E6850 or Q6600?

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, What happening? I was thrown off my chair when I saw the news from Intel’s new processors. I guess I can get a lot more power for my bucks. But I am being faced with a really hard problem. After read around a lot of News On Intel’s New Processors (Dual and Quad), I have a really hard choice to make. I am building a new system. Just to point out I am going to get a processor now and if I see good things from 45-nm, I will buy that when it comes out. I am also waiting for Intel’s upcoming X38 Chipset. The processor I get now (Dual or Quad or 45nm Processor) I want them to work with my new X38 Chipset. So I just wanted to give you guys my choice of my Chipset.

Now my problem is What Processor I should get now? The choices I have are:

The New Intel Core 2 Duo (E6850) (3.0Ghz) (FSB – 1333) (L2 – 4MB) (Price $266)

Or

The New Intel Core 2 Quad (Q6600) (2.40Ghz) (FSB – 1066) (L2 – 4MBx2) (Price $266)


I am not a hard-core gamer. I play games here and there. I do a lot of burning DVD’S, Music, Photoshop and the usual computer stuff. I know I have read that Quad is good for 3D Stuff and Encoding and The Dual- Core (E6850) is good for Gaming. I just wanted your guys opinion on which way I should go. I biggest problem with Quad-Core (Q6600) is that not a lot of applications are out there that will take advantage of my extra cores. But Since the Price is the same for E6850 and Q6600 ($266), I really need your guys help.

So if you guys can help me out with this problem and I let me know if these processors will work with the upcoming X38 Chipset, it would really help me out. I will by 45nm when it comes out for my New X38 Motherboard Intel or Asus Baby!

THX Guys!

P.S. Fusion

[5aboy]

these will work with p35s upwards, but not too sure about i965 chipset.

i personally am going to get the q6600 and (easily) overclock it to 3.0ghz. even if i dont get to 3ghz (unlikely, but possible), ill still be happy with so much processing power, and as i understand it, things are only going to get more multithreaded, rather than less, so more cores is good for me.

[Thorsson]

It appears that if your apps use quad then that's the way to go. What uses quad? Well anything that needs serious 3d processing power. That doesn't include most games at the moment. There's a good comparison over on Anandtech IIRC.

[Phil_P]

I am not a hard-core gamer. I play games here and there. I do a lot of burning DVD’S, Music, Photoshop and the usual computer stuff. I know I have read that Quad is good for 3D Stuff and Encoding and The Dual- Core (E6850) is good for Gaming. I just wanted your guys opinion on which way I should go. I biggest problem with Quad-Core (Q6600) is that not a lot of applications are out there that will take advantage of my extra cores. But Since the Price is the same for E6850 and Q6600 ($266), I really need your guys help.

That's about right. Photoshop will love the Quad core btw. It really boils down to whether you want the extra performance in gaming or Photoshop.

Personally, if you're not a hard core gamer, I'd go with the quad core as it's likely that more applications over time will take advantage.

[aidanjt]

Even games are starting to take multithreaded engine design seriously these days. It only makes sense to shift intensive jobs to individual threads on their own core (if possible).

[EarlGrey]

If you want to overclock, then you will get more out of a dual core, because the limitation is heat, and quads will double your heat output (not temps mind, heat output) meaning you can get to a higher clock speed with a dual core.

That said, if you don't game much, there isn't much else that will benefit from a higher clocked dual core. Other than games those programs that need processing speed tend to be well threaded and perfect for quad cores.

I have been debating the same thing recently, and have decided to get the Gigabyte P35 board with DDR2 and DDR3 slots, throwing in a 6850 (or maybe even a 6750 if it's much cheaper) and getting the highest clock I can out of it, which will give a much better experience in games at the moment and at least for the next year imo.

Good luck with whichever route you go!

[staffsMike]

I think you will need a decent motherboard to clock these new dual cores very high.

I'd personally go for the quad core now. More and more games and general programs will start using them so it's probably worth it.

