really simple question

[Adam Chapman]

I am looking into building a pc for the first time and I am looking at
some dual core CPUs.

The speed some CPUs are described as 2x something, e.g.2x2.6 GHz.
Does this mean the CPU speed is actually 3.2GHz or is it just a
marketing strategy to confuse me?

also, what is the difference between an intel dual core and a Xeon
processor?

Adam

 

[Mike T.]

I am looking into building a pc for the first time and I am looking at
some dual core CPUs.

The speed some CPUs are described as 2x something, e.g.2x2.6 GHz.
Does this mean the CPU speed is actually 3.2GHz or is it just a
marketing strategy to confuse me?

also, what is the difference between an intel dual core and a Xeon
processor?

Adam

Last I checked, xeon was single core. But, many xeon mainboards will allow
you to install TWO cpu's.

Dual core means that there are two CPU's in one package. Each are running
at the same clock speed. Or if they run at 1.6GHz, this might be expressed
as 2 X 1.6GHz. When you install dual core, it looks like you are just
installing one CPU. But there's two of them, they just make one physical
connection to the mainboard. -Dave

 

[Paul]

Last I checked, xeon was single core. But, many xeon mainboards will allow
you to install TWO cpu's.

Dual core means that there are two CPU's in one package. Each are running
at the same clock speed. Or if they run at 1.6GHz, this might be expressed
as 2 X 1.6GHz. When you install dual core, it looks like you are just
installing one CPU. But there's two of them, they just make one physical
connection to the mainboard. -Dave

You can get Xeons up to quad core now. But the benchmarks I was looking at
a couple days ago, suggest they may be starved for FSB. Even though the
FSB on this thing, is FSB1333. There are some very nice Xeon dual cores
with a wicked fast core speed, which I'd rather own. The latest Xeons
are based on the same tech as Core2 Duo or Quad.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9YM

Paul

 

[Mike T.]

You can get Xeons up to quad core now. But the benchmarks I was looking at

a couple days ago, suggest they may be starved for FSB. Even though the
FSB on this thing, is FSB1333. There are some very nice Xeon dual cores
with a wicked fast core speed, which I'd rather own. The latest Xeons
are based on the same tech as Core2 Duo or Quad.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9YM

Paul

That's cool. A xeon crosses my desk from time to time, thought I'd read
that they might have dual core versions, but they are up to quad core now?
Wow. -Dave