Is the Pentium D Dual Core GOod for Gaming?

Question

I recently bought a computer with this processor, the rest is really good I would just like to know what you think about this processor?

Answer 1

I have had this debate before with Computertech, lets look at the CPU benchmarks he listed:http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html
I will compare the Core 2 Duo E6600 with the Pentium D 940. Now since the E6600 is faster, it performs better on all the games, but by how much. Here is what I calculate:
Call of Duty 2: 25% better
F.E.A.R (1st benchmark): 63% better
F.E.A.R (2nd benchmark): 29% better
Quake: 29% better
Serious Sam 2: 75% better
Unreal Tournament 2004: 70% better

To me those seem like noticeable difference, meaning that in fact the CPU DOES have some affect on gaming performance. As for your processor in particular, it is pretty decent, but an Athlon 64 X2 would be a little better, and a Core 2 Duo would be better still.

EDIT: Well let me clarify some things that Computertech82 misquoted me as saying (or completey made up) .
1. I NEVER said there was no difference between a 7600GT and the 8800 series.
2. I NEVER said the video card wasn't the most important thing, I have said that on numerous numerous answers, and I will say it again, for gaming THE VIDEO CARD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.
The point I am making is that the processor ALSO plays a role in performance. And as I showed in the numbers, the difference from a Pentium D to a Core 2 Duo is 25-70%, which isn't just some neglible amount like computertech tries to make it out to be. As for money, the Pentium D 940 is about $110, while the E6600 is about $220, so its not like this is some massive amount of money as he would make it out to be. Lets look at those two cards he mentioned, 7600GT runs for about $100, 8800s start at $275, and go up to about $525 for the GTX. Not surprising they give a big performance boost, you are PAYING for it.

Answer 2

Intel Pentium D Gaming

Answer 3

For gaming, the cpu isn't going to make much of a difference.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html
It's going to be the video card that will be the deciding factor:
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics.html
And having 2gb of ram really helps in a few games (most of the new ones on the market now).
Edit: Had this argument with mistic before, and as usual, I win. Sad he doesn't learn.
As the charts I have listed, the cpu MIGHT make the difference of 10-20fps. Not that bad. Now look at the video card.
According to Msytic there is no real difference between the 7600GT and the 8800 series. Reality says 40-60fps+ difference. So anyone with brain cells pretty much can figure out what is the better thing to get for speed, spend the money on the video card and NOT the cpu. As proved yet again, the video card is the most important in gaming.
Now if money is NO object at all, then get the fastest of both. Most ppl I encounter are not rich like Mystic and have to decide what to get to speed up the computer.
And as mystic says Pentium D 940 is about $110, while the E6600 is about $220, that's $100+ bucks for a very SMALL difference in fps, add that much to a video card, HUGE peformance increase. Tomshardware, sharky, ARS, and basically the rest of the professional reviewers all say the same thing as I have said. So basically follow advice from the majority or the extreme few.... your choice.

Answer 4

Not really, try buying Intel Core 2 Duo if you're into Intel or AMD Athlon64 X2 processors

Answer 5

the pentium d is just 2 pentium 4's on a single socket. its alrights, its better than a single core p4, but it does not compare to the new intel core 2 duo processors.