Processors: Core Duo vs. Core 2 Duo

[Jerry]

I am getting my Dell notebook replaced due to its repeated breakdowns.
However, Dell says they have discontinued my model and are giving me a new
equivalent. While both can rub Vista, I noticed that the new laptop will
have a U7500 Core2 Duo processor running at 1.06 GHz, while the one I had
before had a U2500 Core Duo (without "2") running at 1.2 GHz.

Apart from the obvious difference in frequency, am I really getting an
upgrade or a downgrade when it comes to Vista performance? What is the
difference between Core and Core2?

 

[Leythos]

I am getting my Dell notebook replaced due to its repeated breakdowns.
However, Dell says they have discontinued my model and are giving me a new
equivalent. While both can rub Vista, I noticed that the new laptop will
have a U7500 Core2 Duo processor running at 1.06 GHz, while the one I had
before had a U2500 Core Duo (without "2") running at 1.2 GHz.

Apart from the obvious difference in frequency, am I really getting an
upgrade or a downgrade when it comes to Vista performance? What is the
difference between Core and Core2?

Core 2 Duo is a very nice upgrade over the Core Duo CPU, even at a loss
of .2 Ghz, the Core 2 Duo chip will be a better/faster CPU for all of
your apps.

You can search the Intel website for the details.

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Jerry]

Thank you for the kind response. I have already tried to find the answer a
Intel's site, but could not find it. I could see generic descriptions of
both chip families and a lot of information about their functionalities, but
no way, direct or indirect, to compare performance in any meaningful manner.
That's why I decided to post the question here.

If the Core 2 Duo is better/faster even though the clock frequency is lower,
why is that? What is the feature that makes it possible? And in what
measure? As an example, I would like a statement that one chip can perform
x% more calculations in the same time, or something to that effect.

 

[Leythos]

Thank you for the kind response. I have already tried to find the answer a
Intel's site, but could not find it. I could see generic descriptions of
both chip families and a lot of information about their functionalities, but
no way, direct or indirect, to compare performance in any meaningful manner.
That's why I decided to post the question here.

If the Core 2 Duo is better/faster even though the clock frequency is lower,
why is that? What is the feature that makes it possible? And in what
measure? As an example, I would like a statement that one chip can perform
x% more calculations in the same time, or something to that effect.

You won't get a specific statement.

The difference is in how the chips were designed, how they perform the
same tasks - one chip is more efficient at doing more things in the same
time as the other.

There is no way that you're going to find a definitive x% faster
anywhere, it's not just possible as there are many factory that impact
that number.

Anyone that has systems with Core Duo and Core 2 Duo and Quad Core 2
systems will tell you that the same speed CPU ranting is faster as you
go from Core Duo >> Core 2 Duo >> Quad Core 2... Even XP benefits from
this progression, but the real benefit is when doing more than one thing
at a time.

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[R. McCarty]

This page from a Anandtech article may give you some of the info
you're searching for:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2808&p=4

 

[Jerry]

That's exactly what I've been looking for!
Thanks a million!

 

[Leythos]

That's exactly what I've been looking for!
Thanks a million!

The article does not give what you asked, it only shows the technical
differences, not how much faster one is over the other.

--

Leythos
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Ron Pelfrey]

The Core CPU is a 32 bit CPU and the Core 2 is a 64 bit CPU.