What is the difference between "Intel Pentium Dual Core" and "Intel Core Duo" processors?

Question

Some are telling me that these two processors are the exact same thing. However, I find it hard to believe that Intel would create two different names for the same processor.

Answer 1

First off I am going to assume you are referring to the two laptop processors named Intel Pentium Dual Core and Intel Core Duo, and not to Pentium Ds or Core 2 Duos as others have seemed to think. There is in fact a difference between the two. They are exactly the same in all features except that the Pentium Dual Cores have one half as much cache as their Core Duo counterparts. This is the difference.

Answer 2

The Intel Core 2 Duo has faster processor speeds and a bigger L2 cache. There are a few other differences but those are the 2 that stand out.

Answer 3

Dual core is simply a generic term referring to any processor package with two physical CPUs in one.

The Pentium D is simply two Pentium 4 Prescott cpus inefficiently paired together and ran as dual core.

The Core Duo is Intel's first generation dual core processor based upon the Pentium M (a Pentium III-4 hybrid) made mostly for laptops (though a few motherboard manufacturers have released desktop boards supporting the Core Duo CPU), and is much more efficiently than Pentium D.

The Core 2 Duo is Intel's second generation (hence, Core 2) processor made for desktops and laptops designed from the ground up to be fast while not consuming nearly as much power as previous CPUs.

The Pentium D, Core Duo, Core 2 Duo and Athlon X2 are all current CPUs that have dual cores in one package.

Note - Intel has dropped the Pentium name in favor of the Core architecture.
they are ultimately the same, with little differences

Answer 4

Dual core is simply a generic term referring to any processor package with two physical CPUs in one.

The Pentium D is simply two Pentium 4 Prescott cpus inefficiently paired together and ran as dual core.

The Core Duo is Intel's first generation dual core processor based upon the Pentium M (a Pentium III-4 hybrid) made mostly for laptops (though a few motherboard manufacturers have released desktop boards supporting the Core Duo CPU), and is much more efficiently than Pentium D.

The Core 2 Duo is Intel's second generation (hence, Core 2) processor made for desktops and laptops designed from the ground up to be fast while not consuming nearly as much power as previous CPUs.

The Pentium D, Core Duo, Core 2 Duo and Athlon X2 are all current CPUs that have dual cores in one package.

Note - Intel has dropped the Pentium name in favor of the Core architecture.

Answer 5

Pentium Dual Core processors are older and run hotter.

Intel Core Duo are newer versions, consume less power, and are faster, more efficient processors.

However, there are also the Intel Core2 Duo that are even better than the previous 2.

Answer 6

Their capabilities are the same in that they are 32-bit processors.

The newer processors, called "Core 2 Duo" are 64-bit processors.

Right now, there aren't many 64-bit applications and there still is no mainstream 64-bit operating system. But Microsoft has indicated that they are going to focus their resources on really developing a 64-bit platform so for future-proofing, Core 2 Duo is the way to go.

Of course, you can always play around with a 64-bit version of your favorite Linux distro. ;)