Very few apps actually use/load 4 cores. Scientific number crunching software perhaps, but for the most part, no, apps don't use 4 cores... and as sidewinder pointed out, games don't yet either.
Dual cores multi-task just as good as quad cores. The problem they both have is that they only have one memory controller; so no matter how many cores you have, as long as they only have access to a single memory controller, they're going to perform the same as current dual core cpus. If you start loading a bunch of apps, one of them will run cool, the rest will suffer to one degree or another. This is true for both duals and quads. Only i7 changes that with a second memory controller.
In the case you mentioned, gaming while doing other easy tasks, dual cores handle that just fine. I game and do all kinds of other random stuff. Game, dl torrents, play mp3's, etc etc etc.
Games don't really require that much cpu strength. Ok, sure, they need a certain amount, to be sure; however, if games really required a quad core Intel, then AMD would be a distant memory today. That isn't the case though. AMD guys run games just fine as long as they have an adequate graphics card... and there isn't an AMD cpu, dual or quad, that can touch an Exxxx Intel in terms of cpu strength.
11-25-2008
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