One can argue the toss about the advantages and disadvantages to the quad-core processors. We do not doubt their influence unmatched multi-tasking and multi-threading. But when it comes to gaming, the advantages are less obvious. You can count the games that make good use of quad-core chip on figures from the IHR metacarpal bones bear to make. Dual Core is still the best value for your money if the game is your main goal.

In this sense, compare the new dual-core versions of Intel’s Penryn family of 45nm obvious. For most of this is the way it is. The Model E8500 clocked at a high 3.l6GHz impressive, exceeding the performance, single-and double-thread, correspond to a processor on the planet. It is also impressive, effective as compared to the outgoing generation of 65nm Core 2 Duo processors from Intel. Despite running a few hundred MHz chip faster than the old X6850 2.93 GHz Dual-Core E8500 30 watts of consumption under full load.

There is also much faster in all benchmarks than the X6850. This is probably partly due to the acceleration of the rate, but the addition of 2 MB cache, now a total beast of a borderline 6 MB does not hurt. The same goes for faster 1333MHz bus. It’s all juice.

Of course, Intel would also argue that the various optimizations to stimulate the Penryn-architecture platform for performance-Dock also made its latest kernel. You know, the new Radix 16 divider, reinforced super shuffle engine and all that jazz. In practice, it is actually impossible to isolate any of the updates and accurately derive as much benefit they bring.

What we can say is that the advantage of the overall performance of the E8500 on the X6850 is still above 10 percent and sometimes up to 20 percent. This is despite the speed differential Dock only eight percent. And remember, the E8500 is less than 0. At its launch just over 18 months, the X6850 is cool the fastest chip in the PC world and the cost of a 0. This is progress for you.

The good news is not all. We also note that the E8500 is as good a chip overclocking, you hope to hit 4GHz with air cooling is a breeze. possible until a few volts, and even higher speeds. All leaves, just a nagging doubt. Full of fat, 12 MB cache Q9450 quad-core chip may have been a little more. Of course it is clocked slightly lower at 2.6 GHz. But any system that is versatile remote, the Q9450 is probably a better bet all around.


Quad-Core