Core 2 Duo vs Core 2 Quad?

[Guest]

Hi all,
So in the long run if I have to upgrade my Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 which out of the two would you pick? keep in mind I like playing games (not hardcore ones) and I happen to be a youtuber.
1. Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 3.33 Ghz
2. Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4 Ghz
The Q6600 has 8MB L2 Cache whereas the E8600 has 6MB. Will that have an effect on any activity I execute on my PC?
And what's up with the micro-architecture? Could someone please explain why the 45-nm architecture of the E8600 is better than the 65-nm architecture of the Q6600? Ain't it "bigger the better"? TWSS.
And also is going for a better clock speed better/worse than going for more cores of the processor?
What would I have to face in the long run if I were to use one of those two?

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[ninja85a]

smaller is better so because they can get less heat out and more performance out of a smaller die and i would go with the quad core one

 

[Karsten75]

Of those two, I'd go with the Core 2 Duo E8600. t's single-thread rating is significantly better than the other. Most games still rely on single-threaded CPU execution.

Look in Wikipedia for explanations of Micro-architecture, etc. Just know that more recent is better than older (except in the case of AMD Bulldozer) and that smaller chip lithography means better efficiency.

 

[Guest]

Of those two, I'd go with the Core 2 Duo E8600. t's single-thread rating is significantly better than the other. Most games still rely on single-threaded CPU execution.

Look in Wikipedia for explanations of Micro-architecture, etc. Just know that more recent is better than older (except in the case of AMD Bulldozer) and that smaller chip lithography means better efficiency.

But the Core 2 DUo's L2 Cache is 6MB. Will that hamper anything?