Lower clock speed Quad or high GHz Dual core CPU?

[Tony G]

Hi All
What would be a recommended CPU of the below...

E6850 3 GHz Core 2 Duo or a Q6700 2.66 GHz Core 2 Quad Processor..?

In other words, is it better to get the Quad core with a lower clock
speed over a higher clock speed on a dual core CPU...?

As an FYI, I am interested in d applications and so am after the
better spec for 3D applications.

Regards
Tony

 

[John Weiss]

What would be a recommended CPU of the below...

E6850 3 GHz Core 2 Duo or a Q6700 2.66 GHz Core 2 Quad Processor..?

In other words, is it better to get the Quad core with a lower clock
speed over a higher clock speed on a dual core CPU...?

As an FYI, I am interested in d applications and so am after the
better spec for 3D applications.

Do your applications take advantage of more than 2 cores? If not, it is likely
the higher clock speed would have the advantage. An exception would be if you
have a significant number of CPU-hungry processes running in the background,
which might free up 2 full cores for the foreground app.

Also, "3D applications" might require graphics processing power more than CPU
power. Read the system requirements and recommendations for your specific
apps.

 

[jaster]

Hi All
What would be a recommended CPU of the below...

E6850 3 GHz Core 2 Duo or a Q6700 2.66 GHz Core 2 Quad Processor..?

In other words, is it better to get the Quad core with a lower clock
speed over a higher clock speed on a dual core CPU...?

As an FYI, I am interested in d applications and so am after the better
spec for 3D applications.

Regards
Tony

Very little software take advantage of dual core cpus today and even
fewer will be able to utilize 4 cpus in one application, ie, timing the
processing of a threads return status, etc. Will you be running a SMP
Operating system? And what about the heating and cooling fan noise?
Is the quad core more efficient than the dual core?

If you're going to use industrial 3D applications that can utilize more
than 2 cpus then go for the quad otherwise ........

 

[David Ball]

E6850 3 GHz Core 2 Duo or a Q6700 2.66 GHz Core 2 Quad Processor..?

One other thing to consider is whether the application is memory
bandwidth limited. IIRC, the Q6700 is a 1066 MHz FSB and the E6850 is
a 1333 MHz FSB.

-- David