HEXUS.reviews :: Intel Core 2 Duo/Extreme Processors

[ExceededGoku]

nor is R600 , yes I admit I have not once seen a game use 100% of both cores on my computer (well the G15 reports that no game has anyway....). But in any case it is a better all round product and for that alone I will get it, I can bet you any money that I would see a difference (If I still played WOW) in Ironforge with this CPU and I mean a noticeable difference (+10-30fps).

[ExceededGoku]

"Lastly, I would advise everyone that is thinking of rushing out and purchasing their latest upgrade that we are sure to see HUGE pricing slashes out of AMD before the end of the month."

Why would AMD slash their prices by such a huge margin unless they had been beaten, badly?

[dangel]

Why would AMD slash their prices by such a huge margin unless they had been beaten, badly?

I don't think anyone is disputing that - neither myself nor the article - and it's missing the point which is: there is a law of diminishing returns for CPU power in gaming and once you pass a certain level of processing power your graphics card just isn't waiting for your cpu. So, taking that as true, and with the expectation that people buy on a budget for the most part, core 2 isn't an automatic choice over AM2 in _every situation_. Again, I'm stressing that the Core 2 processor is FASTER (and hence AMD can't compete on peformance so drop their prices) but speed isn't the sole reason for purchase, it's balanced by cost.

I'll be interested to see if you do gain 30fps - and whether you feel it's noticeable (considering you must be clearing 60fps odd already?) - I have to admit to being pretty
darn sceptical..

[ExceededGoku]

I don't really think I'll get an extra 30fps but I'm looking forward to an all round faster PC, and I was beginning to get fed up with the motherboard aswell. So in my mind its a step forward to future proofing.

[dangel]

I'm sure it'll kick ass m8

[Steve]

Oh, let's not forget the cheaper Core 2s too. Sure, the Core 2 Extreme is a bit much, but surely some of the cheaper ones are a far more appealing option? Perhaps it would have been better to suggest there was limited scope for people to purchase the topmost Core 2 CPU?

My next CPU upgrade won't be until next year, I reckon. I'm still not sure what it'll be.

[dangel]

Oh, let's not forget the cheaper Core 2s too. Sure, the Core 2 Extreme is a bit much, but surely some of the cheaper ones are a far more appealing option? Perhaps it would have been better to suggest there was limited scope for people to purchase the topmost Core 2 CPU?

My next CPU upgrade won't be until next year, I reckon. I'm still not sure what it'll be.

Think i'm in the same boat - i'll not see anything to push my system till Crysis/early next year in which case prices will have dropped across the board. The prospect of new graphics, motherboard, memory and CPU at once isn't thrilling tho! I guess i'm stuck with it as 939 processors will be dead and gone by then.

[ExceededGoku]

I see it as all I have to do is get a single R600 after this cpu upgrade and im done and dusted for a few more months . when I say a single R600 i mean dual (Christmas )

[Super XP]

The performance of the Core 2 Extreme looks great IMO & deserves the performance crown by far, but I am not convinced that the Core 2 Quadro (Kentsfield) performs that great. For a so called Quad-Core, you would expect much more performance out of it, even with Multi-threaded apps. Also, there is nothing to compare with it. Overall, in regards to innovation & design, it loses IMO & therefore is not worth a penny.

Looks like the FSB bottleneck is a problem. I do look forward to AMD’s Quad-Core - 4 chips on 1 die. With a Hyper Transport speed of 5.2 GHz, I am sure there will be a much better multi-threading performance among the many other enhancements IMO.

Take Care,

[shaithis]

None of this is surprising - i've known i'm not cpu limited in-game for a long while just by watching the cpu meter on my 20x4 LCD panel on my desk..

I still find it amazing that so many people think every app is the same.

I think the reason for this is that every site uses the same games, apps and benchmark programs to test everything, so what you effectively get is what an upgrade means to Splinter Cell, Quake, Serious Sam and 3d Mark.

Some games are a lot more dependant on the CPU then others, I saw quite a boost in WoW for example when I went from a Opteron @ 2.6GHz to a C2D @ 3.2Ghz and I am sure it would be the same for any other RPG/MMORPG.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are other genres of games out there that differ from the norm, I just don't play them though

[DeathByDuke]

Oh, let's not forget the cheaper Core 2s too. Sure, the Core 2 Extreme is a bit much, but surely some of the cheaper ones are a far more appealing option? Perhaps it would have been better to suggest there was limited scope for people to purchase the topmost Core 2 CPU?

My next CPU upgrade won't be until next year, I reckon. I'm still not sure what it'll be.

over the last several years, you would have definitely said 'AMD', now its undecided because AMD has finally spurned Intel into providing a decent alternative (just like AMD finally gave us a decent alternative to the Pentiums with the first Athlon)

I haven't seen such indecisiveness since the PIII/Athlon days. And these price cuts have been the most agressive yet. (They are both still dropping in tit for tat price wars slightly every week)

Eagerly awaiting to see what AMD has next, and what Intel are doing next to counter it.

[Super XP]

over the last several years, you would have definitely said 'AMD', now its undecided because AMD has finally spurned Intel into providing a decent alternative (just like AMD finally gave us a decent alternative to the Pentiums with the first Athlon)

I haven't seen such indecisiveness since the PIII/Athlon days. And these price cuts have been the most agressive yet. (They are both still dropping in tit for tat price wars slightly every week)

Eagerly awaiting to see what AMD has next, and what Intel are doing next to counter it.

AMD's Native Quad-Core's look quite competative on paper. In 4 way systems, AMD will win hands down by far, in 2 way systems, Intel's Core 2 will have an advantage. For raw CPU horse power, AMD will have a better performance per watt vs. Intel's IMO,