I started the game with 6 int and I was getting 15-16 skill points per level randomly. Well, I have my int at 8 now and i'm still only getting 16 skill points a level. Does this stat actually do anything because I'm starting to feel like i'v wasted perks to raise it.

One point of intelligence gives half a skill point. Essentially, odd intelligence stats give an extra point every other level. You should be getting 16 points every level now, instead 16 every other level and 15 otherwise

You're misremembering something. 6 int should only get you about 13 skill points per level. 8 int should be 14.

If you're getting 16, you need to have picked up the educated perk at some point.

Every character gets 10 skill points per level automatically.

For each point in INT, you gain .5 skill points extra per level, so:

INT
1 = 10.5
2 = 11
3 = 11.5
4 = 12
5 = 12.5
6 = 13
7 = 13.5
8 = 14
9 = 14.5
10 = 15

The game saves the half skill point for the next level each time, so if your INT is 7 for instance, one level you will get 13 skill points, and the next level, because the half point from the last level has been added to the half point from the current level, you will get 14 skill points. The next level you will get 13 skills points again.

If you are getting 16 skill points with an 8 INT, I assume you have also taken the Educated perk.

INT doesn't give as many skill points per point as in FO3, where each point gave you two extra skill points. This was to make it so skill points weren't so readily available and also so that players didn't feel forced to always have a high INT character.

High INT gives other benefits, like smarter responses in certain cases, better Science skill, etc.

high INT is still a pretty good choice. i've had alot of intelligence based checks and Science seems FAR better a skill than it was in FO3, Science gets a skill checks constantly.

INT only gave 1 additional skill points per point per level in FO3 (maybe you're thinking individual skill books). 1 INT = 11 points at level up, 5 INT = 16 points at level up, 10 INT = 21 points at level up in FO3.

The Educated perk is slightly more powerful in New Vegas then it was in FO3 as it gives an extra 2(?) points at each level up, equivalent to an extra 4 INT. In FO3, it gave 3 points, but was equivalent to an extra 3 INT at character creation.

The skill books and Comprehension work similar. In FO3, a skill book gave 1 point or two if you took Comprehension. FO:NV, each book (there are fewer of them) gives 3 points, plus 1 point if you have Comprehension. So Comprehension is weaker then it was in FO3.

The combination of all that - skill points don't grow on trees - but you do have 30 levels instead of only 20, so it works out about even - you'll probably end up with skill scores at level 30 in NV similar to FO3 at level 20.

Sometimes you can pipe up in dialogues with a 6int based option, which i think is the breakpoint that is worth shooting for. Wouldnt suprise me that the breakpoints for other primary stat choices would be 6 too. Though id be interested in hearing if super high stats gives special dialogue options in other cases.

But yeah, its definitely good that they toned down the int point bonus as you would pretty much gimp yourself in F3 if you didnt have a high score.

Fallout3 Intelligence Level10 =20 skill points
Fallout3 Educated Perk =3 skill points

I wouldn't say Comprehension is weaker... You're still getting your +1 on books, plus you get DOUBLE the effect from magazines, i.e. +20 skill points for a limited time. Even though books are more rare, magazines are plentiful, so I'd say Comprehension gives you a pretty overpowered way to beat skill checks.

Ah, right, INT 10 = +20 per level in Fallout 3.

And I completely forgot about Comprehension giving you double the bonus on temporary boosts like skill magazines. (Which I really haven't found all that useful, but I've also been hoarding them because I'm just not sure how easy they are to get.)