Processor Question for Gaming

**AussieGiant** · 08-11-2006, 14:26

Hi Guy's,

I'm looking at purchasing a new machine.

The question is, do I go with the new architecture:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo E6400 processor (2.13GHz, 1066MHz, 2MB cache)

or the older one?

Intel® Pentium® D Processor 950 Dual Core (3.40 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2x2 MB Cache)

What do you think fellas?

Comments and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

**Lemur** · 08-11-2006, 14:35

Even the lowest-end Core 2 Duo chips outperform the old Netburst Pentiums in gaming apps. Examples (and prety pictures) stolen from Anandtech:

**AussieGiant** · 08-11-2006, 14:44

Holy crap Lemur thanks for that!! :)

So basically the processor will not sit there and keep one side free for a second application if and when it would start up.

My general concern what that with this new tech MTWII would only have access to half the processing power.

With the game being heavy on RAM and Processing power that is the last thing I was wanting.

**Lemur** · 08-11-2006, 14:49

Aussie, if you want deeper analysis, I'd recommend reading the Anandtech article I linked. Nobody does in-depth geeky why-this-works-the-way-it-does like Anand.

If anything, I suspect dual core is going to be less problematic (and more useful) by the time MTW2 comes out.

**AussieGiant** · 08-11-2006, 15:23

It sounds like you are a bit of a guru yourself.

Thanks for the advice Lemur.

Cheers
Aussie.

**whyidie** · 08-11-2006, 16:40

Just two cores ? I'll take eight please!

Location CPU Freq Implementation
-------------------------------------------------------
Core 0: MB/CMP0/P0 0 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P1 1 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P2 2 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P3 3 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Core 1: MB/CMP0/P4 4 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P5 5 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P6 6 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P7 7 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Core 2: MB/CMP0/P8 8 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P9 9 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P10 10 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P11 11 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Core 3: MB/CMP0/P12 12 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P13 13 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P14 14 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P15 15 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Core 4: MB/CMP0/P16 16 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P17 17 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P18 18 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P19 19 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Core 5: MB/CMP0/P20 20 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P21 21 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P22 22 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P23 23 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Core 6: MB/CMP0/P24 24 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P25 25 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P26 26 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P27 27 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Core 7: MB/CMP0/P28 28 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P29 29 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P30 30 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1
MB/CMP0/P31 31 1200 MHz SUNW,UltraSPARC-T1

Getting closer to the topic, Intel must have made some other changes to increase the performance of the dual core procs. Just having two cores available for an application that wasn't developed (most games) to utilize both cores shouldn't result in such a significant increase.

Personally I'm holding off on my next build till the dust settles a little more.

**AussieGiant** · 08-11-2006, 17:18

When do expect the dust to settle on this subject whyidie?

**orangat** · 08-11-2006, 17:28

Originally Posted by AussieGiant

Holy crap Lemur thanks for that!! :)

So basically the processor will not sit there and keep one side free for a second application if and when it would start up.

My general concern what that with this new tech MTWII would only have access to half the processing power.

With the game being heavy on RAM and Processing power that is the last thing I was wanting.

Unfortunately games including MTW2 will not make full use of the 2nd core. Until Nvidia released some sort of dual-core version, the 2nd core was basically twiddling its thumbs when running games. And even with the new newer Nvidia drivers, dual core cpus didn't measure up much faster in benchmarks.

But I'd still recommend the Conroe for a cpu in its price range because it gives better performance across the board.

**whyidie** · 08-11-2006, 19:28

Originally Posted by AussieGiant

When do expect the dust to settle on this subject whyidie?

I'd give it a month. I'm sure the specs are out there but it hasn't trickled down to my level yet. I am a budget buyer though when it comes to PC's. I rarely buy components right out of the gate as I try to wait for the price to stabilize as true performance is revealed.

**Cebei** · 08-11-2006, 21:42

How long can it take laptop systems to incorporate Core 2 duos instead of current core duos?

**whyidie** · 08-12-2006, 00:08

Originally Posted by Cebei

How long can it take laptop systems to incorporate Core 2 duos instead of current core duos?

Cnet has it as end of August at the earliest:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3118_7-6623526-1.html

**AussieGiant** · 08-12-2006, 15:30

Originally Posted by whyidie

I'd give it a month. I'm sure the specs are out there but it hasn't trickled down to my level yet. I am a budget buyer though when it comes to PC's. I rarely buy components right out of the gate as I try to wait for the price to stabilize as true performance is revealed.

I agree. The price jump for the absolute latest piece of hardware is too much. I'll certainly start looking for a new machine around october. By then this Dual Core thing will be sorted out.

They are having the same conversation at TotalWar.com about whether MTWII will be using both cores or whether one will just be sitting around idle.

It doesn't seem entirely clear.

I'm kind of worried still.

**Alexander the Pretty Good** · 08-12-2006, 18:06

It doesn't have to sit around idle - you can do something else in the background with that other core, I think. Like play some music if you don't like (or are bored of) that in MTW2. Or chat with people to organize multiplayer games.