Well, I sorely need a new CPU. I'm willing to get a new mobo if I have to but I'm quite sure the Asus mobo I have will take a new processor (If I buy the same dual with a higher GHz rating). If it comes to getting a quad-core I'll have to get the motherboard that's recommended for it.

My main issue here is, what kind of performance gain would I see with quad-core, as well as what it would detriment? I figure a quad would give me some problems if I got one now as opposed to waiting because they're fairly new. Everyone hasn't been striving to accommodate software to utilize all four cores yet.

I got some information from a guy that benchmarked/tested cpu load when using many different game/application titles and wondered if anyone here has some first-hand experience using a quad. Any input would be cool.

(No AMD/Intel is better than Intel/AMD BS, That's only opinion, and the market's split up pretty evenly between the two.)

IIRC you will actually see a performance DROP if you are gonna use it for gaming or other random normal stuff
edit: if you get a quad core that is

Yea that's what was said on that guys' blog thing I checked out. Apparently VALVe games are utilizing quad-core systems more effectively than anyone else it, and I play a hell of a lot of games that VALVe is responsible for. For the time being, though, it sounds like a fast, dual core really is the way to go.

Maybe in a few years when octo-cores come out there'll be plenty of reason to upgrade to a quad, since most everything will be created in the quad environment. Anyone else had first-hand experience with a quad?

Yeah, I have a quad.

I can run most of Valve's (why do you capitalise it funny?) games on the highest settings possible, though that might be more to do with my graphics card.

Suggest a benchmarking thing and I'll run it if you want.

That's how the emblem is I think, lol.

Anywho, the information I got my initial impression from was this page.
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000942.html

As you can tell, he ran multiple benchmark programs as well as checked CPU load while running a game. All he provided were percentages, but at least all that information is in one place. It seems like VALVe (lol) is the only group accomodating four cores, but I play other games/run other programs as well, so I'm still not sure.

Most games today don't utilise quad cores to their maximum capabilities and so sometimes its better off buying a faster clocked dual core. duel cores are cheaper and run at a lower temp too.

however future games will be utilising quad cores more. Alan Wake http://www.alanwake.com/ and Far Cry 2 (possibly) http://farcrygame.ubi.com/ are a few to note.

you will also see a performance boost if your using your computer for more than gaming, things like video encoding use quad cores well, and your computer will be faster in general of course.

if you just want a better gaming machine same money on your CPU and spend more money on your Graphics card as this has the biggest impact on games


hope that helped

I have the card, An 8800 GT (GT or GTX, whichever is the middle-grade). But my dual core is 2.0GHz I think, might be clocked to 2.1, heh.

So a faster dual-core seems like the short-medium term solution. Thanks Pel, trouser, duel.

I had to make the exact same decision; I either had to get an AMD 6400+ Dual Core Black Edition (3.2 Ghz but can easily overclock), or Intel Q6600 (or whatever the lowest Quad core is) Quad Core, for more money, and having to save up some more for a new motherboard. I choose the Dual Core.