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Daz
06-09-2006, 16:20
For the love of god, what's the difference between the Core Duo, and the Core 2 Duo chips? I keep hearing/reading different things, and Intel's site isn't making it clear either. Maybe it's because I'm getting ill :/ but if someone could just tell me what the hell they're on about, I'd appreciate it.

Never been a fan of Intel's chip branding :/

[edit]Though wikipedia is coming up with a little more information. Big difference seems to be lack of EMT64 on the Core Duo's :/

Mark
06-09-2006, 16:31
Core Duo = Yonah
Core 2 Duo = Conroe

The Core 2 Duo has several architectural refinements over Core Duo (e.g. more efficient sharing of the L1 and L2 cache), and also has things like 64-bit support that Core Duo doesn't.

Also, Core Duo is a low power consumption chip aimed at laptops, Core 2 Duo is a deskcop CPU. A new laptop version based on the Core 2 Duo (codenamed Merom is due out about now). The Core 2 Duo actually runs cooler than the Core Duo though (at least at comparable clock speed).

I remember reading that the clock-for-clock performance gain is somewhere around 10-20%, but also bear in mind that as a desktop chip, the Core 2 Duo is officially rated for much higher clock speeds than the Core Duo.

Daz
06-09-2006, 16:32
Cheers dude :) Laptop shopping you see, so I have to get familiar with Intels offerings again :/

Mark
06-09-2006, 16:36
If you're laptop shopping and can wait a little while (month or two), wait until the Merom-based offerings are available. :)

Daz
06-09-2006, 16:38
Merom

Merom, the first mobile version of the Core 2, was officially released on July 27, 2006 but quietly began shipping to PC manufacturers in mid-July alongside Conroe.[4][5] Merom is Intel's premier line of mobile processors, with largely the same features as Conroe but with more emphasis on low power consumption to enhance notebook battery life. Intel has claimed that Merom will provide 20% more performance yet maintain the same battery life as the Yonah-based Core Duo. Merom will be the first Intel mobile processor to feature EM64T 64-bit extensions.

Intel has stated that the first version of Merom is drop-in compatible with the current Core Duo platform, requiring at most a BIOS update. It has the same thermal envelope and the same 667 MT/s bus rate.[6]

The Merom processors are labeled as the "T5x00" and "T7x00" Core 2 Duo models, with the T5500 clocked at 1.66 GHz, the T5600 clocked at 1.83 GHz, the T7200 clocked at 2.0 GHz, the T7400 clocked at 2.16 GHz, and the T7600 clocked at 2.33 GHz. The T5x00 models come with 2 MB of shared L2 cache, and the T7x00 models come with 4 MB of shared L2 cache.
Appealing indeed. Wonder how long it will take Dell to get their fingers out...

Mark
06-09-2006, 16:41
If I hadn't just emptied my savings account this month I'd have been in the market for a Merom equivalent to the D620. Now I have to save some more (if that's possible on my current budget). :(

Guess I'll have to stick it out with the D600 for a little while longer.

PS - can't play Painkiller on the D620 either. :(

Burble
06-09-2006, 16:44
Appealing indeed. Wonder how long it will take Dell to get their fingers out...

September according to my Dell account manager.

Daz
06-09-2006, 16:47
I do like the look of the D620 on paper, but I'm worried if the screen size would do my head in (14.1 only I believe). Been a while since I've seen anything that small, we've been buying D810's.

September according to my Dell account manager.
Mine's on holiday till Monday, you just saved me a call :D

Well, last time I checked, we were in september... spiffing.

Burble
06-09-2006, 17:10
I can't wait to replace my laptop.. I've got a D400 which seemed like a great idea at the time as I figured a smaller laptop would decrease the weight of the crap I carry about when travelling but I have to say that saving 1Kg on a laptop makes **** all difference.

The D400 isn't a problem when I'm in the office as I've got a docking station with a 24" TFT plugged in, but it is a real struggle to use a 12.1" screen when travelling :/

Daz
06-09-2006, 17:12
Do you think you'd be happy with a 14.1 screen? Or will you be going for the bigger (heavier, but like you say, meh) models (15.4)?

