CPU's?

[slimshady2357]

I'm looking at getting another laptop and one of the things that always confuses me is all the different types of processors.

For instance, I was looking on Dell's website and here are some of the chioces:

AMD® Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL60
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile technology TK-55
Intel® Pentium Dual Core Processor T2310
Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core T2080 Processor

I'm not a total goombah when it comes to these sorts of things, though I suppose I'm only about 1 step up from there.

I've been using wiki to read about the various processors and I think the ones above are ranked in order of speed from fastest to slowest.

Can anyone who really knows about these things check that for me? And can you give me a little lesson on what the differences are between them?

For instance, AMD has the 'Athlon' and the 'Turion' range, what is the difference?
Intel seems to have 'Core-Duo', 'Dual-Core' and 'Core 2 Duo', what is the difference?

[seebs]

I think "dual-core' are mostly older than the more recent "core duo" and "core 2 duo". They have multiple cores, but they weren't built as well as the Core {solo,duo} series. Turion is the AMD "mobile" line -- renamed recently. So I think you're right that the Turion is probably newer than the dual-core mobile.

[slimshady2357]

I think "dual-core' are mostly older than the more recent "core duo" and "core 2 duo". They have multiple cores, but they weren't built as well as the Core {solo,duo} series. Turion is the AMD "mobile" line -- renamed recently. So I think you're right that the Turion is probably newer than the dual-core mobile.

Thanks seebs!

I am also under the impression that the order of release for Intel was 'dual-core' then 'core duo' and finally 'core 2 duo'. I figured it was just logical to assume that they increased in speed each time. After I posted the OP, I realised that I had just assumed the 64 X2's were faster than the intels, I don't know if that is correct.

I wish there were easy to find benchmarking sites that I could use to check it all out :unfrustrated:

[viscousmemories]

Your wish is Tom's Hardware Guide (http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html)'s command.

[Zehava]

I think "dual-core' are mostly older than the more recent "core duo" and "core 2 duo". They have multiple cores, but they weren't built as well as the Core {solo,duo} series. Turion is the AMD "mobile" line -- renamed recently. So I think you're right that the Turion is probably newer than the dual-core mobile.

Thanks seebs!

I am also under the impression that the order of release for Intel was 'dual-core' then 'core duo' and finally 'core 2 duo'. I figured it was just logical to assume that they increased in speed each time. After I posted the OP, I realised that I had just assumed the 64 X2's were faster than the intels, I don't know if that is correct.

I wish there were easy to find benchmarking sites that I could use to check it all out :unfrustrated:

Intel Core Duo is simply a rebranding of Intel Dual Core (IIRC). Core 2 Duo is Intel's 2nd generation dual core CPU (2 physical CPUs on the same die). Core 2 Duo's finally add support for DDR2-800mHz ram for Intel dual core CPUs.

AMD's Turion is their newest CPU, AMD Mobile is the old name for it. AMD Mobile cpus are definitely not the latest and greatest (still good though).

The biggest differences between the Turion and Athlon Mobile is the L2 cache (x2 in Turion) and Turion's support for DDR2-800mHz RAM.

Important Specs:

Intel T2300 Core Duo CPU
Operating Freq: 1.66GHz
FSB: 667MHz
L1 Cache: 32kb/CPU
L2 Cache: 2MB shared

AMD Dual Core Mobile TK-55
Operating Freq: 1.8GHz
FSB: 800MHz full duplex (1600MHz effective)
L1 Cache: 64kb/CPU
L2 Cache: 512kb/CPU (dedicated)

AMD Turion TL60
Operating Freq: 2.0GHZ
FSB: 800MHz full duplex (1600MHz effective)
L1 Cache: 128kb/CPU
L2 Cache: 512kb/CPU (dedicated)

While on those numbers alone AMD appears the clear winner, note that we are comparing one of AMD's top mobile processors (TL60) to one of Intel's lower end mobile processors (T2300).

Either way you go the laptop will perform very well (stay clear of Vista).

[Zehava]

Your wish is Tom's Hardware Guide (http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html)'s command.

Anandtech (http://www.anandtech.com) as well