Building New Computer

[Desolus]

Most games do not take full advantage of a quad core system. They are getting better about it though, especially since the PS3/360 require it, so in the future you should see more support.

QFE. I've not seen many games properly use 2 cores yet, let alone 4. It does make alt-tabbing a lot smoother though!

Dd

See my main concern is not about the right now. Im more concerned about how much life i "might" be able to squeeze out of my CPU. Id rather pay more now and have my quad setup last for another good 5 years like my 64 chip did for me than plunk money on dual core and all of a sudden everything shifts focus to quad processing.
And by all means i do consider myself a multitasker. I have a dual monitor setup...soon to be a tri monitor setup and i almost always have a web page open , holding 2 or three chats via instant messaging, and have a game running along with all the other miscellaneous processes such as anti-virus anti spyware and sometimes my torrent program when im not using one of the above mentioned.

So back to my main question I was wondering if i should get a quad and plan for the future or will a dual core be more than enough to do all the above?

[Bahd Zoolander]

Dual is more than enough for today and the next couple of years at least. Games may use quad core before that, but it will hardly be mainstream.

If you're going to spend extra money you'd be better off with more ram for better multitasking.

[Kulaf]

Since they use the same socket.....does it really matter? If you want quad core some day just buy one and drop it in.

[Partha]

Get a quad and save having to upgrade for a while, Des. I'm building an AMD Phenom system this week. Whole thing will end up only costing me somewhere around $1400, too.