Burble
06-09-2006, 17:14
I could cope with 14.1", but I'll most likely go for 15.4".

Mark
06-09-2006, 17:27
Must admit I'm tempted to upsize this time. I got my D600 for portability too. However, I struggle with any TFT that small. :)

Jhadur
06-09-2006, 18:28
On a complete tangent and thread hi-jack :D Does anyone know where I could get hold of a cheap and cheerful Laptop. Doesn't have to be good just able to run software for programming courses and the like.

Oh and when I say cheap I mean cheap :) about £100 or so.

Thanks and sorry for the hi-jack.

Mark
06-09-2006, 18:55
eBay/2nd hand. :(

Burble
06-09-2006, 19:47
I may be able to help you out Mic but not for at least a couple of weeks. Apparently my old Dell C600 is still knocking about the office (PIII 1.2, 1Gb RAM, 40Gb HD IIRC) being used to running some thermal imaging software on it. The imaging guys are getting a new laptop when I can be arsed to order it and the C600 would then be surplus to requirements.

I'll give you a prod if anything comes of it.

Jhadur
06-09-2006, 20:19
Cool thanks Paul :D

Fayshun
07-09-2006, 13:28
Got any more? :hopeful:

Desmo
07-09-2006, 13:31
I keep nudging my bro-in-law to grab me a laptop from work, lol

Fayshun
07-09-2006, 15:08
I keep nudging my bro-in-law to grab me a laptop from work, lol
Get 2.

Burble
07-09-2006, 15:14
Got any more? :hopeful:

Not as far as I know.

Fayshun
07-09-2006, 15:24
Not as far as I know.

Shame :dejected:

Daz
07-09-2006, 15:58
Keep an eye on the Dell Outlet (http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/notebooks?c=uk&cs=&l=en&s=dfb&~ck=mn) dude. Sometimes there's bugger all, granted, but if you time it right with their offers and if you're lucky, then you can get some stonking deals out of them.

Not just laptops either. Can get some great monitor deals on there too.

Daz
15-09-2006, 16:09
Christ, it pays to shop around. Refurbished Dell D820, Core Duo 2GHz, 1GB RAM, the WSXGA+ screen (1680 res, not 1900, that's always felt just a tad too much for a 15.4" screen), 256MB Quadro (not the standard 128), bluetooth, modular floppy, CDRW/DVD Rom.... £699 + Vat, with 9 months interest free if I want it.

Never gonna beat that. The list price direct from Dell for the same system, though with a Core 2 Duo, is £1800 according to my account manager. I asked if he could beat it, he said no, just buy it and he'll chuck me some freebies in on my next order :p

Burble
15-09-2006, 17:11
Nice price!

I'm toying with the idea of a new laptop, but I've got a D600 downstairs that I got as a freebie and that only gets used when I'm on holiday and will be wanting to check email/copy photos off whilst there.

Desmo
15-09-2006, 17:13
Sounds good Daz. I'm hoping to be in the market for a laptop next year if we've got the spare cash.

Daz
15-09-2006, 17:13
Nice price!

I'm toying with the idea of a new laptop, but I've got a D600 downstairs that I got as a freebie and that only gets used when I'm on holiday and will be wanting to check email/copy photos off whilst there.
Plenty good for that :) My current lappy I cant stomach to use, it's just too old, battery is useless and it's far, far too slow. Patience is not one of my virtues :p When it comes to computing anyway.

Mark
16-09-2006, 13:15
I'm also considering a new lappy, but for now the D600 will have to do. Even though it my machine, I use it when in the office as it's the best machine I've got there. Company are being tight as a very tight thing with budget - except when it comes to the directors 'perks' of course. :(

Unfortunately I just used up all the money I'd put aside to buy one - thanks to various things (meets and hardware upgrades).

Garp
16-09-2006, 22:40
Wow.. that dell outlet store has some nice cheap servers too. Perfect for my needs for the Dirty Lan