vista and dual core cpus

[unlovedwarrior]

ok will windows vista(and its programs) be able to use dual core cpus to the fullest or will it still be better to get a single core cpu

[soybean]

Well, doesn't Win XP support dual core CPUs?  http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/highlights/multicore.mspx makes me think it does.  So, clearly, Vista will support them.  

[Calum]

Windows Vista is supposed to be written to take better advantage of dual core CPUs than XP
As for programs, many are available now that run on XP which can use dual core processors, it's a case of when the programmers get round to it and if the application will benefit from multiple threads
I would say get whatever CPU seems to be the vest value for money at the time, and remember that running 2+ applications at once will benefit from dual-core too

[unlovedwarrior]

thnx for the info guys

[GX1_Man]

All this need to jump on the latest bandwagon.   Everyone rushing out to get dual core processors so they will be up to speed for Vista.

Aren't quad cores supposed to be available in early 2007?

for AMD fans
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1826663,00.asp

for Intel fans
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6038148.html

Your typing speed will not be improved with any of these. A DVD will play at the same rate, etc., but for you gamers.....

[patio]

If it's not gonna speed up my typing then i'm NOT buyin it ! !

patio.  8-)

[unlovedwarrior]

thats the thing i am a gamer so thats why i was asking.. cuz im going to build a computer sometime and i wanted to know if it would be worth the extra money to get a dual core cpu

[soybean]

Well, I am glad to see that both articles GX1_MAN cited mentioned the benefit of lower power consumption with these new multiple core processors, and that's a good thing.

[Calum]

thats the thing i am a gamer so thats why i was asking.. cuz im going to build a computer sometime and i wanted to know if it would be worth the extra money to get a dual core cpu

Not many games at the moment are written for dual core
I suppose more will take advantage of multiple cores in the future, I can see performance increases from it
However at the moment there are pratically no multi-threaded games available, so a dual-core won't really improve performance, but then again there seem to be more dual than single core CPUs availabe now for reasonable prices, so if you think you might make use of the extra core then I'd say go for it