Dual core for gaming?

[Kaido]

If you were to building a computer today for gaming, would you go single-core or dual core?

 

[Bowsky]

I would go dual core. If you look at the better lines of processors, especially from the Intel side, you don't have much of a choice. Also, the (near) future of software and games such as UT2007, Crysis, Half-life, and Alan Wake promise to utilize dual core fully.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Single-core only on a very, very tight budget where $50 makes a huge difference.

For anything above that, dual-core because:
1. Core 2 is faster than any single core A64
2. Over the next couple of years games will include some parallelization of code that creates CPU bottlenecks, and may include optional code (like extra physics and AI) that only runs when there is a second core sitting idle twiddling its thumbs.

 

[willtriv]

most new games are multi threaded, some old ones every preform better (ut 2004 has "coarse" threading an sees a minor increase with DC). Personally I want to go quad core, as a linux/wintendo user I see the need for more 4 cores, but not 8. Source engine, ut3 engine, doom3 engine are all multi thread, or soon to be multi thread. Valve promised us q1 2007, but it looks like summer now, stupid of them to not program for the future. Oblivion is multi threaded, and a few other games are as well. The main this is that source seems to be the only time dual core/ dual gfx card actually takes away from performance. Other engines seem to see no performance boosts but don't actually get harmed by it.

you would be foolish not go conroe over an fx57!

 

[Maluno]

I personally am going to be waiting for quad core options and availability/pricing to become better, but if I was forced to choose something now, then there is no contest IMO what the logical choice is. The C2D processor lineup is simply the best price-performance option out there, and when you throw in their excellent overclocking potential, the deal sweetens even more.

Unless you cannot afford to go with the cheapest c2d, (the e6300), then I would most definitely either go Dual core now, or wait for more of the quad core chips to be released.

 

[imported_rod]

Dual Core for sure!

X2's aren't bad, but if you're building a system from scratch, then Core 2 Duo is probably the way to go.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i dunno who'd consider buying a single core PC today. unless you're too broke to buy, then i'd save up some money THEN buy a dual core pc.

 

[nullzero]

Definately a dual core if not even a quad core. Most next gen games are going to support multicore... Supreme Commander is already out in open beta and you can notice a huge difference between single core and multicore when playing the game.

 

[n7]

Single core should only be considered when on an extremely low budget.

 

[Roguestar]

And even if you're running a single-threaded game, you can run a dedicated server and play at the same time. Ohhh yeah.