Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad?

I'm thinking either Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 ($319), or Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache ($165).

Which would be the better choice? Should I wait a year or 2 then upgrade to quad when they're cheaper or someting?

quad core's are overrated. Most games do not even use all of the cores so its kinda of a waste at the moment.JangoWuzHere

[QUOTE="JangoWuzHere"]quad core's are overrated. Most games do not even use all of the cores so its kinda of a waste at the moment.Daytona_178

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"][QUOTE="JangoWuzHere"]quad core's are overrated. Most games do not even use all of the cores so its kinda of a waste at the moment.Marfoo

Yeah, the Q6600 baby!

[QUOTE="Marfoo"][QUOTE="Daytona_178"] If you are an overclocker though there is no reason not to get a cheap one and overclock it to hell and back!Daytona_178

Yeah, the Q6600 baby!

is the Q6600's 2x4mb L2 cache better than the E8400's 6mb cache?chocobo7000

E8400@ 4.5ghz>Q6600 @ 3.4ghz :PX360PS3AMD05

E8400@ 4.5ghz>Q6600 @ 3.4ghz :PX360PS3AMD05

E8400@ 4.5ghz>Q6600 @ 3.4ghz :PX360PS3AMD05

I wont be using a water cooler though... how much is a good cooler cost?

By the time games start utilizing quad core, wont the rest of the system be outdated?chocobo7000

quad core's are overrated. Most games do not even use all of the cores so its kinda of a waste at the moment.JangoWuzHere

[QUOTE="JangoWuzHere"]quad core's are overrated. Most games do not even use all of the cores so its kinda of a waste at the moment.STAR_Admiral

QUAD CORE!!!!

Yeah maybe games don't use them NOW, but by the end of next year many more titles will use 4 cores and it will be a waste to buy an old C2D now. For multitasking aswell, it will be far better.

Although, for even CHEAPER than the quad core, why not get the absolute latest tech:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Its the new i7 and it's only $294, its a very fast CPU for many apps and awesome for SLI gaming.

[QUOTE="X360PS3AMD05"]E8400@ 4.5ghz>Q6600 @ 3.4ghz :Pmattpunkgd

By the time games start utilizing quad core, wont the rest of the system be outdated?chocobo7000

[QUOTE="chocobo7000"]By the time games start utilizing quad core, wont the rest of the system be outdated?NamelessPlayer

I wont be paying $300 for a cpu, so for me it's either the E8500 or the 4Q6600, both in same price range.

Except they are bottlenecks for modern cards ;) That guy just gave the reason why i don't look too much into "future proofing"X360PS3AMD05

This is a good point. By the time Alan Wake and other quad supported games come out, wont the new video cards then bottleneck quads? Is a q6600 still worth it now?

[QUOTE="X360PS3AMD05"]Except they are bottlenecks for modern cards ;) That guy just gave the reason why i don't look too much into "future proofing"alphaqup03

This is a good point. By the time Alan Wake and other quad supported games come out, wont the new video cards then bottleneck quads? Is a q6600 still worth it now?

How do you overclock? i hear lots of talk about it but no one ever desrcibes whats involved.. I'm having pretty much the same predicament, in choosing between core2duo and quad, if OC is relatively easy then i might go for a quad.nattydreadlocks

Fair play might have to try it, though i'm still sceptical about geting a Q6600

How do you overclock? i hear lots of talk about it but no one ever desrcibes whats involved.. I'm having pretty much the same predicament, in choosing between core2duo and quad, if OC is relatively easy then i might go for a quad.nattydreadlocks

Quad core @stock 2.4GHz blasts through any game but even a 3.6Ghz dual core E8400 is lagging with GTAIV. Many games in 2009 will be Quad core optimised. A dual core will result in less detailed game or lower frames.

It is very easy to overclock the Q6600 but you will need a good heatsink/cooler not the stock heatsink and fan.

shouldnt he/she wait until i7 prices go down?

or do they suck for gaming? and will suck for gaming in the future?

By the time games start utilizing quad core, wont the rest of the system be outdated?chocobo7000

no.

Quad core utilization in games is already starting.

I don't think there's a person here that will say they don't love their Q6600. It is still relevent because of the expenses and minimal performance increases of the i7s. I don't see why buying a Q6600 today would be a bad choice, especially considering its cheap and with a good heatsink can easily get up to around 3.4 ghz.Zaber123

[QUOTE="Zaber123"]I don't think there's a person here that will say they don't love their Q6600. It is still relevent because of the expenses and minimal performance increases of the i7s. I don't see why buying a Q6600 today would be a bad choice, especially considering its cheap and with a good heatsink can easily get up to around 3.4 ghz.Daytona_178

Nobody ever mentions the Q6700... Lol.

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"][QUOTE="Zaber123"]I don't think there's a person here that will say they don't love their Q6600. It is still relevent because of the expenses and minimal performance increases of the i7s. I don't see why buying a Q6600 today would be a bad choice, especially considering its cheap and with a good heatsink can easily get up to around 3.4 ghz.RFOMownage

Nobody ever mentions the Q6700... Lol.

[QUOTE="RFOMownage"]

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"] Agreed!Daytona_178

Nobody ever mentions the Q6700... Lol.