Why do dual core processors have a slow clock speed and how do they work?

Question

I am getting a intel core 2 duo t7200 2ghz cpu in my laptop, and i wanted to know how it can have such a low clock sped and still perform?
Any ideas on how good this one would be?

Answer 1

It's similar to the way AMD has been making their chips for the last couple of years.

Instead of pushing clock speed to increase performance, they started focusing on improvements in the way the processor handled it's clock cycles and power. So the operations it performs run at lower clock speeds but are is much more efficient at running those operations which translates into better performance.

Increases in bus speeds, cache memory, a 45nm manufacturing process(not voltage) and a drop in power consumption also help.


And two 2ghz cores does not equal 4ghz.

Answer 2

Hey,

For one, it has TWO cores. That means it can perform twice as many instructions, which is four, per clock cycle. It also uses less voltage, 45nm I think, which allows to perform faster than older, single core processors but emits LESS heat. With less heat, it runs much more stable. These processors are EXTREMELY overclockable. This one is a keeper until Intel gets away from the front side bus and creates an entirely new processor. The dual core and quad core processors will absolete in about 3 years.

Regards,

Brandon

Answer 3

1 because there are 2 processors in the chip so 2 x 2ghz is 4 ghz when they are working together (plus you have two lots of cache memory)

2 Better still when you are doing two tasks (burning dvd and downloading) each processor can concentrate on each task