[ubuntu-uk] Quad core CPU for Ubuntu, is it worth it?

[Alan Pope]

On Mon, Dec 17, 2007 at 09:13:28AM +0000, Kirrus wrote:
> The technical stuff behind multi-core processors mean that more processors 
are only really useful if you're going to be running a number of 
cpu-intensive tasks on your computer simultaneously (as each one will use 
just one CPU core, leaving the others free to be used elsewhere).    

Not just intensive tasks, anything where you are doing multiple things at 
the same time, which can happen with something as simple as viewing a java 
applet in a web browser.

> 
> >From what you've said, you'd probably find a dual-core sufficient, which would save you some money.
> 
> Personally, I tend to prefer AMD processors to intel, if just 'cos intel 
is a big evil corporation, who's cpu's tend to get matched with ATI graphics 
chips (when they're done on-board), and ATI graphics chips are aweful for 
linux drivers. :(    

Not sure you can say Intel is evil. They are an awful lot better (with 
respect to open sourcing code/drivers) than a number of other vendors such 
as NVidia and ATI.

Of the Intel machines I have, two have NVidia GPUs and five have Intel GPUs. 
None have ATI.

Cheers,
Al.