which is the better cpu: intel core 2 extreme x6700 2.66 ghz qaud core, or intel core 2 extreme x6800 2.93ghz?

Question

i am buying a processor but not sure which one to buy. the x6700 is 2.66 Ghz and is qaud core. the x6800 is a newer processor and is 2.93 Ghz but looks to be a dual core. what would be best for gaming and performance?

Answer 1

The cpu is NOT going to make any difference in gaming. as in this chart: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=430&model2=464&chart=170
And others on the internet, most of the cpus (even a 3200+) run close to the same as the high-end cpus. They don't have much of a difference because most games do NOT tax the cpu. Many games are not good with dual much less quad cpus.
for gaming use the money on the video card:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html
Just use the charts (and search for others) to deside for yourself.

Answer 2

Actually the X6800 is older, in the sense it was released a few months before. For games, the X6800 would be better, they can only use one core, so the faster speed would help. Only in situations where you have a program that can use multiple cores, or you are running 3 or more big programs at a time will the quad core be superior. As for gaming, both are in the $900 range, you would be much much better off getting the E6700 for about $330 and spending that extra money in a good video card.

Answer 3

I'm pretty sure a "program" can only run on one processor core at a time. So if you run a game on the x6700, it'll run at a maximum of 2.66 ghz. if you run it on the x6800 it'll run at a maximum of 2.93 ghz. Hope that helps.