Multitasking vs Gaming

Okay, Are the requirements for a powerful gaming computer the same as the requirements for a powerful multiasking comouter? ie Photoshop, Word, Burning CDs, Downloading, Running spy check all at the same time?

 

The gpu usually uses more power than the cpu at stock. For those tasks you listed, you can get by with a nvidia geforce 8600GT at the most. The card can play high def movies.

 

I would say that most of the Core 2 Duo's are the better for gaming but if you were Encoding/Decoding Video, running Cad,or any very intensive PC applications then you may consider a Quad Core which will handle "multi-tasking" better and be a bit faster for many tasks.

A high end gaming machine will have an equal focus on a fast CPU as well as fast Video Cards to achieve optimum results. Modern Video card GPU's will share the load with CPU.

Whereas a "multi-tasking" system will be more reliant on a multi-threading CPU and thus one with more cores but the Video Card may not be as important and you could use a older and less powered. With most multi-tasking (non-video intensive) the CPU will carry most of the load.

 

Thank you. I understand. If I am doing video, adobe premiere, how large a cpu do you think is minimum?

 

Any suggestions on which company has sort of become the new Dell as far as performance, quality, and service. I'm referring to the original Dell from years ago.

 

There's no minimum requirement with today's parts. It's what you can deal with. The faster the pc, the faster a job is done. The cheapest Intel quad is Q6600 for $200ish.

Dell makes affordable pcs, but their support is questionable.

 

Dell will also use the cheapest part they can to make your system.