p4 vs dual core

[Stockmoose16]

I have a p4 3.2 cpu that I got a few years ago, and I noticed there is
now a dual core out that is 2.4. Is the 2.4 (or even the lower
speeds) better or faster than my 3.2 p4?

 

[DaveW]

The P4 at 3.2 GHz is less efficient per clock cycle than the newer Core 2
Duo's, but its 3.2 GHz speed is still effectively faster than the single
core speed of 2.4 GHz for the C2D. However the C2D at 2.4 GHz has TWO
cores to split the work between so when running multiple simulataneous tasks
will outperform the P4. It just depends on what tasks you mostly use your
computer for.

 

[RobV]

The 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo will greatly outperform the 3.2 GHz P4
even if it's running on a single core. That's because the Core 2
Duo core can perform more instructions per clock cycle than the
P4. If the Core 2 is running a multithreaded application that uses
both cores, there's no contest. Also, the common Core 2 Duos
have 4 MB of cache vs 1 MB for the P4. The newer Core 2 Duos
have 8 or 12 MB of cache.

The newer C2D, 45nm Wolfdale core has 6 MB shared L2 cache. The E8400
that runs at 3 GHz, outperforms a Conroe core C2D at the same speed and
they are less expensive than the older E6xxx Conroe C2D.

 

[Ian D]

I have a p4 3.2 cpu that I got a few years ago, and I noticed there is
now a dual core out that is 2.4. Is the 2.4 (or even the lower
speeds) better or faster than my 3.2 p4?

The 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo will greatly outperform the 3.2 GHz P4
even if it's running on a single core. That's because the Core 2
Duo core can perform more instructions per clock cycle than the
P4. If the Core 2 is running a multithreaded application that uses
both cores, there's no contest. Also, the common Core 2 Duos
have 4 MB of cache vs 1 MB for the P4. The newer Core 2 Duos
have 8 or 12 MB of cache.

 

[Paul]

I have a p4 3.2 cpu that I got a few years ago, and I noticed there is
now a dual core out that is 2.4. Is the 2.4 (or even the lower
speeds) better or faster than my 3.2 p4?

As near as I can tell, ITunes, in this benchmark, uses only one core.
The Core2 2.4Ghz finishes the benchmark in 1:25 or 85 seconds. The Pentium4
640 at 3.2GHz, does the same work in 3:06 or 186 seconds. The Core2 is
winning by a large margin, even though it has a lower clock rate.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=904&model2=877&chart=426

Many of the other benchmarks are multicore aware, so take advantage
of more than one core if it is available.

Paul

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message
<a1d87424-3591-471f-acae-df3879b0a715@i12g2000prf.googlegroups.com>

I have a p4 3.2 cpu that I got a few years ago, and I noticed there is
now a dual core out that is 2.4. Is the 2.4 (or even the lower
speeds) better or faster than my 3.2 p4?

Core 2 processors are much more efficient then anything the P4 line
offered, and even a single core Core 2 processor at 2.4GHz should run
circles around a P4 (especially with tasks that cannot be hyperthreaded)

For tasks that can take advantage of hyperthreading, they'll also take
advantage of multiple processors, so you'll get to use both cores of the
Core 2 Duo.

In short, run far and fast from the P4 line if a Core 2 CPU is an
alternative.