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    How important is Dual Core or 64-bit?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by DMB14, Apr 23, 2006.

  1. DMB14

    DMB14 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm getting a new laptop soon and I don't know if I should go for eaither single core Pentium M, Intel Core Duo, or Turion 64. I don't know how important this new technology is. I know I don't need it for Vista, but maybe it would be important for other things??

    How much longer will a Pentium M CPU be good for? Also, should I choose 64-bit over dual core or vice versa?

    The main issue for me is really the GPU. I will probably be doing some gaming and everything else will be just your average stuff. Internet, music, videos, etc.
     
    DMB14, Apr 23, 2006
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  2. Smith2688

    Smith2688 Notebook Evangelist

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    If you're just doing normal, run of the mill things, you probably don't need either for a few years.

    By the way, dual core > 64-bit, right now.
     
    Smith2688, Apr 23, 2006
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  3. etccu1987

    etccu1987 Notebook Geek

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    dual core is faster than a pentium M of the same speed (GHz). I think the difference is up to 27% faster
     
    etccu1987, Apr 23, 2006
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  4. Shel

    Shel Notebook Evangelist

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    Do you ever scan your harddrive for viruses or spyware, and want to continue using your computer to surf the web, listen to music, burn CD's?

    If you prefer to walk away from your computer while it's scanning your harddrive for viruses, burning DVD's or CD', or backing up your data, you don't need dual core.

    If you'd like to be able to continue using your computer while it's scanning for viruses, burning dvd/cd's, backing up data, playing music in the background, dual core will allow your computer to do those things and continue to do whatever else you want to do, all without slowing down your machine! Scan your harddrive and watch a DVD without the movie hickuping? No problem with Dual Core, may be a problem without it. I don't know that many people who want to do one thing on their computer, then walk away until it's completed!

    Check out Laptop Mag's article on dual core. Not only does dual core give faster performance for those programs optimised for it (Photoshop, Video decoding programs, and more and more programs are being written to take advantage of dual core), but they demonstrate that even when doing what most of us generally do, and multitasking, it provides a very significant speed improvement!
     
    Shel, Apr 23, 2006
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