Is Quad Core Worth It? What's the prediction of future games using quad core?

[EarthwormJim]

Prior to this newest CPU architecture change, there was a BIG budgetary reason to avoid Quad Core. The games ran better (for example) with a fastest available 3.2 MHz dual core, than with a fastest available 2.4 MHz quad core, and the dual cores were selling for 1/2 or 1/3 the price. You could even apply the $100-200+ CPU savings to really upgrade your GPU solution, for an even bigger boost to gamer performance. By the time you could even find a overclockable 3.0++ish MHz quad core, there were dual cores capable of being overclocked easily up close to 4.0 MHz.

I'd say it was even earlier than the nehalem architecture that quad cores became affordable.

Back when the G0 revision 65nm quad cores came out, you could pick up a Xeon quad (x3210) for $190 (which I did). Nicely overclockable dual cores were only $50 cheaper if even. You'd also have to be pretty lucky to get above 4.0ghz with a dual core.

Even still my Xeon x3210 is running at 3.8ghz which isn't a whole lot behind those dual cores.

This is really a great age for desktop computing. I can't imagine looking back 10 years ago, owning a computer for 3 years and still having it be faster than most brand new computers (thanks to overclocking).

 

[digitaldurandal]

i3 has hyperthreading as compared to i5 though... so depending on overclock/pricing/etc., that particular comparison isn't as obvious as you might think.

View the reviews including some by anandtech, you'll find in most cases an i5 beats a c2q 9650. i3 doesn't even come close (for gaming.)

 

[biostud]

When I upgrade i wouldn't go for anyhting less than a i5-750 Quad.

 

[Liet]

Need quad cores soon? Probably not, but if you have the money, why not? My Q6600 is what, 2+ years old now and I still absolutely love it. 'course, the Q6600 is a pretty sweet chip.

I'm with you there! It's an old chip, but absolutely fantastic. I'm still using it today, and while it's beginning to show it's age a bit, it runs beatufiully and can be overclocked like crazy.

 

[bullbert]

I'm with you there! It's an old chip, but absolutely fantastic. I'm still using it today, and while it's beginning to show it's age a bit, it runs beatufiully and can be overclocked like crazy.

I think that is just an indication that the extra money spent, in general, for gaming, is best spent on a better GPU than on a better CPU.

New products are introduced so quickly that even the tech articles with benchmarks only tell half the picture, and somewhere along the line, you just have to make a judgment call, pull out your wallet, and take the plunge.

Option N+1: [only half tongue-in-cheek] Or only play year old GOTY editions games (all official patches and official DLC included on the initial install) and spend very little, since you can survive on year old CPUs and GPUs bought with super duper Hot Deals for 25 to 50 cents-on-the-dollar of what the must-have-it-yesterday types have spent.

 

[Liet]

Also true. The cost jump from mid-range to high-end is absolutely huge, for (usually) very little benefit. Over the years I've found that mid-range components are a great balance between performance and component longetivity... and mid-range is where the dollars you pay accurately reflect the quality of the component.

Do I really want to pay an additional $100 for a GTX 285 over a 275, for 5 fps? No thank you.

 

[zerocool84]

Also true. The cost jump from mid-range to high-end is absolutely huge, for (usually) very little benefit. Over the years I've found that mid-range components are a great balance between performance and component longetivity... and mid-range is where the dollars you pay accurately reflect the quality of the component.

Do I really want to pay an additional $100 for a GTX 285 over a 275, for 5 fps? No thank you.

Yea I've never bought top end components. They're just too expensive for the gain.

 

[bullbert]

Yea I've never bought top end components. They're just too expensive for the gain.

I used to buy primarily top end components. Then God created AnandTech review articles, and it was good. I started to see the light, but I sinned on. Then God created Hot Deals message boards, and it was good. And now, I have truly repented.

** replace "God" with Allah, Budda, The Force, etc if that makes you hate me less

 

[The Boston Dangler]

4 core cpu's kick ass, end of story.

 

[Vampirrella]

At this point, we are in 2010. Why would you even consider dropping in a dual core cpu when the trend will be in the quads and beyond at some point.

I plan on doing a rebuild of my game rig (see sig) this coming fall of 2010 or so. I will go quad all the way, no sense in going dual core any longer if the prices for quads by then keep coming down.