Tag Archives: Dual
Dual Core Computer Processors
Dual Core Computer Processors
Most of the talk going on in the computer processor industry is revolving around dual core processors. But what advantages do they actually give and is it worth it in terms of price?
All processors have a core. A core contains some memory, often referred to as cache, either L1, L2 or L3, depending on how close it is to the core, and the core itself, as well as a few other essentials. The core is the “brain” part, it performs all the big calculations that are needed for the various things a computer does.
Computer cores have been increasing in speed, and increasingly quickly. Manufacturers were in a race to have the chip with the fastest speed, measured in GHz. One surprise is that despite these increases in clock speed, the actual speed of programs didn’t increase proportionately.
As modern programs make much heavier use of other computer parts like memory, and there are often many running at the same time, another approach was needed.
Dual core processors were the answer.
By putting two “brain” parts into the processor, you can run two programs on two cores, without having to share it between them. The effect of this is that when running two or more programs, the processor can now handle much more as a whole.
The part about them that might disappoint is gaming.
Unlike the multitasking environment that is usual for a computer either at home or at the office, games rely on the brute force of a powerful processor to help them along. So far there is no technology to take advantage of the two processors, like the ability to split its tasks over two cores. Most gaming has not improved with this new technology.
As with processors in the past the mainstream of dual core processors is dominated by the two big guys, Intel and AMD.
Intel offers two processors in its range, same processor, just different speeds. The lower priced of the Pentium D processors comes in at around 0. This price is reasonable considering how much you would pay for the top of the line single core processor.
The Pentium D is based on the same core as it’s single core counterparts, just two of them inside. Its boost in performance is quite notable, and makes it presence felt in the multitasking environment.
The AMD Athlon X2 is AMD’s offering in the dual core market. Unlike the Pentium D its lowest priced model comes in at a staggering 0. It’s not expensive compared to processors like its FX series, which are over 00, but in comparison to Intel it’s expensive.
It too is based on the same core as its single core cousins and also offers the same performance increases.
The price of the AMD is surprising. From a company that became renowned for it’s low cost, high performance processors this is quite a blow. Even the upper model of the Pentium Ds comes in at less that AMD’s cheapest model.
The price might be justified if the AMD actually gave a significant performance boost, but it doesn’t.
For the first time in a long time, I think I would be willing to switch back to an Intel processor. Although my preference is not for dual core, if I had or needed to switch I would certainly go straight for the Pentium D.
And finally, how do they compare to their now out of date traditional processors?
Considering how powerful processors have become I would still not make the switch. Dual core has not been around long enough to produce low cost, slightly out of date models. The power of the AMD Athlon 64 3000+ more than does it for my computing needs, and that’s where I would stay for now.
So for those who are looking for the next cool thing for their desktop computer and price is not a huge issue, this would be your best choice, but go for the lower end Pentium D.
More Gaming Computer Articles
Hot Tips About Dual Core Processors
Hot Tips About Dual Core Processors
Dual core processors have become very popular in the world of computing. Some hot tips about dual core processors have been printed in many computer magazines for the last few years and have served to whet the appetite of many computer users looking to upgrade their computer systems. The ability of dual core processors to make computer systems run much faster and cooler means that many people want these processors in their computers.
The hot tips about dual core processors have been talked about in many computer user forums online for many months now and the consensus seems to be that everyone wants them to be in their computer systems. While many older computers may not have the correct architecture to accept these dual processors, many of the newer models of computer can easily adapt to this innovation. The ability of dual core processors to handle multiple programs at one time is a very attractive aspect for anyone thinking of buying dual core processor architecture for their computer system.
The goal of the companies that are producing these dual core processor systems has been to get a system that can do the work at the best price for consumers. Because hot tips about dual core processors have become commonplace among many computer users, the popularity of these processors has grown a lot. Many people have been waiting for the ‘bugs’ to be worked out of the dual core processor systems, before they purchase a system for their own computer.
The main groups of computer users who are interested in this technology are the ones that use higher memory applications and people who use a lot of graphic programs such as computer games. This last set of users has been behind the dual core technology since the beginning as this innovation will enhance their playing considerably and allow their systems to compete with video game consoles already on the market. Once dual core processor systems can easily compete with video gaming consoles, and then the gaming consumer will think twice about buying a video console rather than upgrading to a dual core system.
While some manufacturers of these processors have gone after the gaming market, others have aimed their marketing towards the business sector. Offering reliable and powerful processing systems to both markets has resulted in many computer users having much more powerful systems with a high level of reliability. The speed at which these processors deliver results is staggering to many users who have been waiting for innovations such as this to come along. Many hot tips about dual core processors can be traced back to online forums among users who wanted a better and faster way to process computer applications.
The companies that create these applications wanted the manufacturers of the processors to make the processors faster so that the newer programs could be run much better and faster than they once had. This allowed for a great deal of innovation in the programs being produced as well. Knowing that the dual core processors could handle the program criteria allowed the programmers of games and applications to do whatever they wanted in the creation of a better and faster game or applications program.
When talking about hot tips about dual core processors, it’s important to realize that not only are these new processors faster at handling multiple tasks, but they are more capable of being able to deal with many computer programs and processes running at the same time. Since many people seldom run a single program or application on their computer at any one time, this ability to handle multiple applications is very important. The chance of your computer crashing under the load of trying to operate many programs at the same time is very slim now. These powerhouse processors can easily handle all the computing needs you have. You can read all about the newest innovations where dual core processors are concerned by simply searching online for manufacturers who specialize in these systems for computer users.
Related Gaming Computers Articles