Dual Or Quad Core?

(U.K)

I'm in the market for a new computer but not sure what to go for in terms of processor(s). I don't play games but I do use software like Photoshop.

Is it worth making an extra investment into quadcore or will dual core suffice? (Particulary with regards to the future.)

Answer

When it comes to processors, I always say it's better to get hung up on performance numbers than it is to get stuck on a specific chip. I generally pick AMD simply for cost reasons, but I have no trouble going to Intel. Both chips are good, it's simply a question of horsepower.

As far as picking dual or quad core goes, I do it the same way. Don't get stuck on it has to be AMD or it has to be Intel, or anything specific about a chip. The best way to go about getting a chip is to base it on your budget. This way it will be properly scaled to the rest of your system, and you'll get the most bang for your buck.

Take a read through benchmarking and reviews. I follow those steps for every piece of hardware I buy. For motherboard and CPU, shoot for about 40% of your budget. Then what I do is find the highest benchmarking CPU and motherboard I can find that reviews well in that area. You'll get a winner every time.

Lastly, when using programs like Photoshop, a dual or quad core that uses the above guidelines will be fine. I would be more concerned about RAM in Photoshop. If you like to have a ton of files open in Photoshop, and multi-task a lot, I would pair up Windows 7, and 6GB of RAM. It will give you the get up and go you are looking for.