Core 2 Duo vs. Turion64x2

Can someone educate me on the differences in these 2? All the webites say core 2 duo is way better. Looking at them in the dv2000. Is it really that much better? they are both 64 bit right? People that do like one better than the other, can you please explain why? thanks for all your help.

 

Everything I know indicates that core 2 duo has lower power consumption, generates less heat, and is all around faster than its turion counterpart.

Intel has more experience with designing the multicore architecture from their HT projects while AMD is still very new to the whole process. Plus, core / core 2 duo chips have a much better chipset to work with via intel.

 

I ditto the above. While the AMD is a good chip for the money, go with the Intel if you have some extra cash...want the max battery life..

 

Yes...the C2D is a far better CPU than the Turion X2, in general.

 

The only noticeable difference for most applications would be a slight decrease in battery life with the Turion. While the C2D benchmarks higher, in real-world applications both chips perform well. That said, I would buy an Intel-based laptop at the moment.

 

Yes.

That's just silly.

 

Well...

If all the websites are saying the Core 2 Duo is the way to go... that sort of tells you something.

Both are 64 bit... other reasons to go with the Core 2 Duo are noted in the above posts.

You mentioned the dv2000.... another aspect of the machine that is sometimes affected by what cpu is the gpu. Certain gpu's not being available with certain cpu's.

HP for example installing NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 6150 gpu in a AMD cpu'd machine and a 256MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7400 gpu in an Intel cpu'd machine...

The 6150 being pretty much at the BOTTOM, the 7400 being a much FASTER gpu (video card)
http://www.notebookcheck.com/Mobile-Grafikkarten-Benchmarkliste.735.0.html

To fiqure out "what" gpu you may need read thru this thread:
Notebook Video Graphics Card Guide 2006
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=65548



Next question your going to have after fiquring what your needs are, what your budget is, would be the best place to buy... right?


Well the BEST place to buy due to their 180-day NO hassle return window is COSCTO.... either in store, or via the web. Via the web you can CTO a unit (Custom to Order) and have it in about 7-10 days direct from the HP factory in CHINA.

http://www.costco.com/CTO/HPLanding.aspx?Prodid=10029570&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

 

spy21der,

Just did a search, and it seems you already own a dv2000z you posted 07-09-2006, 06:17 PM ????? You outgrown it already?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=64019

 

True, but once you start encoding, viewing HDTV, rendering graphics (like 3DStudioMAX & Maya), you'll want a C2D. Gaming doesn't matter as much, but I would recommend a C2D if you game, just so you get a little more power that might be useful.

If you aren't doing a lot of that, or you're on a tight budget and don't mind a little less battery life, the Turion X2 notebooks are cheaper than their Intel counterparts.

 

Thanks a bunch for all of the replies. Yes I do already have the dv2000z. The reason I ask is because I ordered it from costco and my days to return are running out. I was just wondering if it is that much better that I should consider returning it.

 

Well, if you haven't experienced any problems with a lack of power I'd say that you're fine. The only exception is if you could get a similar C2D machine for about the same price, which I have no idea if that would happen.

I only upgrade my machines when my current rig can't do something I need it to do. Example: I retired my M140 because I wanted to game, so I bought my nc8430.

 

If there's nothing "wrong" with the machine, it's not defective in some way, using it for 4 -5 months+ and returning it is dis-honest.

Costco takes a HUGE loss on units returned after the 21st day thru the 180th day if something is not "wrong" with them. So be sure to state "if" you do return it that there is a problem with the unit as the reason for the return... that you've spent hour, upon hour, upon hour on the phone with tech support, had the unit repaired several times and the thing still isn't fixed...

Sort of like the guys in this thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=57325


Here's some more info on doing returns at Costco, so Costco is credited back from the mfg for "defective" items.:

Best place to buy an HP, How to get all your money back,and make sure mfg bears the brunt of the loss, instead of the reseller!
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=86901


.

