At high resolutions (and that's how the real gamers play it - not
800x600 anymore) any marginally good CPU that is capable to supply the
GPU(s) with what data they need would have about the same frame rate
as top of the line CPU, give or take a fraction of fpc that is about
as large as rounding error. Games are video-bound. Most C2Ds will go
with Intel chipsets that are compatible with neither SLI nor Xfire.
Unless NVDA (possible but don't hold your breath) and ATI (snowball in
hell) modify their drivers, C2Ds with single graphics board will lose
out to even midrange A64 with SLI/Xfire graphics, and do so really
badly. NVDA is and for the forseeable future will be a marginal
player in Intel chipsets (marginalized by no one else but INTC), and
if I am not mistaken it's Intel's intent to lock ATI out of C2D market
completely. Oh, yeah, don't forget also VIA and SIS ;-))))))) Have
any hope that i740-II will be comparable to NVDA's and ATI's best and
fastest? Make no mistake - 4x4, NVDA or ATI-based, will have 2
PCIEx16 slots - that's even cheaper to implement than 2 CPU sockets.
And 4x4, not only being fast, also will be cool (not in terms of low
heat dissipation
Wouldn't it be cool for somebody to say "I'm
gaming off full speed and have a virus scan running in the
background"? Why anyone would do that? Just because he can, and
others can not.