Questions about Q6600/E8400

[DawnDreeamer]

Hello!

This is my first post... Hope you don't mind my lame english.

I'm about to pick a rig, and I'm wondering if should go either E8400 or Q6600. I've search everywhere, in almost all known forums, read every article about this issue... Still, I'm stuck with a few doubts. If I have them answered, maybe I'll have a decision.

1) As I'm about to build my new rig, I'm worried about the resources consume. I've read somewhere that the E8400 consumes 65w, while the Q6600 consumes 105w. Well, considering I'll leave the machine 24/7, will it make a difference in the end of the month? What about in two years? Will Mother Nature get mad if I pick the Q6600, considering they are similar but the E8400 consumes less?

2) In these Crysis benchmarks, the Q6600@3.6GHz and the E8400@4.2GHz have similar performance. This applies in practice? Is the Q6600 in OC able to run the same FPS of the E8400? Is it safe to leave such a high OC on 24/7?

3) I can't comprehend how multithreads work, which the Q6600 is supposed to run with more efficience. 100 windows of the Firefox open can be considered multithreads?

4) Suppose I open 30 Firefox windows, each one running a different site, while playing Fallout 3... The difference in performance and alt+tab quickness would be muchdifferent, between these two processors?

I guess this is it. Sorry if these questions look stupid, but consider that my knowledge in hardware is very limited.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Casper312]

Hello!

This is my first post... Hope you don't mind my lame english.

I'm about to pick a rig, and I'm wondering if should go either E8400 or Q6600. I've search everywhere, in almost all known forums, read every article about this issue... Still, I'm stuck with a few doubts. If I have them answered, maybe I'll have a decision.

1) As I'm about to build my new rig, I'm worried about the resources consume. I've read somewhere that the E8400 consumes 65w, while the Q6600 consumes 105w. Well, considering I'll leave the machine 24/7, will it make a difference in the end of the month? What about in two years? Will Mother Nature get mad if I pick the Q6600, considering they are similar but the E8400 consumes less?

2) In these Crysis benchmarks, the Q6600@3.6GHz and the E8400@4.2GHz have similar performance. This applies in practice? Is the Q6600 in OC able to run the same FPS of the E8400? Is it safe to leave such a high OC on 24/7?

3) I can't comprehend how multithreads work, which the Q6600 is supposed to run with more efficience. 100 windows of the Firefox open can be considered multithreads?

4) Suppose I open 30 Firefox windows, each one running a different site, while playing Fallout 3... The difference in performance and alt+tab quickness would be muchdifferent, between these two processors?

I guess this is it. Sorry if these questions look stupid, but consider that my knowledge in hardware is very limited.

Thanks in advance!

1.Its not that much in the end of 2 years, Check tomshardware.com, they have a decent article on it. Overclocked at the speeds you mentioned the e8400 will consume almost the same power as a q6600. As for the Q6600, a 3.6 overclock is either a hit or miss these days.

2. Most games that are not quad capable you will see a bit of a performance jump on the e8400 at the clocks you have mentioned, also keep in mind 4.2ghz on a e8400 is very unlikely for safe 24/7 voltages.

3. 100 open firefox's im sure is not that heavy so thats not a good example.

4. To me, that would seen how well your internet is as well as ram available, i have done the same in the past with my e5200 @ 3.8ghz and it was butter tabbing in and out.

For what you just posted, it seems like the worst you will ever do is have a game open with a few firefox windows opened, with wmp going. Which im sure a well clocked e8400 can handle, and q6600 even more.

If i had the decision, i would go with a q6600, why? Futureproffing thats why . As well as a $20 price tag diff that is not that much.