Windows XP and Vista Gaming - Dual Core or Quad Core

[almoststew1990]

I have a cheap and cheerful Windows XP gaming PC for playing all my old retail CD/DVD games on. At the moment it has a Core 2 Duo 7400 at stock 2.8GHz. Even though it is more than powerful enough to play MOH:AA, GTA:SA, BF2 etc etc I have the itch to upgrade it anyway.

The question is should I put in an E8400 (for £2) and overclock it to say 3.6GHz, or get Q8200 quad core (for £12) and run it at maybe 2.6GHz? Would a C2D stay a lot cooler than a C2Q? I ask this because the rest of my build is as modern (but cheap) as possible (Nvidia GT440, decent 775 cooler, noctura fans) so it is not hot and therefore is quiet!

 

[gavinh87]

I'd be getting the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 and overclock it to 3ghz+

 

[malachi]

I'd be getting the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 and overclock it to 3ghz+

This

 

[ExoMale]

Depends what power supply you have in this, I ran a q9300 off a standard 250w, but that was with IGP, I ran a q6600 with 8600gt off s vs350 before, but was stock, i was also selling it at time.

I know a gt440 doesn't use much power, but you have to add on 84w-95w if you get a quad, that is unless you find those that are under 80w which are very limited in terms of models.


Those games won't need a quad, but for up to a tenner or slightly more it seems silly not to get a quad, but get the 6600 if you can, was best for overclocking or so people said.

 

[almoststew1990]

I was hoping to avoid power hungry and hot to be honest! But at the same time I'm tempted to go high end 2006 and get q6600 and sli 7900s or something which is the complete opposite of quiet and low power!

 

[synixx]

I was hoping to avoid power hungry and hot to be honest! But at the same time I'm tempted to go high end 2006 and get q6600 and sli 7900s or something which is the complete opposite of quiet and low power!

The only way to go is 8800gtx!

There's no point in getting the E8400 over what you have now. The only real option is getting a quad.

 

[fadingfool]

The Q8200 like the whole Q8000 series were notoriously poor overclockers - best bet would be to put the fastest core 2 quad (9650 extreme) you can find and run at stock (assuming the mother board supports it).

 

[almoststew1990]

Considering how cheap I am going (I just bought a ATi 1900XT for £8) I will probably just stick with my 7400 and overclock it. The motherboard I am using is great, it supports 1066FSB (overclocked I think) and works fine whilst completely being abused - literally chucked into a box, heavy stuff stored on top of it, silly overclocks... it just keeps going! It is some M-ATX MIS board no idea what