Duo whatsit?

[ArlanKels]

I was looking at PC stores and I kept seeing this:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E4400 (2MB L2 Cache,2.0GHz,800FSB)


I have a 3.ghz(2.99 or whatever) processor in my current computer that I bought a few years back(Like three years).
Is the Duo Processor better than that or?

What does it mean by the duo processor thing?

[Seil]

What does it mean by the duo processor thing?

Well, Duo means two, and processor is self explanitory - so I'm guessing two processors in a team. Think... Batman and Robin, only in a Processor.

Intel released four additional Core 2 Duo Processors on July 22, 2007. The release coincided with that of the Intel Bearlake (x3x) chipsets. The new processors are named Core 2 Duo E6540, E6550, E6750, and E6850. Processors with a number ending in "50" have a 1333 MT/s FSB. The processors all have 4 MiB of L2 cache. Their clock frequency is similar to that of the already released processors with the same first two digits (E6600, E6700, X6800).[10] An additional model, the E6540, was launched with specifications similar to the E6550 but lacking Intel Trusted Execution Technology and vPro support. These processors are slated to compete with AMD's Stars processor line and are therefore priced below corresponding processors with a 1066 MT/s FSB.[11]

Intel has stated that the E6300 and the E6400 ARE CONROE CPU with the cache disabled. Alledale core CPUs Are the E4XXX series of CPUs.

That's what I got from Wiki, though I don't know if it explains anything.

[Aerozord]

although I do not know the conversion. I do remember that a duo core can process the same amount of information on few GHz.

[darth vader wannabe]

Instead of looking up information on the processors themselves, you may want to look up information on multi-core processors and parallel computing.

Those are at the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_core
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_computing

In a nutshell, the idea of having more than one processor (or core) on a computer (or CPU) is beneficial in that the multiple processors or cores can share a workload, helping the computer run faster. They can also help speed up a system by allowing multiple processes to be ran on separate cores.

The cores also have less "distance" to travel between them if they're on one die, which allows for faster computing.
Attempting to put that Information System Technology degree to work. It sure as heck ain't getting me a job.
EDIT: Well, crud. Of course after I say that, a company gives me an e-mail back from a job far I went to last week.

[ArlanKels]

So basically 2ghz duo == 4ghz?

[Eltargrim]

No! Don't ever assume that. Only programs designed for dual-core use can use both cores to maximum efficiency. It'll help, sure; but don't assume a doubling.

That being said, more and more programs are being written for multi-core processors. Get a dual core, preferably an Intel model; the e6750 is going for a good price right now, and is of high quality.

[I_Like_Swordchucks]

I was looking at PC stores and I kept seeing this:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor E4400 (2MB L2 Cache,2.0GHz,800FSB)


I have a 3.ghz(2.99 or whatever) processor in my current computer that I bought a few years back(Like three years).
Is the Duo Processor better than that or?

What does it mean by the duo processor thing?

Core 2 Duo Processors are the new architecture offered by Intel that are more heat and power efficient, and can process more information per clock cycle. The Duo processors are all pretty much dual core, which means they can utilize multi-threaded tasks thereby reducing the stress caused by single core. Core 2 Quad have four cores, and are therefore that much more efficient.

Is it better? Most definitely yes. It draws less power, produces less heat, and works much faster. How much faster is very dependent on that tasks you do... for example, it may only be a 10% or so improvement in graphically intensive games, but if you do a lot of media encoding or programming you can see up to 40-50% improvement in performance.

On that note, the E4000 series of the Core 2 processors are the 'budget' processors, and most retail stores overcharge on these computers. The E6000 and Q6000 series is generally a lot faster, though the E4000 are such good overclockers that a skilled computer techie can get similar performance from both.

But yeah, pretty much anything with Core 2 in the name will blow a Pentium IV out of the water.

[bluestarultor]

It also helps to have a 64-bit OS. Most operating systems still run on a 32-bit bus. Vista, as much as I hate it, supports 64-bit processing, meaning that it can better use a dual-core processor. Top-of-the-line processors coming out even have 4 cores, and it's only a short matter of time before we see 8.

What multicore processing does is take the incoming info and put two "people" on it, much like a partner project in school. Meaning more gets done faster. At its best, each partner can do completely different parts of the project and put it together for the presentation. This is 64-bit processing. Otherwise, it's more like both partners do the same job at the same time, which is faster than going solo, but not as efficient dividing the work. That's 32-bit.


Edit: And about the other features:

Level 2 Cache is part of the amount of onboard memory for the chip. It's often listed even where L1 isn't because it was traditionally always smaller, varies more often, and is more of a selling point when it's the same as or larger than L1.

The Hz rating is the amount of cycles per second the chip has. More specifically, how much time it takes to process one set of bits. Any prefixes just multiply it by their respective modifiers.

The Frontside Bus (FSB) is the speed at which data enters the chip. It's often faster than the chip can actually process, hence caching to help make sure the instructions aren't lost. There are other mechanisms that help in the chipset and such, but I won't go into that.

[Ryong]

This reminds me I'm getting an intel core 2 duo processor, 2.7 GHz. I don't know the model, though.

[KingOfChaos]

It means it has two logical processors in one chip. That is simply put. It's more useful in running multiple programs and increases hyperthreading.