Difference between dual core and core2duo

[Sankalp Anand]

The difference between core2duo and dual core has been an area of
interest primarily because of the similarity between the names. Most
of the sites tell about a larger cache size but there is a bigger
picture to it.

Core2 is a brand by Intel featuring the Intel’s eighth generation
“Intel core microarchitecture”, which uses highly improved processor
cores or wafers or dyes of the Intel P6 in combinations to provide an
increased performance. It is an attempt by Intel to bring computing on
laptops and desktops into a single processor banner of core2, which
was earlier divided into Pentium 4, Pentium D and Pentium M. This
gives us the unheard core2solo, the highly successful core2duo, the
next buzzword core2quad and the performance freak’s core2extreme.

It includes the Merom and Kentsfield, and their future versions namely
the highly successful Penryn, the Wolfdale and the Yorkfield. They
come in mixed flavors of laptop and desktop version.

Core2duo was launched in Aug 2006, features the Intel Core
microarchitecture. It was a whole new range of processors and used new
improved versions of technologies like x86 virtualization, SSE3, SSE
4.1, NX bit, SpeedStep and others. The shift of Intel’s focus from
processor speed to overall performance delivered in the form of these
core2duo processors which have better processing power and low power
consumption. The core2duo is the dual core version of the core2
architecture. It comprises of Mermon and the latest Penryn(45 nm)
cores. Penryn also allows DDR3 on desktop PCs. This brought a whole
new world of low cost processing power for notebooks and a new battle,
rather battlefield.

Dual core was launched under the Pentium brand and became popular soon
because Intel started launching the dual core for notebooks early in
2007, and then for desktops in mid 2007. These processors are based on
the Yonah , Morman and Allendale. The dual core comes mainly in 65nm
cores with the 45 nm version released in August this year.

A mention of the Pentium D processor here is important because,
Pentium D, although based on the multi-core technology still has a
number of limitations, like high power consumption and comparatively
low performance.

Finally here is a quick comparative.

1. core2duo started before dual core.
2. core2duo is under the core2 brand, dual core is under the
Pentium brand.
3. core2duo limits processor speed to 3.3 GHz, dual core limits it
to 2.5 GHz.
4. core2duo offers cache size of upto 6MB l2 cache with scope for
l3 cache as well, dual core limits it to around 2 MB.
5. FSB on core2duo goes to 1600 MT/s(million transfers per sec.,
around 1300 MHz), whereas on dual core goes to 800 MHz.
6. core2duo allows support for SSE4 on selected processors, dual
core allows only till SSE3.
7. Both are based on the core microarchitecture.
8. core2duo features improved x86 virtualization, SSE3, SSE 4.1, NX
bit, SpeedStep, Thermal Design Power, Active Management Technology
etc.
9. core2duo comes for higher prices, and is simply better than
mainstream dual core.

[Sankalp Anand]

Another yet more easy article bringing out the difference....

Difference between Intel Dual Core VS Core 2 Duo
Which one is Fast & Better Performer Intel Pentium D VS Core 2 Duo VS
Dual Core
Comparison between Dual Core VS Core 2 Duo in simple language.

Huh ! Confused about the difference between Pentium D vs Dual Core vs
Core Duo vs Core 2 Duo ? Well here is the explanation.image

First of all let me tell you that Dual Core is a name of "class" or
architecture of processors which refers to any processor (weather its
Intel or AMD) with two cores on the same chip. Whereas Intel Core or
Intel Core2Duo is a registered trademark [™] of the Intel Corporation.
Many peoples (even geeks) sometimes gets confusion between Core 2 Duo
& Dual Core or Dual Core & Core Duo. The fact is all the above
mentioned processors are Dual Core processors.
What is Dual Core Architecture :

Once upon a time when human realized that in a normal atmosphere its
not possible to increase the CPU Clock speed above standard levels
because of too much heat generated by CPU, Both Intel & AMD have hit
the Clock speed boundary line. Heat is enemy of any processor and high
imageclock speed means high heat and that means errors or “BOOM”.
Desperate need of more speed ( faster processing) is the basic reason
of why technology turned or shifted to Dual Core. So rather then
increasing the clock speed of Processor it was decided to put two CPUs
in One. That is what we call Two Cores or Dual Core. Nowadays Quad
Cores (4 cores) and even Dual Quad Cores (8 Cores) are there in
market.

