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Core 2 Duo E8500 or Core 2 Quad Q9300?
In January 2008 (the 20th, I think), Intel will release their 45nm processors.
Anyway, I plan to get one of these, because my new motherboard has support for it. I'm stuck between two different ones, both priced at about $266 USD. They are as follows:
1) -- Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 (3.166 GHz, 6MB single L2 cache, 1333 MHz FSB, 65W TDP)
2) -- Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 (2.5 GHz, two 3MB L2 caches, 1333 MHz FSB, 95 W TDP)
The question essentially comes down to this: should I get a fast dual core, or a slightly slower quad core? I've searched around, and have found mixed results as to which would be faster.
Notes:
1) I am not going to overclock.
2) Both will be faster than the Pentium D 930 I'm using now.
mommy2kaleb04: That's what I've tended to find in the results -- quad cores are better with encoding and rendering tasks, and many programs still aren't written to efficiently use multiple cores (that could change in the future, though).
Now I've noticed that the Q9400 is not only slightly faster than the Q9300 (2.66 GHz vs. 2.5 GHz), but has an L2 cache twice as large, and is only $50 more. This complicates my decision somewhat...
Energy usage and temperature may end up being a factor for me. I've struggled for about a month with trying to get my Pentium D to run at a relatively cool temperature (it had been about 45 degrees C at idle, now I've gotten it to run at about 35 degrees C at idle), and it would be nice to have a CPU where I don't have to work extra hard to keep cool, which would suggest I should choose the Duo.
However, Intel's made all kinds of improvements as far as temperature and energy usage (speed stepping, lower overall power usage, etc.) that a Quad might not be so bad. Indeed, if I could get a Pentium D to cool down, I could get any CPU to cool down (the Pentium 4, which the Pentium D is based on, was notorious for its power consumption and heat).
undyingdejection: Yes, I did have bad airflow, as well as a motherboard with poor fan control (my old motherboard). Also, comparing the heat of an Athlon 6400+ with a Pentium D is comparing apples to oranges: note where I said that the Pentium D and Pentium 4 are both notorious for running rather hot. In any case, I have fixed my problem and have gotten idle temps down to 34 or 35 degrees.
In short -- yes, I had problems, but I have fixed them.
5 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
if you're a gamer then go for the faster clock speed, because that's what matters more to a game.
if you do video,picture editting decoding, encode etc. then go for quadcore. The more cores you have, the faster these types of jobs get done.
if you don't really do either, then it doesnt really matter which one you choose because neither one will make any difference to you.
There are some side factors i would consider too. a quadcore runs hotter and uses more electricity, but its also newer too so most things you see in the future will probably be for quadcores.
Dualcores run cooler and more energy efficient. Most programs right now aren't even dual core supported yet so you don't really have to worry about upgrade for awhile anyway.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Your using an incorrect fan/cooling system,bad air flow,something isnt right.I run 6400+ Amd dual core (3.2ghz each core) and I run 32-35-idle.
As for cpu's,dua=2 and qaud=4,and each intel and amd have a program that does allow programs to access both cores even if they where not written for it.Besides how many people are running quads yet lol,be a leader to the geeks :>
- 1 decade ago
Dear,
It depends on your application. But according to the above specifications, It seems that the frist one is better. Because, the criteria is not the speed of your CPUs. Both of them are fast enough. the criteria is the Bus speed. which are the same, too. Since a CPU with 4 cores can not be loaded fully, you can use the first option to work on with the 3.16 GHZ speed CPU.
- Anonymous5 years ago
the intel quad, its overall speed beats the duo's overall speed, it also has 2 xtra cores which is better for multi tasking than a duo
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- Anonymous1 decade ago
the above answer is the best answer is a top one!!!
but honsetly i would choose Core 2 Duo E8500 and here is the reason. not only games will work BETTER but OTHER APPLICATIONS also plus it has 6MB cache!!! anyway it's your choice but i would go 4 Core 2 Duo E8500
