A poll!!

I'm getting the Sager Np8662 in a couple of days and was wondering which processor would you guys choose between the Q9000 and P9600?

With my laptop, I will do some programming, gaming and multi-tasking. I also intend to keep this laptop at least 2 years.

So considering all of this, which of these processor would you guys suggest (they are the same price)??

 

well everyone is going to want to know your intended uses...

 

If they are the same price I would go for the Q9000. It has four cores and more cache than the P9600.
I do not think the 660MHZ difference in core speed is going to affect game play much. 4 cores is still better than 2. Especially in another year or so you will love the Q9000 for gaming (that is when games become quad core optimized)

K-TRON

 

Well programming, gaming, and multi-tasking was pretty much what I planned to use it for..

 

After using dualcores for years I finally built a desktop based on a Quadcore. Yes for apps that aren't multithreaded technically the dualcore at a higher speed will be "faster" However there is a program called "Praffinity" and it allows you to set the affinty of the cpu (basically what core a respective program uses)

I had certain programs while I was multitasking use certain cores ect, wonderful program, feel free to PM me and I can help you out with the program.

 

the duo will be much better for you than the quad.
Almost every software or game uses only a single core => higher clock = faster

A few programs, and maybe some rare games (don't know a game and don't know if this nonexistent game really runs faster on a quad core than on a duo core) can use multiple cores. If you render a lot, do video editing, 3D modelling, run several virtual PC's, such heavy things, then you need more cores, but not if just do those normal things you said.
Multi-Tasking: Well, you have two cores, that's enough.

In maybe two years there will be some games available which can really benefit from more cores, but then your GPU will be outdated and you'll need a new laptop to play these games.

 

As from what I've read, crysis is one game that utlizes multiple cores and valve is also going that way (I don't know if their engine is using multiple cores right now).

Btw K-tron don't they both have 6MB cache?

 

Well in reality the q9000 has 3mb x 2 only 3mb per Core. The q9000 is like a p7350x2 while the p9600 has 6mb for its own core.

 

Btw, will a quad-core significantly reduce the battery life compared to a P9xxx or generate more heat?

 

Yeah, do you want more battery life over the performance?

And the P9600 will probably be cooler. So more OC headroom for the GPU.

On the other hand, quad cores are not fully utilized in some/most games yet. So it'll only get better if you go quad.

 

I thought the Q9000 had 12mb L2, I guess I am wrong

K-TRON

 

If you are doing multi tasking and programs that use 4 cores go for the quad, but personally I would go with the Duo

 

Q9100 has the 12mb Cache, if you concerned about longevity of the laptop then i would go for the quad, if you want some battery life then I suppose you could go for the P9600 although if you going for a 17" form factor the battery life isn't going to be that great so you might not be losing that much in the battery life department.

As i mentioned before there are ways to force the affinty on programs, so yes the quad would still be a benefit over a dual core.

 

a program which runs in a single thread and can only access a single core will run significantly slower on the quad, every tweak won't help you there.
Because 99% of the consumer software runs on a single core, the quad will be noticeable slower than the duo.
And even if you use a software which utilizes several cores, than this software will also utilize both cores on the Intel Duo.

Setting the affinity won't change anything. It just forces a thread to run on a specified core. This won't increase the speed the program gets executed, because it still only runs on a single core, now just on a predefined, and windows does this automatcally, too, so I don't see a big advantage in setting this manually.