Current Dual Core Vs. Quad Core "Upgrade"

Elcs

Diamond Member
Apr 27, 2002
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As I toyed with the idea of a new mobo and a second 8800GT, I also toyed with the Phenom(enon) idea.

I currently have an X2 6000+ (Dual Core) and my board can accept these processors.

Looking at it, I can keep my current setup and spend no money or go Phenom. The two Phenoms I am specifically looking at are the 9550 and the 9600 Black Edition.

The Black Edition 9600 is approximately $5 more expensive and Im not sure if its worthwhile or what issues I may face with "older" phenoms.

What would you recommend? I am mainly into a wide variety of games, only very occaisional CPU-intensive tasks.

EDIT: Stock speeds only. I am not an AMD fanboy but currently having a reasonable motherboard, ram and system, I do not wish to discuss anything Intel. I just want to know whether its worth swapping my DC for a QC.
 

livingsacrifice

Senior member
Jul 16, 2001
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Well I just upgraded my dual to quad last night, I run intel though and I saw a little difference although it was from a 2.66 to 2.9ghz. I haven't really ran anything intensive on it yet just a simple game or two and most didn't fully utilize 1 core of a processor. I use quads at work a lot too I like them more for the fact that you can run so many more programs and the computer never feels slow. It's really up to you, what games you play and if they utilize the processor. I don't think you will see that much of an overall improvement.
 

BadRobot

Senior member
May 25, 2007
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The basic answer is a quad is an improvement over dual in 2 situations.

1) if you run more than a few CPU intensive applications at a time.
2) you run applications that directly gain from more cores. Example, encoding.
 

heyheybooboo

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2007
6,278
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^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Yup.

No real issues but little to gain. With the Phenoms (and even the Intel quads) you will not see a drastic improvement in multitasking over a fast dual core except in apps capable of four parallel threads.

Sitting tight over the next few months may lead you to consider (drum roll, please) ..... a 790gx with SB750. The only issue I see with the 790gx is that it might drive the price of a 9850BE higher :p