For people looking at new systems

[zeus]

Take it for what its worth:
http://extreme.pcgameshardware.de/showthread.php?t=1183

PCGH: Is there enough space "between" Dual and Quadcore CPUs to optimize for? I.E. is it feasible to optimize for two cores, three cores etc. or rather optimize for "many cores", regardless of the exact number?

Tim: Yes. Unreal Engine 3 runs two primary threads and a scalable pool of helper threads. The primary threads handle gameplay and rendering, and provide a constant heavy computing load. The helper threads are scalable to many cores, and handle physics updates, streaming, and decompression now, with threading support being added to other systems over time. In this architecture, a 3-core PC would provide measurably more physics performance than a dual-core PC.

PCGH: What kind of differentiation can you imagine for gaming workloads to be distributed between three cores?

Tim: The possibilities are unlimited, whether the additional cores are used for running features that add new detail to the game, or simply helping to maintain a higher frame rate.

PCGH: Is a console-game, especially a Xbox360 port, a "natural" to profit from three but not necessarily four cores?

Tim: Any game built with Unreal Engine 3 should scale naturally from 1 to 4 cores right now. Other games may differ in their porting requirements. Even for games that support fewer cores than a PC provides, there may still be benefits. For example, those extra cores could be used by other Windows applications to play music, serve media, or run file-sharing software seamlessly while you're playing games.

Tim Sweeney
Epic Games

[DW_Bomzin]

my heads starting to hurt just thinking about building a rig , what to do what to do . So many variables.

[WHIPperSNAPper]

I read that earlier at the Epic Forums. I guess I really am going to need to swallow my pride and sense of frugality and forsake my single core Opteron 148 for a dual core chip at some point.

[DW_ToxicWaste]

Opteron 165 - $94 Shipped

Mine's running @ 2.6 (with water). But 2.6 should be feasable with good air cooling.

Rich (TW)

[zeus]

E6750 for $170. That is cheaper than what I purchased my E6300 for 7 months ago.

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/5294147

[zeus]

20" WS for $165 after rebate...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824112007

[zeus]

Thermaltake W0093RU ATX 12V 2.0 Version 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CUL, TUV, FCC, and CB - Retail

$50 after rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817153028

[d2frob]

Apparently everyone is going to be seriously surprised at the min requirements when they are released....so i wouldn't jump the gun with huge purchases just yet :)

[Damnidge]

Well, I know for sure I am not buying anything until I have a demo and see what it does.

You all will have to excuse my one-core mindedness, but after reading the post from Tim Sweeney, he made it sound like you can "program" one core to use for the game, and another to do mp3 programs, etc. with no slow down.

My question is, does the computer figure this out automatically, or is there a part of XP that allows you to select what processes go to what core?

My laptop is a duo, and if I try and run video while I am copying files or working in Flash it will slow down. Am I missing something to avoid this?

[d2frob]

You can set the core affinity...never tried myself but afaik it just means a program will on call upon one core