C2D 3.0GHz or C2Q 2.66GHz

[Jarlxl]

Hello!

I was wondering which of these two processors..
Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz
Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz

..is better overall, or what their strengths and weaknesses are. I don't mind spending a bit more for the quad core so the cost difference is pretty irrelivant.

I mainly want to use the computer for gaming and programming - I don't do any video editing but I may need to do some 3D modelling in future. I usually have several programs running at the same time.

My main desire for getting a new computer is to be able to run the latest games as my current computer cannot! So I would like to know which of these two processors you would suggest I get.

Thanks for your time, and I await your advice!

[RickyTick]

This might be of some help.
http://forums.mysuperpc.com/showthread.php?t=1686

and here's a great article on cpu's
http://www.techreport.com/articles.x/14756

[pb126]

Ricky,
Very interesting article on the CPU comparison. Thanks. One interesting fact which I can't figure out. I have the Q9450 and also ran the Cinebench10 tests. I get numebrs which are about 20% lwoer performance then what techreport has. Interestingly, before the Q9450 I had the E8400 in there (sort of a waste of money to upgrade btw) and the E8400 Cinebench 10 scores were also 20% lower then techreport's. Pretty sizeabl diference. Could this be due to the mobo? I have the P5KC, they have the Gigabyte GA-P35T-DQ6. I have Vista32 they have Vista64. Only differences I see.

[RickyTick]

Pretty significant difference. It could be your Vista 32 with 2gb of ram or so, and their Vista 64 bit with a full 4gb of ram. IDK TBH