Are Three Cores Better Than Two?

Benchmark Settings

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Benchmarks and Settings
Video
Pinnacle Studio 9 PlusVersion: 9.4.3from: 352x288 MPEG-2 41 MBto: 720x576 MPEG-2 95 MBEncoding and Transition Rendering to MPEG-2/DVDno Audio
Auto Gordian KnotDivX 6XviD 1.1Version: 2.16Audio = AC3 6chCustom size = 100 MBResolution settings = Fixed widthCodec = XviD and DivX 5Audio = CBR MP3, kbps 192182 MB VOB MPEG2-source
Windows Media EncoderVersion: 9.00.00.2980720x480 DV to WMV320x240 (29.97 fps)282 kbps streaming
Audio
Lame MP3Version 3.97.1 Multi-threaded AlphaWave 17:14 minutes (182 MB) to mp332 - 320 kbitVBR = level 3
libvorbis OGGVersion: 1.0.1WAV 17:14 minutes (182 MB) to oggquality = 5
Applications
WinRARVersion 3.51283 MB, 246 FilesCompression = BestDictionary = 4096 kB
3DS Max 7Characters "Dragon_Charater_rig"1600x1200Rendering Single
Cinema 4DVersion R9Lanz.c4d800x600
CinebenchVersion 2003Rendering
Lightwave 3DVersion 8.2Variations.lws
POV-RayVersion 3.7Skyvase.pov4800x3600
Synthetic
PCMark 2005 ProVersion: 1.1.0System, CPU and Memory Tests
SiSoftware Sandra ProVersion 2005, SR2CPU Test I = CPU Arithmetic BenchmarkCPU Test II = Multimedia BenchmarkMemory Test = Bandwidth Benchmark
ScienceMarkVersion 2.0All Tests