Duo (dual) core CPUs. are they worth it?

Question

I was considering buying a dual core Moboard. Are they worth it? Thanks. Chucky

Answer 1

YES for multitasking, multi-threaded games and symmetric multiprocessing. But for internet, office applications, MP3 & DVD playing and downloading, the 2nd core will just be IDLE most of the time.

Answer 2

It depends on whether your multi-tasking or gaming. Office work and graphic creation is a yes for x-2 processors. But if this is a gaming rig a duel core will only use 1/2 its potential. (2400 x 2 =4800) This is true! The gaming software of today and the next two years will not be geared for duel core or 64 bit. So a duel core X2 4000 is only 1/2 as fast as a sigle core amd 4000 when it comes to gaming .Better yet would be the very expensive FX series. If you go with a single core there is one board that stands out .asus's a8n-sli Its a socket 939 which is being phased out by amd. Yet it handles a 4000 single and up to a 4800-X2 It alsoworks corsairs gaming ram and is easily overclocked if you want but most say they keep with manu. specs and the mother board overcloks itself at 10% from the factory. Get two gigs of gaming ram the amd athlon 64 4000 and two sli video cards bfg 7600 gt oc pci-e or higher and you will not need to upgrade for gaming software for at least two years. The 4000 goes for about $59. the motherboard ?$100. The ram ddr 2 dual 4000 $ 200, sli 7600gt oc $200 Stick with windows XP for a gamer PC.Many games don't do well with vista and never will ! Oh this mother board also will handle the AMD FX series processor.Instead of using one large Hard drive like a 160 gig(usually only 5400 at 100to 133 ATA) use 2 - sata 80 gigs They'll run at 155 ATA and have faster access speed running at 7200 or 10,000 rpm .You'll see a differance if two are running next to each other. Run the second sata drive as a storrage not as a copy machine.Copying would do better with an X2 and even then would really slow you down. Amd is coming out with a new proccessor line again next year and everything out there now will be obsolete and theyll be as , or more expensive than when the fx series first came out( $800to $2000). So wait for the real expensive rig. In two years the games will use the X2 and the X4 and in two tears , you may want to multi-task. Hey they might even start making 64 Bit games and applications .We've only been waiting 4 years for that and they still havent!

Answer 3

I have to answer your question with a question. Are you looking for a dual socket motherboard or dual core cpu?
If your looking for dual socket motherboard the answer is most likely a big no. Unless your building a workstation quality machine. In which case be prepared to pay premium prices. If on the other hand you simply want dual or quad core cpu the intel chips are set to for a big price reduction the 22nd of this month. You should be able to get the q6600 for about the same price that the core 2 duo 6600 is now. The q6600 quad is not a true quad processor but 2 dual core chips on one die. A workstation might have 2 dual core amd processors on one motherboard. Sept. is release date for amd's new true quad core processor. Bottom line the core 2 duo is a superb chip at soon to be fire-sale prices. amd will probably no doubt have a superior product but new chips will probably be cost prohibitive for most .

Answer 4

Yes for sure. I would suggest AMD over Intel I have used both and noticed super small difference but AMD is aimed slightly more towards gaming but both processors can handle lots.

I know less about Intels line but if you go for AMD grab a dual core 4200+ or greater CPU. Its a cheap processor the 4200+ but dam powerful. Almost all newer dual core CPUs are dam powerful.

You get about a 50%-80% boost from dual core. Sometimes more and sometimes less.


edited-- I want to say something about what the person said above me. Almost every new PC has a dual core. And most new software and games utilize the dual core CPU.

Answer 5

Dual core CPUs are good when they are in the starting phase but asu goon using tht computer thesystem will get slow down ,due to the dual core that the system that is manitaining,but i think you dont have a choice to go for any other CPU like P5.

Answer 6

If you are planning for a high end graphics system for power performance or in need of a server with massive kind of database, or kind of applications then go for it.
If you just looking for a desktop system, then such an investment is a waste.

Answer 7

no not really they are having problems with the through process. Only programs that have been designed or opimized for a dual process machine.

Answer 8

yes they r very worthy.............
basically, in dual core thr r two 64 bit processors attached to same chip front and back........so that other one does working related to first one, at same time when first one is busy........thus,,,,,,,fast processing.......u can surely go for it........