2 builds by going for the following RAM:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-192-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=817
 
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cavonia said:
Did you notice a marked improvement over the E8400? A worthy buy?
Click to expand...

Clock for clock the 530 is faster, the 530 clocks to 4ghz easily with very little extra volts and I have not found a benchmark that gives the E8400 the edge when I max it out at 4.5ghz.
Under most usual usage is there a marked noticable difference between the E8400 @ 3.6ghz and the 530 @ 4ghz? Well - not really.
What does seem to make a difference is putting the OS on a SSD.
Would I upgrade from a E8400 to a I3 530? - No.
Why did I buy a 530 then? - Cause I like "playing" and it will replace an old A64 4400 system.
 
I recently changed to a Q6600 on the same mobo (xfx 650i) and its running stable at 3Ghz, I previously had an E2160 at 3Ghz and have noticed quite an improvement, well worth the upgrade.
 
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