i7 vs C 2 Quad vs C 2 Duo Gaming.

SkodaMart · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:54

I am currently using a Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 3.33GHz.
I upgraded to a Q6700 @ 3.6GHz and didn't see any real improvement in my games.
Once and for all what difference does the CPU make??
Using the same graphics card and games?

I use my PC for Gaming, Web browsing and office.

madindehead · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:57

Toms Hardware CPU chart for Crysis

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-q3-2008/Crysis-1680x1050,818.html

PermaBanned · 6 Aug 2009 at 18:15

*cough*Phenom II*cough*

.:SAmSuNG:. · 6 Aug 2009 at 18:19

Obs i7 is the fastest around at pretty much everything.

Sylver123 · 6 Aug 2009 at 18:21

What graphics card have you got??? You may be able to get a bit more speed out of your system if you overclocked your CPU to its max and your Memory and Graphics Card as well.

SkodaMart · 6 Aug 2009 at 19:15

My system:
XFX 780i
E6600 @ 3.33GHz 1480 Mhz
4GB Crucial Ballistix @ 740 Mhz
nVidia 285 GTX

madindehead · 6 Aug 2009 at 19:18

That system is pretty good anyway to be honest mate. Not surprised you didn't really see any increase.

Hades · 6 Aug 2009 at 20:35

Also you have moved from a dual core at 3.3ghz to a quad core at 3.6ghz. The quad also has more cache which should make a little difference. But if you ignore the cache for now, then that's only a 300mhz increase.

Some games will use the extra cores but not all will. So for many games there will not be a major increase in performance.

jbloggs · 6 Aug 2009 at 20:40

AnandTech Bench

SkodaMart · 6 Aug 2009 at 21:03

jbloggs said:
AnandTech Bench

Thats a good tool, thanks

sturmtruppe · 6 Aug 2009 at 21:41

i went from a 2.6ghz duo o a 3.8ghz quad, i can now do everything simultaneously and still have 2 cores free for gaming.

almighty15 · 6 Aug 2009 at 22:20

Superewza said:
*cough*Phenom II*cough*

Is slower then the Core 2 architecture clock per clock...

Hades · 6 Aug 2009 at 22:38

madindehead said:
Toms Hardware CPU chart for Crysis

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-q3-2008/Crysis-1680x1050,818.html

Also some more benchmarks here, updated for 2009 CPU's including the Phenom 2's which aren't in the 2008 list charts:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/2009-desktop-cpu-charts/benchmarks,60.html

jbloggs said:
AnandTech Bench

I'm quite surprised how close the Q9450 and i7 920 are in that chart. Nice to see how well the C2Q's keep up.

almighty15 said:
Is slower then the Core 2 architecture clock per clock...

Yes of course they are, mhz is not that relevant nowadays. Generally speaking a P2 will beat a C2D/C2Q for a similar price.

No I'm not a fanboy. I currently have a Q9450 and am thinking of getting a P2 955BE to run some real world comparisons (the 955BE will be faster because it is higher end than the 'low' end Q9450 - but by how much?). Wish I had the money to get an i7 setup too and compare the lot of them!

madindehead · 6 Aug 2009 at 23:34

Ah, my bad for posting old charts. Sorry.

SkodaMart · 6 Aug 2009 at 23:38

I think I will give my Q6700 another try, seems 4 cores is starting to have an advantage in the latest games it would seem.
Core 2 duo runs sweet though

Hades · 6 Aug 2009 at 23:44

SkodaMart said:
I think I will give my Q6700 another try, seems 4 cores is starting to have an advantage in the latest games it would seem.
Core 2 duo runs sweet though

C2D is fine right now. But gradually more and more games benefit from the extra cores. I love my quad and certainly won't go back to a dual even if it may be slightly faster.

Sylver123 · 7 Aug 2009 at 01:24

@SkodaMart

The system you`ve got is fine for gaming. The system in my sig is slower than your`s but can run ever game
out there with decent frame rate and decent screen resolution - excluding Crysis and GTA IV of course.

Mark1989 · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:24

Grr at this my Q9300 isnt show come to think of it i havent found a benchmark comparing it to any i7 chip yet =(

Heretic1322 · 7 Aug 2009 at 17:03

I did the same, I recently went from e6600 to q6700 and I noticed the difference, especially in GTA 4. My sytem feels faster all round.

What resolution does your monitor do? Might need to do 1920 x 1200 to reap the real benifits

Pneumonic · 7 Aug 2009 at 20:47

Hades said:
No I'm not a fanboy. I currently have a Q9450 and am thinking of getting a P2 955BE to run some real world comparisons (the 955BE will be faster because it is higher end than the 'low' end Q9450 - but by how much?). Wish I had the money to get an i7 setup too and compare the lot of them!

I have both...

i7 (920) clocked at 4.2ghz ad a 955BE running at 3.95ghz (with 2.7ghz clock on the NB and HT) and to be honest other than the cost games wise there is nothing between them.. in some benchmarks I ran the 955BE came out better..

I used the 955BE as my gaming rig (duel 4870 x2) and am very happy with it..

If you are thinking of upgrading imo is pointless going i7 if all you do is game.. you will get the same performance in games from a 955BE for less cash