Seems like such a breif affair that we've had with decent dual cores lol

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, thx for all you help. I have been thinking and I am leaning more and more towards the E6850, because I don't plan to keep that processor for long. I am planning to get the 45nm next year. I would like to have the quad-core, but I don't think I have many applications that would take advantage of my extra cores. Hopefully when Intel releases 45nm next year, I will get a Quad-Core with better FSB and hopefully more Clock Speed.

So would you guys recommend me getting the E6850, if I don't plan to keep the processor for too long. Thats one of the reason I am waiting for the X38 Chipset. Later next year I am gona upgrade my processor to 45nm.

After reading your guys comments I am getting more and more interested in Quad-Core!

Once again, Thx for all the input guys!

P.S. Fusion

[vegettoxp]

Well guys after talking with my friends and thinking for 8 hours at work, I have made my decision, I am gona go with the Quad-Core Q6600 Processor and That my Final Choice. I will later next year or so will upgrade to the New 45-nm Processors. Now it time to do some Hard-Core Reviews on the Q6600 Model. Thx for all the help guys.

P.S. Fusion

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, I have started to do reviews on the Q6600, So I am guessing I am gona go with the Q6600 After all. I just had few questions:

1) Can I get the Q6600 now (Of course after Price Cut)?

2) When I order it on-line, do I need to look for something regarding this processor (Stepping I guess or something else). Or do I just order the Q6600 Period?

3) Will this processor work when I get the X38 Chipset based Motherboards Intel or Asus? (Because I plan to get the 45nm based Quad-Core Next year or so)

Thx for all the help guys!

P.S. Fusion

[Nemz0r]

Hey Guys, I have started to do reviews on the Q6600, So I am guessing I am gona go with the Q6600 After all. I just had few questions:

1) Can I get the Q6600 now (Of course after Price Cut)?

2) When I order it on-line, do I need to look for something regarding this processor (Stepping I guess or something else). Or do I just order the Q6600 Period?

3) Will this processor work when I get the X38 Chipset based Motherboards Intel or Asus? (Because I plan to get the 45nm based Quad-Core Next year or so)

Thx for all the help guys!

P.S. Fusion

1) Yes

2) If you're located in the USA you can preorder a G0 stepping: Tank Guys Computer Parts. However initial reports (don't have link to hand i'm afraid) are showing that the retail G0s don't overclock any better than the older B3 stepping, dispite initial good reports from ES chips, but they do run a little cooler no matter how well they overclock.

3) Yes, the P35 and X35 both will support current 65nm chips and the upcoming 45nm penryn chips.

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, Now that I have decided that I am gona go with the Q6600, I need help in the Air Cooling area. I might or might now overclock, but I need to have the best Air cooling out there. So for the people who have Air cooling on there Q6600 or if you guys have good recommendations, Please share those with me. I am using a Cooler-Master Air cooling for my old system.

So if you guys can give me your opinions on Good Air Cooling, It would really help me out and my Q6600 Processor!

My Case is the Cooler-Master Stacker 830!

P.S. Fusion!

[vegettoxp]

Hey Guys, The reviews I am doing on the Q6600, will they be good reviews. The reason I ask this is because I have been hearing that the New Q6600 will have the G0 Stepping? And if you don't mind, can you please explain what is this G0 Steeping?

THX!

P.S. Fusion

[vegettoxp]

Ok Guys I have narrowed my selection on which Air Cooling I want. Of the Three, Which one would you guys Recommend For my Q6600. Also I was wonder will I be able to use this Air Cooling when I get my 45nm Quad-Core?

Here is my Selections:

Thermaltake V1 - CL-P0401 (Good)

Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme (Good)

Tuniq Tower 120-LFB (Good)

Which One?

THx Alot guys!

P.S. Fusion

[aidanjt]

Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme (Good)

Hands down.. Just make sure there's enough room in your case.

[Queelis]

Hey Guys, The reviews I am doing on the Q6600, will they be good reviews. The reason I ask this is because I have been hearing that the New Q6600 will have the G0 Stepping? And if you don't mind, can you please explain what is this G0 Steeping?

THX!

P.S. Fusion

A stepping is a small revision of the processor, some minor adjustments of the die itself, which may help the processor run cooler, reach higher clock speeds and so on. The newer, the better of course.