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Intel Core Duo - Quick question????

ace2109

ace2109

ace2109

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28 Dec 2002
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2,400
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Northern Ireland
Hi Guys,
Just ordered a new laptop and it has a 1.6 core duo processor in it. I am new to these but am i correct in saying this is like 2 processors? So in effect i really have a 3.2 ghz processor???

Stupid question i know but i had to ask :D
 
No, it's not a stupid question if you don't know about dual core. It's not like having one CPU twice the speed unless you have an application like Photoshop that knows how to use multiple cores or processors. It's reallly like having the two processors in parallel so you can load them with more applications running simultaneously without them slowing down.

Jonathan
 
I like to think of it as having two equally demanding programs running, for example CS. With a CPU that is just one core @ 1.6ghz, you will be able to run CS once with the one CPU fully loaded. With the CPU you are getting, you will be able to run two CS'es, one on each core (set in task manager).

The main advantage is multi-tasking. When playing CS I have hl.exe on one core and the other programs running (such as MSN, IRC, vent etc..) on the other core.
 
oh right ok it makes a lot more sense now guys thanks, i wouldnt use photoshop that much as i dont know a great deal about it but do use it ocassionaly.

So does task manager assign different programs o each core or just the one and then i assign programs to the second?
 
ace2109 said:
oh right ok it makes a lot more sense now guys thanks, i wouldnt use photoshop that much as i dont know a great deal about it but do use it ocassionaly.

So does task manager assign different programs o each core or just the one and then i assign programs to the second?
Click to expand...

Nope, windows does it all on it own. No need to touch it unless you have problems (some games need to be forced onto one core)
 
As young Master Rules says, just let Windows manage it.
I've been building and using dual processor PCs since the original Pentium processors and it's sooo much less hassle having both CPUs on one chip, although I suspect the performance isn't quite as good as having two discrete processors due to cache conflicts.
 
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