Processor, Motherboard and Memory, ad infinitum

[Retow]

Hi guys,

I decided this afternoon to cobble together my first Intel based PC in about 8 years, my first foray away from the AMD camp if you will. Doesn't look to daunting and from reading a few spec me threads I've initially selected the following items:

• ASUS P5K
• Intel C2D 6750
• GeIL 2GB PC2-6400C4

Now I'm unsure of overclocking headroom with these chips but I assume Ill be able to claim the standard 10% from it at least. I hesitated however when I realised for few notes more I could get an additional two cores in the shape of the Q6600.

So I guess the question is which is going to be more fun or interesting a project the dual or quad core system in terms of day to day performance and overclocking...

I'm well aware nothing mainstream uses 4 cores but can comparable performance be obtained from this against dual core processors with similar clocks, does the lower FSB 1066 vs 1333 have any real world bearing?

I know the sensible option is to purchase the C2D as I have no call for enhanced encoding performance or any other multi-threaded applications for that matter.

So to wrap things up two cores good four cores bad, or does anyone have any experiences I can borrow from while making this decision.

Regards

 

[Cr0fty]

With decent cooling that chip will clock far!
But then again. A Q6600 will aswell.

May aswell go for the quad if you can afford it. Even if your apps only utilise dual core ( eg some games ) The other 2 cores could run programmes in the background, or whatever you want them to do

More cores, and a bigger e-penis.!!!

If you're going to get a dual core, go for a lower priced one, and clock it up!

 

[Retow]

I assume you mean the E6550 part, are the overclocks consistent enough with the selected motherboard?

Considering its taken about two years since the inception for any sizable multicore benefits to be realised in software I doubt getting a quad is prudent as when anything efficiently utilises the cores something far more powerful will be avialable at the respective price points.

I plan to upgrade more comprehensively mid to late next year anyway when Vistas service pack is released, theres more dx10+ games about and the GPUs are capable of throwing out comfortable framerates. Until then this is more of a pet project as I feel I'm missing out on the whole C2D scene and with hardware prices as they are it seems silly not to have a go.

I forgot to mention Ill be coupling this with a 8800GT which seems to be a great little performer for the price from the benchmarks ive seen.