Choosing a processor - Quad or Dual core?

Well, I'm building a pc now. I'm mainly aiming to play Arma 2, and I'd like decent performance (on semi-high graphics. I also expect future patches to optimize the game better). I have already decided that I will get the Radeon HD 4870 1GB (please comment on this), but I have not decided on what processor to get.

I've been checking up on the AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition, but it seems like it will be too expensive for me :/ Could you guys suggest a decent, but cheap processor? As I said, I would like to be able to play Arma 2 with decent performance (and graphics), but I'd also like to play some older games.

Looking foreward to suggestions :D

Well right now there are only a few games that actually use all 4 cores of quad cores, but every game (besides old ones) use dual. So this means in gaming a 3ghz dual core will give the same performance (well close to it, depends on architecture, cache ect.) as a 3ghz quad core, but the dual core is a lot cheaper. I suggest a Intel E8*** or E7*** series.mattpunkgd

have a look at this

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

Quad cores are very good and programs that render too so thats a bonus

Thanks for the info :)

I've also noticed that there are some tempting AMD triple-core processors- Are Triple-cores considered to be any good?

this is just my opinion here. if you plan to stick to your pc for a few years i think it's better to have quad-core cpu. i can see that probably dual-core will be phased out soon, since intel i7 can run up to 8 thread, so quad-core could be the standard soon. i might be wrong though.

Unless you have an old mobo that doesnt support the newer quad cores, go with quad.

Thanks for the info :)

I've also noticed that there are some tempting AMD triple-core processors- Are Triple-cores considered to be any good?

kamigawa50

The Phenom II x2 550s are very good for the price, almost as good as the Intel E8*** for quite a bit less.