While shopping for a laptop, I am being confused by AMB v. Intel comparisons and "cache" terms...?

Question

Laptop 1: AMD Turion(TM) 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-60 (2.0 GHz, 512KB+512KB L2 Cache )

Laptop 2: Intel® Pentium® Core™2 Duo Processor T7250 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz FSB)

Both are running Vista, with 2 GB DDR2.

The price difference between the two is $15.

What I do: photo and (light) video editing and virtual scrapbooking, burning DVDs of home videos and photos, watching DVDs, all sorts of office-type and internet work.

What I need to know is what is the big difference? If I'm performing multiple tasks, such as listening to music while I'm editing photos, with my Outlook open checking for emails every once in a while, I don't want the thing to freeze up on me -like my desk top currently does.

What is the difference between 2 MB L2 and 512KB + 512 KB L2 (other than 2MB euals more than 512KB + 512KB) - I mean why not write 1 MB instead of 512 + 512?

Also, I have heard AMD runs cooler and I have heard AMD runs hotter. Can anyone point me to research?

Answer 1

A CPU cache is a feature built into the processor to make it perform faster. You can better understand this through an analogy.

Imagine yourself at work with plenty of files and folders. Most of these files are usually stored in a filing cabinet that takes a significant amount of time to retrieve (Analogous to your hard disk). A cache is an area near your desk (analogous to your CPU) where you can easily retrieve the files that you need alot faster than your filing cabinet. Think of it as a basket where you put files that you frequently use. By having a cache, your computer doesn't have to keep going to the filing cabinet to get frequently used files. CPU caches come in different sizes, the bigger the basket, the more files you can put in it.

So for your first question, "What is the big difference?" - The answer is the bigger the cache the better it is for you. A big basket will be able to store more files than a small basket in effect making the CPU with the bigger cache perform faster.

With regard to your computer freezing when multi-tasking, I believe that the cache size will not affect your computer significantly. The cause of computers freezing while multi-tasking is usually related to a lack in RAM or memory and hard disk space. Since the laptop you are considering has 2GB of RAM, I think you should be fine on this department.

The difference between saying 2MB and 512MB+512MB is technical. The processors used today are often composed of two cores (think two work desks). Both processors are dual-core but implement their cache differently.

The intel processor's two cores share a single 2MB basket while the AMD processor's two cores each have a 512MB cache dedicated. Though I'm not sure of the difference of sharing or splitting the cache, I would personally go for the processor with the bigger cache. Having one big basket which can store 2MB of data versus two small baskets capable of 1MB sounds like a better idea for me.

As for heating, I believe this probably won't be an issue for you as far as performance is concerned. Heat usually becomes a problem only when processors are 'overclocked' to squeeze out more performance from the CPU than it was originally intended.

Between the two processors, I would say the Intel processor is the winner assuming you're willing to pay the extra $15 for it.

I hope this helps and good luck on your shopping.

Answer 2

The Core 2 Duo is the faster processor, no contest there, and it also runs a bit cooler and using less power although unless you do some pretty heavy number crunching you probably won't notice the difference.

The reason that it is written as 512 KB (should be KiB but anyway) + 512 KB is because each core has its own separate cache while with the Core 2 Duo the two cores share the same cache (which has big advantages when it comes to switching a thread from one core to the other but in general doesn't really matter all that much).

I'd say that you should look at the other specifications of the computers and see if there is anything else that might make you prefer one over the other, if not then Laptop 2 would be better but both laptops will should pretty responsive (though you might try turning off the Vista eye candy).

As for whether AMD runs cooler or hotter, in laptops it was really never much of a contest, Intel wins in terms of performance per watt and has done so ever since the Pentium M came out (many years ago), on the desktop AMD's Athlon was vastly superior than the Pentium 4 with much better performance per watt (although the Pentium 4's were known for running hot) but with Intel now having Core 2 on the desktop Intel wins there as well (with a faster and cooler processor than what AMD has).

Answer 3

First AMD is better than Intel. Thats my opinion and I am sticking to it. The difference between 2 MB and 512KB and 512KB L2 is where the cache is located. There are 2 types of cache on a processor. L1 is in the processors internal working. L2 is on the same chip but not internal cache (This means it takes nanoseconds longer for it to use). The way it is written it is saying it has 512KB L1 (internal cache and 512KB L2 (external cache) instead of just an L2 cache.AMD does run hotter than Intel chips.

Ok now for the expert opinion... Go with the Intel processor. Having talked with other experts, I learned that right now the core duo processors are outperforming AMD. Also the bigger cache will work in your favor.
Now my question how much RAM is in your desktop? That could be the problem with it freezing on you.
Oh and cache is an internal memory register just for the CPU to use. Basically it is a storage spot for the CPU to use while working on processes.

Answer 4

T7250 is way superior to the TL-60
or even the TL-64 for that matter

no matter what your application
> just to simplify

check benchmark below,
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html
Show only notebook CPU's
> 'Restrict'

as far as heat issues, both are pretty cool running
check 9th column, TDP
... both are rated 35 watts, which is pretty decent for their performance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_Design_Power

amd have yet to reach anywhere close to the intel t7x00 family

EDIT:
to Ron, below me
your analogy of l2 cache is pretty good
and you were frank to admit ... shared v/s dedicated cache per core was beyond you ... let me try explain
> eg. the 2 mb cache in the t7250 is available for both cores to use ...
if it were 1 mb + 1 mb ... it's a definite disadvantage
both cores are not working equal., correct
so the harder working takes the more and the lazy core takes the less,
so 2 mb shared is sure a big advantage over 1 mb per core

# you mention photo and video editing, which is a pretty intensive application mind you
i would be inclined to get the t7300

Answer 5

People always compare young guys... For the Reds Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey are an example... Or take the Yankees... Joba, Hughes, Kennedy... Not enough of a sample size to really come up with a conclusion.

Answer 6

You should really check out a Mac. They now run on Intel processors. For your needs and esp. if you are not that computer savvy Apple makes it sooooo easy to do all of the things you listed. I have a MacBook and cannot believe the ease of use and integration of all programs. It may be a little more, but you will be super happy.

Answer 7

The AMD is more secure , i would buy that one. As long as it is not an Acer