What's better: AMD Turion 64 or an Intel Core Duo? PROs and CONs of each?

Answer 1

The Core Duo is a better laptop chip if your primary concern is battery life. It is important to note if you are looking at a "Core Duo" or a "Core 2 Duo". The Core 2 Duo is a much improved processor that is the fastest desktop/notebook chip available. The battery life in laptops is better with these chips as well.

The Turion 64 is a very good chip, I am using one right now. You will usually find that systems that use Turions are a little less expensive. The Turions are not quite as fast or power efficient as the Core Duo or Core 2 Duo chips, but, unless you are doing extremely processor intensive tasks such as high-end photo editing or video compression, you will find there is no appreciable difference. I have no complaints at all about mine and I find the trade-off of all out perfomance vs. price was well worth it.

One other note about the Core 2 Duo - Everyone pretty much agrees that thing is HOT. I have used the Core 2 version of my model laptop on my lap and there is a definite difference. I use my laptop on my lap quite a bit at work and while it is hot (any modern laptop is), I'm glad I dont have that Core 2 machine.

I am assuming you are looking at a Core Duo machine, so here are a couple of links.

Answer 2

Well, The Turions are a cheaper chip to buy in a Laptop. The don't get as good of battery life, and are generally slower than the Intel dual core chips. The X2 version of the Turions are nice..but still lack the computing power that the Intel chips. The Intel Core Duo chips are nice. They provide good battery life due to better architecture used in the chip. They are faster than the Turion X2, and seem to provide a solid chip to use all around. However, there is a more expensive version of the Intel core chips called Core 2 Duo. They have even better battery life and are much faster than the Turion X2. They are 15% faster than the Turion chips and around 5% faster than the Core Duo chips.

So, if you want a cheaper...but slower cheap...go for the AMD Turion 64 X2. However. I recommand the Intel Core @ Duo, they are faster, provide better battery saving techology, and will help to keep your laptop on the cutting edge of techology for a while longer!!

Answer 3

This is like asking do you prefer a Ford or a Chevy.
Both are chip makers and both are very very good.
There have been some reports in the past that the amd has just a touch faster clock speed for the same speed proccessor. There isn't really a huge distinct advantage or disadvantage both are excellent.
Don