I'm really here just for some opinions. I have read and read and read... reviews, benchmarks (like this one http://techgage.com/article/intel_core_2_quad_q6600/6 ), and tech spec sheets.

Now what i really wanna know is what all the tech savviest people in the world think about the benefits of quad core vs dual core. My main focus here is gaming... but i tend to multitask quite a bit, nothing super demanding like 3d rendering while encoding dvd/iso, while ripping with nero simultaneously. However, I do commonly find myself with 8-10 browser tabs, email open, chatting on yahoo, while playing some online poker, and some tunes playing in the background.

My games of choice are WoW, and a vast array of shoot'em'ups... Looking forward to cracking open some of the more demanding games that have come out recently such as Crysis and the like... Having Winamp playing in the background while playing WoW is not all that uncommon either.

The system i'm looking at is from the company Pro-Star... heard of them? Anyone ever buy from them?

As it stands my current configuration idea now is this:
17" 1680 x 1050 WSXGA+
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40 Ghz
4096MB, Kingston DDR2 - 2 DIMM
GeForce 8800M GTX w/512MB (SLI is an option... think it's worth the $700)
2x 200/7200rpm GB SATA-300 in RAID 0
Window XP Professional Edition (yes i know that XP only uses 2.8GB RAM)
8X DVD±R/RW
built-in Wireless/Ethernet/Bluetooth/Modem


There's an optional 3yr warranty for another 360 but i'm not sure cuz it doesnt' protect accidental damage and stuff. Soley manufacturer defects... currently I'm deployed to Iraq so the only benefit i could see in purchasing a greater warranty is if it would cover accidental damage/dust/etc. *shrug*


All that comes to about 3200 plus shipping... All right... lay it on me.

So getting a reply a no-go on this forum? lol Too in depth?

Look at the E8400 instead of the Q6600.

To be honest I wouldn't bother with a Quad Core right this minute. Price differences over Dual Core means that only those who have money to spare should look at Quad Core. Also, most games nowadays are more GPU intensive than CPU intensive, I doubt one game will be able to tax a Quad Core fully atm.

I dont know about upgrading to quad with a company but i do know that quad core these days dont cost a lot, for mainstream chips that is...

If budgeting is a concern take the SLI before going quad core. GPU power is the weaker aspect of a notebook. However, quads are not useless, and if you don't have a problem affording one, they are going to get more useful over the several years you will likely own the notebook.

Right at this moment few games utilize a quad. Two things though, one that is changing and will continue to change over the next several years, for example the UT3 engine uses what cores you have. Second, having multiple cores frees the core running the game to just the game, because there are other cores to handle the gpu driver running, system processes, communications (if it's an online game) and so forth. This isn't a huge benefit but it's there. Lastly, things that you might do other than gaming can benefit from multiple cores, could be work, Excel, or making videos and photo editing, but there are some benefits beyond gaming.

Given that a laptop has to last several years, and often gets no cpu upgrade after your stock purchase, to me it makes sense to get what decent cpu you can afford, and can use.

One detracting point is that quad cores are going to use slightly more energy even at idle than a dual core. That might be a concern.

From what you do,you will benefit with a Quad.

is it worth getting core i7 or wait for i9 in Laptops ?

Intel's latest CPU designations aren't really very clear, so I can see how you misunderstood. Core i9, like Core i7, is a designation indicating the Nehalem microarchitecture. The different numbers after the "i" (Core i3, i5, i7, i9) are indicative of pricing, not different generations. Intel's i9 CPU will only be found in desktops and not in laptops. Dual-core Core i3, i5, & i7 processors will all be available for notebooks starting in January, however the quad-core Core i7 processors will remain the most powerful notebook processors until the beginning of 2011 when Intel releases their next microarchitecture, Sandy Bridge, and AMD releases their Fusion microarchitecture.

Thank you

Do u think we will get the Usb 3.0 in laptops in 2010 or 11 ?