Buying duo vs. quad core processor

[heartofgold]

would it be considered unwise to buy a notebook nowadays with a duo core processor as a gamer? any thoughts on this?

 

[drbasa]

Depends on what type of games you are trying to play and if you are looking more for batter life. I am a big believer in getting something in your budget and then putting in a SSD drive. You'll notice more of a difference in that than with a quad core mobile processor unless you are trying to do heavy gaming, video, photo, and other process intensive things.

What are you looking to do with your new laptop? I know gaming... but what type and what other things?

 

[jemm]

Notebooks are not for games, tough some very expensives ones run games fine. Hardwares trends for games are desktop quad core processors. If you need a notebook then get a quad one.

 

[WR2]

As a gamer, you'd probably be better off with a dual core CPU and a upgraded GPU, over a quad core CPU and a entry level laptop graphic card.
And it's always good to understand the limitations of laptop graphics cards.

 

[heartofgold]

I guess more so Im wondering why quad cores are in fact better for gaming, as a lot of things I've read, just through googling, suggest not much difference.

 

[MKBL]

Upcoming games are likely to be more CPU-dependent, like Skyrim.

 

[jaguarskx]

A quad core can come in handy for games that can actually use more than 2 cores. However, if you are choice on laptop based on price limits you to:

A. Dual core CPU (like the i5-2410m) and a fast video card (nVidia GT 560m), or
B. Quad core CPU (like the i7-2630QM) and a slower video card (nVidia GT 550m)

I would pick option A. More cores do not make up for a slower video card in most games.