Quad or Dual Core

[Euro_Hunter]

Hi,

I currently have a Q6600 2.4 ghz (non energy efficient model), and I am just upgrading one or 2 things in my pc to update it abit going to be getting a Asus P5Q-E m/b and some new ram but I am thinking about possibly changing the CPU, maybe only to the Q6600 energy efficient model.

Most of the programs I use don't support Quad Core so would it be better to go dual core and if so which cpu max £150.

Thanks

Nige.

 

[TheCenturion]

I would stick with quad core, but if you must change then an e8400,8500 or 8600

 

[Euro_Hunter]

Just basically want to be more energy effiecient and faster if possible, don't really do any hard core gaming.

I do quite a bit of multi tasking though i.e movie encoding, dowloading, watching tv, web browsing open e-mail client etc. so don't know wether quad comes into its own doing this.

 

[Vigoro]

Downclock your Q6600 a bit then, made no difference to my performance by dropping a multiplier and saves energy, also saves you more

 

[Big.Wayne]

Sell the old Quad and buy a new Wolfdale E8600, that will be a great combo with an Intel® P45 Express Chipset. . .

If you can wait until the Wolfdale E8400/E8500 are released with E0 stepping also that may be a cost cutting idea!

 

[Euro_Hunter]

Sell the old Quad and buy a new Wolfdale E8600, that will be a great combo with an Intel® P45 Express Chipset. . .

If you can wait until the Wolfdale E8400/E8500 are released with E0 stepping also that may be a cost cutting idea!

Hi Wayne thanks for replying to all my threads today

What advantages will the new Wolfdale E8400/E8500 give me and when will they be released?

 

[AbsenceJam]

Just basically want to be more energy effiecient and faster if possible, don't really do any hard core gaming.

I do quite a bit of multi tasking though i.e movie encoding, dowloading, watching tv, web browsing open e-mail client etc. so don't know wether quad comes into its own doing this.

No point in you changing if you only do that, you'll only lose money in doing so which will complete offset the tiny savings a lower powered CPU would bring.

 

[ChrissyT88]

If you do a lot of encoding/multitasking then its best to stick with the quad. The duals will be more energy efficient and should clock faster, but i doubt that you will notice the difference unless you are an avid gamer (very concerned about FPS) or need to save on electricity.

 

[Big.Wayne]

What advantages will the new Wolfdale E8400/E8500 give me and when will they be released?

The same advantages as the E8600 that is on sale now but for a lot cheaper. Have a read of these articles and see if the new E0 stepping chips tickle your fancy . . .

This processor stepping boasts a lot of serious improvements: it supports new power-saving technologies, offers more adequate and stable thermal sensors, overclocks better and is more economical. All these innovations are significant enough for us to strongly advise that you always pay special attention to the processor stepping of the 45nm CPUs you buy to make sure that you only get the latest E0 stepping.

New Wolfdale Processor Stepping: Core 2 Duo E8600 Review @X-bit labs

Bringing everything together, we can see that Intel has done another great job in improving an already powerful and efficient line of processors. You will be pleased to know that previous 45nm CPUs will now be released with the new E0 stepping and are rumored to be hitting the market mid-late August. As B3 Quads were cast to the wayside in search of the early G0's, I suggest verifying that you are in fact purchasing an E0 stepping CPU before spending your hard earned cash.

Intel E8600 Review: E0 Stepping, the Last Great Dual Core? @xtreme CPU

 

[ozzyDe]

my Intel Core 2 Quad PRO Q6600 2.40gig is happily running
@3.510gig on air it hits 45c max load fsb 190*9 using a askasa AK-961 cool blue
I think better cooling "water" it will hit 4 gig not bad for the price.

cheers
Bid D

 

[Ben M]

Sell the old Quad and buy a new Wolfdale E8600, that will be a great combo with an Intel® P45 Express Chipset. . .

If you can wait until the Wolfdale E8400/E8500 are released with E0 stepping also that may be a cost cutting idea!

That's a terrible idea; he does encoding and other multi-thread things. So he'd spend money, and have something that isn't as good at what he needs it for.

I'd just stick with your Q6600, with speedstep enabled.

If I were you, I'd overclock it, and turn it back to stock (or below) when you're not encoding, and you don't need the power.

 

[Big.Wayne]

That's a terrible idea; he does encoding and other multi-thread things. So he'd spend money, and have something that isn't as good at what he needs it for

Just basically want to be more energy effiecient and faster if possible, don't really do any hard core gaming.

I do quite a bit of multi tasking though i.e movie encoding, dowloading, watching tv, web browsing open e-mail client etc. so don't know wether quad comes into its own doing this.

Euro_Hunter, video encoding works fine on a fast dual-core and that's about the only thing you do at present that would be a bit better on a quad . . .

However the particular quad you are using is very power hungry and not desirable in any form or shape. If you were a professional video encoder and encoded several films every day I would still suggest getting rid of the old B3 quad and picking up a more energy efficient quad core . .

However if you like a two/three films a week kinda guy then its makes perfect sense to get yourself a new Dual-Core, runs cooler, uses *a lot* less power (cheaper bills, more Eco) and faster in 99% of the tasks you do!

 

[rjk]

put speedstep on?


anyway - i have a p5q-e

as soon as you set AI tweaker in bios to manual so you can overclock, all the energy saving mumbo jumbo on the packaging becomes inaccessable
you have to run your HW at stock for it to work

i would sooner have my e6300 working at 3GHz than 1.8

keep your quad - no point swapping what you have for the energy saving model
and no point moving over to a dual core unless you want a serious boost in your games

im only looking at a E8XXX chip because i use my home pc for games and not much else

 

[Euro_Hunter]

Thanks for the replies, think I will just get the P5Q-E & some new memory & hang fire on the cpu for a while.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Sounds like a plan Euro_Hunter, always good to hear what people have to say and as you can see from all the replies people have very different views on what is a good purchase and what isn't!

I used to be an obsessed overclocker, had lots of fun and spent heaps of money chasing those extra MHz but after several years the buzz kinda wore off and I realised there wasn't much difference between a really fast machine and a really really fast machine.

I have now shifted my priorities, and while I still appreciate overclocking and tweaking my new obsession is power consumption and efficiency . . . clearly a subject not of great interest to our younger forum members

Anyway enjoy your new purchase and as a parting thought may I suggest if your interested in this Eco-Slant to computing (or slashing the cost of your electricty bill) that you purchase one of these energy bricks that fits inbetween your PC and the mains and displays the power draw of your whole machine, they only cost about £10 and show you what's really going on behind the scenes!

 

[Euro_Hunter]

Hi,

Since my last post now got the following:

Asus P5Q-E Motherboard
OCZ 4GB Kit (2x2GB) 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory Platinum Performance CL5
PowerColor HD 4850 PCS+ Edition 1GB GDDR3 OC Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card

Whole system is much smoother & not tried overclocking yet but think I will give it a go.

I may change the CPU sometime in the future, maybe even to the energy efficient Q6600 if one comes along at the right price.

I am sure 10watts must add up to quite a lot over the year esp. when system is on 12+ hours a day.

I decided to upgrade GFX also as I have just started to play Warhammer Online and wanted to turn up AA settings etc.

 

[zykan]

basically, if you encode a lot of movies, then go with a new quad or just oc the one you have, and enable speedstep for when your just browsing etc.

if not, then go for a dual, faster clockspeed