The Dual Core CPU Decision.

   So you're thinking about upgrading your CPU, but you need some help or a push in the right direction. Or maybe you just need someone to smack some common sense into you. You've come to the right place.

  Riding the coat tails of the great feedback I've received from my recent articles about my SLI experiences, I was prompted to write about another seemingly endless indecision in a lot of folks` minds about dual core processors and "Should I?" or "Shouldn't I?".

  I know from experience that upgrading up a couple generations (or more) at one time can really throw you for a loop as to what to buy and how much of it. Technology's changing so fast now, that you're 2 or 3yr old computer is slipping into the tar pit of history. It's probably time for a much needed upgrade. Well the options are limitless but let's get back to the single core cpu vs. dual core cpu dilemma.

   There's is primarily two types of upgrades: Component and Total. In this particular discussion, both upgrades types fair the same and I feel the exact same way about if you're just upgrading only your cpu or building a brand new system from the ground up: Get a Dual Core Processor!$@# That's right. I said it. Go Dual Core!

  Ever since my total system upgrade, I get asked all the time how I like my dual core and what do I think of it. "Is it worth it?" and "Do I see a difference?". All the usual questions from someone on the fence about buying a new product. We've ALL done it and I understand the reasoning. We ask those questions not because we care if that particular person is happy with their purchase, but rather, to feed our own inhibitions about our indecision to go that route or not.

  So I write this to try to help you, and to answer some questions about real world dual core performance. There won't be any benchmarks in this article, no fancy graphs or synthetic yahoo. Just my real world impressions of my real world dual core system.

   I think anyone asking whether or not to buy a dual core processor needs to look at their computer work habits and play habits. Most of the people that I know are heavy multi-tasking geeks. They do not check email, then close it, and open one web browser at a time. They've got like 10 things open at all times, all with varying degrees of intensity. I know I do. At any one time I've got 3-4 browsers open, OUTLOOK, Trillian, and an IRC client. Not to mention numerous programs running in the background.

   Now any modern PC would have no troubles at all with those items. However what about ripping open Photoshop in about 2 to 3 seconds and FrontPage instantly too? What if I minimized all that (not closed) and started up Quake 4 or Need for Speed: Most Wanted? How would your single core cpu do? What if my anti-virus program started scanning with all that open? How would your single core cpu do? Mine runs smooth as silk.

   I must admit there is two things in play in this situation: AMD 4400+ Dual Core CPU and 2GB of RAM.  

  When I run a full system scan using my anti-virus program, my CPU never goes over 50%. Why? because it's only using one core. That leaves another core open to run other tasks. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm doing something intensive in the background until I happen to notice my CPU usage is at 50%. Then I'm like "hmmm, oh there you are". Does your system get run through the mud when you're AV scanning? Well it wouldn't happen with a dual core processor.

  In my over 4 months of straight 24/7 use of my system I have to say: I absolutely love it. It does everything I need it to and much more than it used to do, especially at the same time! When I had my old P4 1.8ghz and only 512mb of ram, I would dread opening big programs and strayed far away from opening two at a time. Now, with a dual core processor and 2GB of RAM I get a ton more work done and in less time.