I began this article with the thought of exploring a dual core vs quad core comparison.  It used to be the case that if one wanted to build a gaming pc, then a dual core processor with higher speed would win out over a quad core (if one were considering the same price). The dual core vs quad core argument centers around the following:  Dual core processors are able to handle less simultaneous operations than quad core processors – however if you are concerned with gaming, then you must consider that games do not in fact utilize many simultaneous operations.  Until recently, one could even say that the extra two cores in a quad core system are a waste over the dual core – what really matters is processor speed.  Thus if you could get a dual core processor for $180 at 3GHz, and a quad core at $180 for 2GHz, the original argument would have been for the dual core processor (more power, less money).

This is quickly becoming an old argument.  I could fill your head with information about motherboard chipsets and processor bridge architecture, but the long and short of it is that Intel’s newest generation of processors completely blows the competition out of the water.  Their quad Intel Core i5-2500 Processor with 6 MB Cache, 3.30 GHz for Socket LGA1155 – Boxed and i7 models are far and away superior to any of their previous holdings, and any of the competition’s (AMD) that this fact alone should justify the quad core processor (even if your games aren’t utilizing all four cores, they still will score better marks on these new quad core processors).  In addition, considering our goal of creating a gaming computer that will last more than a couple years, it pays to notice that there are an increasing number of games which utilize quad core technology.  If you are intent on finding something at a lower price point, I would still recommend a quad core processor.  This is on the basis of current games that take advantage of multiple cores and the inevitable rise of multi core games in the future.

It is all about Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture.  The reviews on current processors place the new Intel Core i5-2500 Processor with 6 MB Cache, 3.30 GHz for Socket LGA1155 – Boxed and core i7 series above the rest of the competition.  One might ask, what about AMD?  Here is the ticket with AMD – they provide what looks like a good value – high speed at low cost.  The problem is that their architecture is lagging behind, and they don’t really have any staying power.  If you build a high powered AMD system today for 20% less than an intel system, you would likely have to rebuild it again in at most 2 years.  Meanwhile, I’m sitting on an intel system that is approaching 5 years old, and I can play all the current games still (granted, not at full strength, but thats technology for you, at least i can play them – plus I still have some room for easy improvement).

Take a look here to buy the Intel Core i5-2500 Processor with 6 MB Cache, 3.30 GHz for Socket LGA1155 – Boxed

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