In a layman’s tongue here's an example. Let's say a single core
(Pentium 4) is a two lane road with traffic running at 100kmph, and a
Dual Core is a four lane road with a traffic running at 100kmph, and a
Quad core is eight lanes running at 100kmph. All lanes (cores) are
running at the same speed, but more lanes (cores) can pass a lot more
traffic (Information or Data) than a single.

Dual core technology refers to two individual microprocessors on a
single die cast chip. This is essentially two processing units (CPUs)
in one. The advantage of a dual core chip is that tasks can be carried
out in parallel streams, decreasing processing time.

Now lets see the difference & Compare all of them line by line as per
their release sequence. Intel imagehas, several dual core processors
mentioned below.

1. Intel Pentium D - The early model for desktops. CPU comprised two
dies, each containing a single core residing next to each other on a
multi chip module.

Pentium D is slower than any one of the below, It consumes higher
power and so it gives more heat and even its not good in terms of
Over Clocking.

2. Intel Core Duo - The Core brand refers to Intel’s 32-bit mobile
dual-core x86 CPUs that derived imagefrom the Pentium M branded
processors. The Core brand comprised two branches: Duo (dual-core) and
Solo (Duo with one disabled core, which replaced the Pentium M brand
of single-core mobile processor). Core Duo was Intel's first dual-core
CPU for laptops. It's a whole new architecture, using two cores on a
single die, which simply, gives you two chips in one package. Running
at lower speeds than the old Pentium line.

The Core Duo conserves substantial power & racketing up clock speed
while offering what was, at the time, record-breaking performance.

3. Intel Core 2 Duo - The Core 2 brand refers to a range of Intel's
consumer 64-bit x86-64 Single, Dual and Quad Core CPUs based on the
Intel Core micro architecture. The imagesingle and Dual Core models
are single die, whereas the Quad Core models comprise of two dies,
each containing two cores, packaged in a multi-chip module.

Core 2 Duo processors are much popular these days, It has more
powerful Dual Core chip, The best performer, It consumes less power in
comparison to any of the above mentioned CPU. No over heating issues,
it runs cool and a perfect Over Clocker. Once “I” overclocked my Core
2 Duo E6750 (2.66Ghz) to 4 Ghz on air with Sunbeam Core Contact
Freezer. System was completely stable and temps were awesome.

4. Intel Pentium Dual Core -The Pentium Dual Core, which we found to
be an excellence choice for overclockers on a low budget, is based on
the popular Core 2 architecture. In fact, the processor cores are the
same, but the CPU comes with only 1 MB L2 cache instead of 2 MB or
even 4 MB. In addition, some features, such as Intel's Virtualization
imageTechnology (VT) are disabled. The result is a castrated Core 2
Duo processor, using the small cache size and limited to 1.6 to 2.0
GHz clock speed at FSB 800 system speed.

Intel Pentium Dual Core are based on either the 32-bit Yonah (T2060,
T2080, and T2130 for notebooks with 1mb L2 cache) or 64-bit Allendale
(E2140, E2160 and E2180 for desktops with 1mb L2 cache)

Later on Aug 2008, the 45nm E5200 Wolfdale Launched for mobile or
desktop computers with larger 2mb L2 cache and 2.5 Ghz clock speed.
This model is highly suggested in terms of over clocking. The best
over clocker in such cheap price, with some enthusiasts reaching over
6GHz clock speed using Liquid Nitrogen cooling.

Intel Dual Core processors are downgraded version of Core 2 Duo, less
expensive with smaller cache, but still very adequate for general
mainstream computer use. In terms of performance its more or less
equal to Core 2 Duos. Intel launched it with very low cost to grab the
lower end market. Intel Pentium Dual Core Processors are less power
consumer (65W) in comparison of Pentium D (130W). Though it has a
smaller L2 cache, it has proven to be much faster than the Pentium D
under the test of CPU hungry applications.

You can see a comparison chart of all the above CPUs here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Intel_processors