Multiple Core CPU question

[JustinTD79]

I have a single core cpu and am already coming across games that are saying my cpu isn't meeting the minimum Ghz requirements.

Does a dual core cpu at 2.4 Ghz basically equal a single core cpu at 4.8 Ghz? Does a quad core 2.4 Ghz basically equal a single core at 9.6 Ghz? I'm assuming it isn't that simple, but is that true more or less?

Why don't more of these multiple core chips have cores running at over 3.0 Ghz? Is it just too difficult to manufacture?

 

[DrMrLordX]

No, a dual-core cpu at 2.4 ghz does not equal a single core cpu of 4.8 ghz (at least not under normal circumstances). Utilizing separate cores fully is difficult except when running multiple tasks, and that is still only possible if you have enough memory to load all tasks properly and enough FSB/HTT bandwidth available to avoid significant bottlenecks.

In single-threaded applcations, a 2.4 ghz dual-core CPU is about the same as a 2.4 ghz single-core CPU.

 

[Brunnis]

Also, you should be careful when looking at game CPU frequency requirements. Games often have (or at least had) requirements based on the Pentium 4, which means that they're not comparable to your Athlon 64. A game that needs a Pentium 4 at 3.4GHz would for example run fine on your 2GHz Athlon 64.

So, what you need to remember is that no game really needs a specific CPU frequency to run well. It's always performance that matters and performance is highly dependent on not only CPU frequency, but also the architecture.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Right, what he said. Hopefully they'll stop basing CPU requirements on Pentium 4 speeds one of these days. Hopefully. Due to all the P4s still out there, though, that might be hard to do . . .

 

[Roguestar]

The megahertz myth will be hard to dispel but we'll need a decent measure of CPU performance to replace it. I installed HL2: Episode One from Steam after reinstalling on my new build and it claimed that my E6300 at 1.86Ghz wasn't meeting the minimum 2.4Ghz it needed .

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Brunnis
Also, you should be careful when looking at game CPU frequency requirements. Games often have (or at least had) requirements based on the Pentium 4, which means that they're not comparable to your Athlon 64. A game that needs a Pentium 4 at 3.4GHz would for example run fine on your 2GHz Athlon 64.

I remember the first time I loaded halflife 2 after I upgraded to an E6300. It popped up a message saying my 1.86 cpu was under the 1.9ghz requirements. I guess they have since patched steam since I do not see that message anymore.

 

[nyker96]

I think practically if you see dual core perform like 1.6-1.8x single should be pretty happy that means the apps are threaded well. Most of the times you dont see that much improvements. In games it hardly matters at least until UT2007 or Allen wake.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: Brunnis
Also, you should be careful when looking at game CPU frequency requirements. Games often have (or at least had) requirements based on the Pentium 4, which means that they're not comparable to your Athlon 64. A game that needs a Pentium 4 at 3.4GHz would for example run fine on your 2GHz Athlon 64.

I remember the first time I loaded halflife 2 after I upgraded to an E6300. It popped up a message saying my 1.86 cpu was under the 1.9ghz requirements. I guess they have since patched steam since I do not see that message anymore.

Haha, practically the same as my post. It never complained about my Athlon 64 3000+ but after I formatted and got all my games back from Steam (for once actually thankful for steam) it decided to make fun of my E6300. It didn't do that upon starting up HL2M for the first time, though, because at that point I had it overclocked to 3.01Ghz .

Originally posted by: nyker96
I think practically if you see dual core perform like 1.6-1.8x single should be pretty happy that means the apps are threaded well. Most of the times you dont see that much improvements. In games it hardly matters at least until UT2007 or Allen wake.

Well the major difference in this case is that the Core 2 Duo uses a more efficient architecture than what the requirements were based on (Pentium 4) and like the Athlon is better, clock-for-clock.

Btw: UT2007 is mutlithreaded? I can't wait!