Processor comparison

Hi

With regard to DAW (laptop) recording and mixdown (plugins etc) which (single core) Pentium M processor would be equivalent to:

Core 2 Duo 1.66Ghz 667Mhz ?

Echom

 

None? A 1.83GHz Pentium M will run about as fast as one core of the Core 2 Duo chip, but you can't get a single-core processor to ever be "equivalent" to a dual-core, especially with an audio workstation running multi-threaded software.

 

That's interesting. So the 1.66 Core 2 duo is like having two 1.83 Pentium M's side by side -- plus the advantage of better performance for multi-threaded software.

I'm learning here -- are the basic operations of sequencers (pro tools, cubase, etc) multi-threaded? If so, then the dual core processors really would be a great advantage over single core processors.

Echom

 

I'm not 100% certain, but any decent programs that need a lot of processing power should be multi-threaded...so yes dual core would be a great advantage.

Even if the program(s) is/are not, a single core in a Core or Core 2 laptop will be capable of beating most Pentium M processors single-handedly. So even then, you'll have better performance. And the biggest advantage if this happens - you have another core to use for other programs while you wait for your heavy-processing program to do it's job. Multitasking is much easier with a dual core laptop.

 

Even if Pro Tools, cubase, etc. aren't multi-threaded, they will have more CPU to themselves, because the other CPU can run Windows operations and such, taking the load off the single core. If you can borrow or play with someone's computer with dual-core, start up something like SuperPi, and then try and surf the Internet, or do something else. Then do it with a single-core computer. You will notice a huge difference in responsiveness. Which is what you want with your audio programs. I'd recommend getting a dual-core just for that.

 

Dual core is currently the standard in processor technology.

Keep in mind that it's not only the extra cores that make a difference in processor performance. The Core 2 Duo series are a whole new architecture, and that means a lot. A new architecture like Core 2 Duo mean that Intel has managed to increase performance just based on how the processor is designed and manufactured alone. The old Pentium M's are based on a 90 nanometer production process. The Core 2 Duo is shrunk to 65nm. That means that Intel can fit more transistors on the chip, increasing its raw power, while also decreasing power consumption, because shrinking processor size cuts down on power transfer inefficiency.

But, with the type of work you'll be doing, such as audio editing, you will notice a tremendous advantage with dual core. Whereas in the past, one core would be tied up doing all of the work, currently a dual-core processor can tackle audio editing while you run a virus scan and surf the internet at the same time.

So, long story short, there is no Pentium M that can match any Core 2 Duo for power and efficiency. Even the budget Core 2 Duo T5300 will trump any Pentium M.

 

That is true only if you power off one core and compare it to P-M CPU. But Intel can't handle that yet. Maybe Santa Rosa can do, but who knows.

If you talk about per watt performance, I agree with you. But the absolute power consumption does increased.

The question is: Whoever use their battery on Gaming, SuperPi in multiple threads?

I guess both Intel and AMD has to face the issue to completely turn off one core when the system is on battery, and turn it back after AC plugged in.

 

Santa Rosa will have "Dynamic Acceleration Technology," meaning you can switch between single and dual core processing as required by the application.