Quad vs Dual, quickie. ( as short as I can possibly write about a subject Im passionate about)
Intel/Amd:
Price/performance contest = Intel win. ( been "by far!!" a few years not "far!!" anymore but still obviously clear leader )
only performance (fastest few CPU's avalible) = Intel win, ( By far!! )
( Ive switched back / forth between AMD / INTEL always choosen either what is the fastest avalible OR whats the best price/performance. Always bought platform based on atleast 40+ reviews / test and forum discussions and months thinking and planning looking at whats comming down the line. I read hardware news every day a minimum of 30min to 1 hour ^^ . Its a Hobby)
Quad for:
Multitasking!
future proof
Dual for:
everything else
non (long time)future proof
Games:
(Dont matter at all. all GPU bound in any decent resolution(1920x1080+)))
(... but IF you are updating your system very seldom.. research)
Reason to go Quad:
*You wish to use multiple heavy programs(or multithreaded's) at once, I.E. Photoshop + After effects + 3D studio max and Maya ( dont forget to raid and or atleast use system drive SSD's to match the CPU though ! )
*heavy gaming some games are now multithreaded(check any review on tomshardware anandtech etc, etc. but this is a future issue since all is GPU dependent on any good resolution) , only Shows on SLi-systems. (did some and read lots testing on a single gtx 285 before I popped the 2nd in on my most resent build)
*you are in a standard bussines productivity settup or more ( I.e. 2+ monitors and lots of multitasking )
reason to go Dual:
Dont really game much.
Not really a heavy computer user.
are a "regular" computer user.
Game only on single GPU and/or low resolutions
extra:
reason to go i7 and DDR3 : none, really.
(exeption = long long time semi-system future proof)
If you do not do any serious work, or game at high resolutions.. well get a 2nd hand old computer and pop a slightly newer GPU in it. you dont need anything else.
Why quad is great:
3monitors
1 screen running Crysis(max everything)
1 screen running Grafics programs+chat+50tabs Firefox + + + etc.
1 screen running HD content
(and the computer don't complain at all, smoooth)
Not that this is what you whant to do at all times but that this is possible is what makes the difference.
that you close to never need to close a program.
or for instance. open 3 games in windowed mode. and just minimize the one your not playing.
*for the fun of it.
original poster: you mentioned you didnt really game etc etc.
well you should really get the cheapest thing you can get, cause you will not be using the hardware anyway ^^
on i7 ( and comming i5) and ddr3:
this is also a non-issue:
check the multitude of articles written on the subject, most resent one was on tomshardware I belive. showing how No games today in any way what so ever would ever need or use more then 3GB of ram. and Showing zero difference with more ram then that.
[Some gets fooled into getting expensive parts just so they can use ddr3 now that Ram has become dirt cheap.]
Fast processors theese days are a strange thing and only for REALLY heavy computing use not games.
*lets hope the GPU's catch up. and started multithreaded computing continues to develop.
But yea, first thing: try and realise what you -actually- Use your computer for. almost 90% of computer users today buy more powerful or miss-managed computer setups. Stuff ya dont need. That you could have bought another 2 keyboards instead.
*Its like buying a 4x4 city-Jeep and driving it around in the city..
Not bloody needed! sure It is cool n'all, But a Volvo is safer.
It is ok to buy stuff cause its cool, just be selfaware enough to realise you buy it cause its cool and not cause u need it or use it.
