Dual Core CPU's

[AbecX]

From what I've been reading up, they sound promising. The ability to run multiple threads over 2 cpu's that are on one chip is awesome. However, imo the clear down side would be if you're running a single threaded application, are you stuck to just using one of the cores. Any ideas?

[Stang2be]

I sold my boss on one and I've got a Dell 380 Workstation with a Dual Core 3.0.

Haven't gotten to play too much with it yet.

I've got both XP and CentOS basically set up but each on its own removeable drive.

I did test it running DVD shrink and was able to do a full movie down to an ISO in about 35 min.

[AbecX]

Yeah, all the benchmarks are saying the same thing as well. Any application that can utilize multithreading do preform the work in half the time, however applications that are not MT only use one cpu and sometime preform on par or less than the single core equivalent.

[Hunt4m3x]

I know certain programs and games won't play with the dual cores. Like NFS won't play with dual cores, it acts like you are fast forwarding it.

[blackedv]

well i can tell u in the near future everyhting will run on dual cores so youd be future proofing a little better with a dual core processor now

[AbecX]

[QUOTE=blackedv]well i can tell u in the near future everyhting will run on dual cores so youd be future proofing a little better with a dual core processor now[/QUOTE]
Thanks!

[southrider]

I just ordered a Dell with a dual core 2.8 Intel Pentium
D Processor 820. Anyone know how well these run?

[2001 GT]

Just get the FX-60 and be done with all you problems. It will take care of all your gaming and Dual proc needs/multi application. :D

[southrider]

But the FX60 won't take care of my empty wallet after I get it. :(

[DFWminis]

[QUOTE=blackedv]well i can tell u in the near future everyhting will run on dual cores so youd be future proofing a little better with a dual core processor now[/QUOTE]

ya you can see applications and games more and more starting to utilize them ..which is going to be really interesting

[AbecX]

None of the mainstream games out there right now are using multithreading. I believe the only company even looking at the technology is Atari for the next unreal engine.

I just dont understand how hard is to freaking split physics + sound into one thread, and AI + gamplay onto another -_-

[DFWminis]

I belive two games out there can utilize it now ...I can not remeber though :rolleyes:

[Shane]

I bought an AMD 3800+ X2 and I love the thing, haven't had problems running anything.
There are patches for Doom 3 and Call of Duty 2 that enable dual-core support.

[AbecX]

[QUOTE=Shane]I bought an AMD 3800+ X2 and I love the thing, haven't had problems running anything.
There are patches for Doom 3 and Call of Duty 2 that enable dual-core support.[/QUOTE]
The patches for those games are medicore at best, and most even show FPS decline. I think once new graphics engine come out that are actually built with multithreading available, we will see a decent increase in framerate.

[Tangstang]

[QUOTE=AbecX]None of the mainstream games out there right now are using multithreading. I believe the only company even looking at the technology is Atari for the next unreal engine.

I just dont understand how hard is to freaking split physics + sound into one thread, and AI + gamplay onto another -_-[/QUOTE]
Have you heard about the physics add-on yet? It takes care of all the physics and the video card just has to do the graphics. I saw a clip of gameplay(new game that hasn't come out yet) and it looks pretty badass.

[red04gt]

intel is actually coming out with a quad core but again most programs wont utilize it and intel sucks. Where as amd is increasing there processor speeds and going to a 4mb lvl3 cache in the new fx62

[01WhiteCobra]

Single threaded apps will benefit, just not as much (probably very little). The O/S can execute tasks on the other cores without interrupting the running app for access to the processor.

[AbecX]

[QUOTE=5.0Vert]Have you heard about the physics add-on yet? It takes care of all the physics and the video card just has to do the graphics. I saw a clip of gameplay(new game that hasn't come out yet) and it looks pretty badass.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I saw that nifty device, unfortunatly the game has to support it to use it.

[black96gtstick]

[QUOTE=5.0Vert]Have you heard about the physics add-on yet? It takes care of all the physics and the video card just has to do the graphics. I saw a clip of gameplay(new game that hasn't come out yet) and it looks pretty badass.[/QUOTE]

This the one your talking about? Cell factor?

http://gametrailers.com/player.php?id=9867&type=mov

[Tangstang]

[QUOTE=black96gtstick]This the one your talking about? Cell factor?

http://gametrailers.com/player.php?id=9867&type=mov[/QUOTE]
Yeah, looks promising. My lab partner showed me a demo while we were working on a 'student design experiment' outside of class. I'm no longer 'that' into PC gaming, but that might change...