Core 2 Duo vs. Dual Core technology?

Question

Ok, I needed to word this question differently. We know the core 2 duo is faster than the dual core cpu's. But I can get a dual core at 3.4GHz, for the same money as ONLY a 1.86GHz in the core 2 duo. So which of THESE two are faster than the other... I guess here we're comparing dollar for dollar... better worded now...

Answer 1

Okay first off, sense you seem interested in the subject, I need to correct you on something. A dual core CPU is ANY processor that has 2 cores, hence a Core 2 Duo IS a dual core CPU. What I believe you are referring to is the Pentium D, another different type of dual core CPU. As for which is better, a Pentium D at 3.4Ghz or a Core 2 Duo at 1.86Ghz, the answer is the Core 2 Duo. In fact I have some specific benchmarks that compare these exact two, I will list the under sources. The Pentium D 945 is 3.4Ghz, and the E6300 is 1.86Ghz.

Now as for why, let me also try to explain that. There are numerous reasons, the FSB is one, but not the only one. The biggest factor is something called instructions per clock cycle (IPC). The Ghz number of a processor shows how fast the clock cycles are. But the Core 2 Duo has a much higher IPC, meaning it processes more data each clock cycle than the Pentium D. Put into its simplest terms, think of it this way, say the Pentium D has 10 clock cycles in a given amount of time, while the Core 2 Duo would have only 6. But the Core 2 Duo could processor 10 instruction per clock cycle, but the Pentium D only 4. In the given amount of time, the Core 2 Duo would process 60 instructions, but the Pentium D only 40. This is why it actually performs faster even with a lower clock speed. By the way, those numbers are completely made up, I just use them to illustrate the point.

Answer 2

Core 2 Duo is Better

Answer 3

From what I've seen in reviews and stuff, the Core 2 Duos are much better then the Pentium D series. (Though some of the lower end Core 2 Duos may not be as good as some AMD processors.)

I found the chart below. I don't know for sure how accurate it is, but it fits what I've read elsewhere.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=433&model2=436&chart=169

Answer 4

Dual Core