I am going to be getting a new PC sometime soon, but I'm debating whether or not I should wait until Quad-core (Kentsfield, I believe they are called?) processors are available at the end of 2006/early 2007. How much better/more expensive are the Quad-cores expected to be about a month after they hit (as with Core 2 Duos right now)? Also, if I do decide to stick with a Core 2 Duo, is it worth upgrading to the E6600 for the extra .5ish Ghz and 4M shared L2 cache? Or is the performance increase over the basic E6300 minimal given the large increase in price?
I won't be running a ton of high-end applications on the computer aside from Vista (Aero?) and a few spec-busting games (notably Oblivion 4 and Battlefield 2142), but I want something powerful enough to give me the capabilities to run mid-to-high tier applications in the future so I don't wind up having to completely overhaul in 2 years.
Here is the setup I'm looking at right now:
Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86Ghz 2M shared L2 cache $191.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
Case w/ Power Supply $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156164
Motherboard $76.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131586
Graphics Card $115.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102688
200GB Hard Drive $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148066
2GB Patriot RAM $204.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220079
Sony DVD Burner $29.59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131031
Also, I've read in Elbatrop's guide to RAM that DDR2 is better for new Core 2 Duo systems... should I change to the Patriot DDR2 2x 1GM? And if so, will I need to change anything else (mobo/case/psu/cooling/whatever)?
Any advice appreciated... I got myself up to speed on most of this tech in the last 24 hours so I'm not too comfortable with compatibility and such quite yet... 2 days ago, I didn't even know dual-core processors were the new standard .
I won't be running a ton of high-end applications on the computer aside from Vista (Aero?) and a few spec-busting games (notably Oblivion 4 and Battlefield 2142), but I want something powerful enough to give me the capabilities to run mid-to-high tier applications in the future so I don't wind up having to completely overhaul in 2 years.
Here is the setup I'm looking at right now:
Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86Ghz 2M shared L2 cache $191.00 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005
Case w/ Power Supply $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156164
Motherboard $76.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131586
Graphics Card $115.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102688
200GB Hard Drive $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148066
2GB Patriot RAM $204.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220079
Sony DVD Burner $29.59
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131031
Also, I've read in Elbatrop's guide to RAM that DDR2 is better for new Core 2 Duo systems... should I change to the Patriot DDR2 2x 1GM? And if so, will I need to change anything else (mobo/case/psu/cooling/whatever)?
Any advice appreciated... I got myself up to speed on most of this tech in the last 24 hours so I'm not too comfortable with compatibility and such quite yet... 2 days ago, I didn't even know dual-core processors were the new standard .