Hello everybody 
. I am new to this forum, and I have just recently decided to build my own computer so I have spent the last several weeks looking here, at newegg, and other forums for the right parts. I just don't know if I should get a dual or quad core. My options (budget is about $250) are the Q6600 Go stepping for $220 @ newegg, the Intel dual core E6850 (little under $200), and the Intel dual core E8400 (a little under $200). I have read that if you're a gamer, you should stick with dual core and that a lot or apps don't have quad core support. But I think my situation might be different. I'm not a gamer (the only game I have is Fritz 11, a chess game). Here is what type of apps I will run:
-Photoshop
-VMware
-Microsoft Word
-Firefox
-Video Converters
-Lots of antivirus/spyware apps
-Only one game : Fritz 11 (chess)
-Itunes
And I also will multitask with many of the above and more (like with yahoo messenger). I want a CPU that will give me the best performance for what I want to do. And if I get the Q6600, I plan on Overclocking it to 3.3 or 3.5 GHz. Likewise, if I end up getting a dual core, I will overclock that to what is normally done (I don't know what that is yet). So can anyone tell me what I should get and why?
I have also wondered: if i overclock the Q6600 to 3.5 GHz, how does that compare to other intel quad cores. By that, I mean, will that become as good as something that is $500, $700+, or below $400? For example, with some adjustments in the FSB, maybe the multiplier, and the voltage, couldn't I make it like the Q9300 because they seem similar in every other respect?
And If I choose the Q6600, should I get the open box version for 190?
I know I have a lot of questions, but I'm hoping you will help out a beginner.
Thanks a lot,
Andrey
PS If you want more info, I will be glad to provide it
. I am new to this forum, and I have just recently decided to build my own computer so I have spent the last several weeks looking here, at newegg, and other forums for the right parts. I just don't know if I should get a dual or quad core. My options (budget is about $250) are the Q6600 Go stepping for $220 @ newegg, the Intel dual core E6850 (little under $200), and the Intel dual core E8400 (a little under $200). I have read that if you're a gamer, you should stick with dual core and that a lot or apps don't have quad core support. But I think my situation might be different. I'm not a gamer (the only game I have is Fritz 11, a chess game). Here is what type of apps I will run:-Photoshop
-VMware
-Microsoft Word
-Firefox
-Video Converters
-Lots of antivirus/spyware apps
-Only one game : Fritz 11 (chess)
-Itunes
And I also will multitask with many of the above and more (like with yahoo messenger). I want a CPU that will give me the best performance for what I want to do. And if I get the Q6600, I plan on Overclocking it to 3.3 or 3.5 GHz. Likewise, if I end up getting a dual core, I will overclock that to what is normally done (I don't know what that is yet). So can anyone tell me what I should get and why?
I have also wondered: if i overclock the Q6600 to 3.5 GHz, how does that compare to other intel quad cores. By that, I mean, will that become as good as something that is $500, $700+, or below $400? For example, with some adjustments in the FSB, maybe the multiplier, and the voltage, couldn't I make it like the Q9300 because they seem similar in every other respect?
And If I choose the Q6600, should I get the open box version for 190?
I know I have a lot of questions, but I'm hoping you will help out a beginner.
Thanks a lot,
Andrey
PS If you want more info, I will be glad to provide it