 

spy21der,

Ask Costco how much it costs on each type of return and let your conscience be your guide.

I was interested in purchasing a quanity of returned items and asked on several seperate occasions "how Costco was credited back on "returns". I was told the items were sold off to a salvage company @ 30 cents on the dollar.. if the item was marked "resaleable".

Ask yourself if YOU were in business and had offered an "extended" return window far beyond that offered by the mfg for those that may be having "real" troubles, how you would view someone who would "use" an item for several months and then return it and YOU would end up taking a huge loss on it.

 

Everyone needs to calm down. I would never take something back if there is nothing wrong with it. I am not like that and would never do something like that.

 

I am quite pleased with the performance of the TX2. Sure the C2D might be faster but unless you are looking to extract every ounce of performance from the processor for regular use it really doesnt matter whether you have the TX2 orthe C2D. When I bought mine for the price it was a good value. It was one of the cheapest dual cores with decent overall performance. I can run Vista on it without any major issues.

If you are unhappy with yours then retun it and buy another system. But I wouldnt expect a C2D based system to be much faster than the Turion X2 for the average user.

 

Glad to hear you have a conscience. Allot of people these days don't.

Right thing to do would be to sell the unit you currently have, if you're wanting to buy a unit with a differant cpu and pay the differance.

That would be the "right" thing to do.

If you do end up taking it back because of "problems", ask them to confirm what I wrote up in the above thread, Ask them to confirm how they are credited back from HP for units returned with a "problem" (21st thru the 180th day)... I'd like to confirm the info is indeed correct.


.

 

The difference won't be noticeable. The Turion 64 x2 CPUs are very powerful themselves. You will probably never fully utilize the processing power of either anyway with normal use.

 

to be fair if costco offers a 180 day return policy then they should expect to take loses lol and it seems like u guys feel sorry for costco because of it im sure every loss they take from them they make up for it some where else and anyway if they took a huge loss they wouldnt offer it anyway.

 

since everyone is talking about costco I want to ask a question, does one need to have a membership from costco to buy from them or is it not necessary?

 

darth, it is because of abuses of that Costco went from a unlimited return window on computers to 180 days.

They looked at the numbers and the types of persons doing "returns" and found that it was mostly young, college age persons that have the attitude that you are displaying that were abusing the system.

So far as "making it up somewhere else"... I take it you don't own a business, do you? Say YOU were to make a sale on a $1,500 item, making 10% ($150) off the sale... then some joker "uses" it for 6 months then returns it to YOU.... and it's sold off to a salvage company for $500, you taking a $850 loss ($1,500-500=1,000-150=850) Would you be "cool" with that?... Tell me honestly if YOU would be "cool" with people doing that on a regular basis.


.

 

You can buy without a membership, but there is a "upcharge".

It's better to buy the membership (like $40?), because you might get a defective unit, have to return it, and if you re-order it would be considered a seperate sale , and you'd have to pay another "upcharge" fee.. Don't know if the upcharge fee if refundable, or how the 180 return window applies.... It may be that the 180 return window is just for "members", since it is a "club", requiring a membership.

Don't know, I don't work for them. I just want them to be successful and keep in place their current polices as they are one of the few resellers at which you can get an "unlimited" return window on any item purchased thru them without a hassle.
(Computers being the exception, because of abuses by people who think it's alright to "use" something for 6 months, return it to buy a newer model, and then maybe do it again, and again... over and over again... Because "hey, they'll make it up somewhere else"...)

 

Hey, can we get back on topic here?

 

No problem... Back on topic as of post #21

 

ok night, my turion x2 tl-60 performs very well i havent seen any problems when working on photoshop,adobe audition or games so for the price you cant go wrong in my opinion.

 

If you are getting a laptop on the low end, I would get the turion. The Turion will come with a Nvidia graphic card which is way better than Intel 950 GMA. It will have no problems running the aero features in Vista while the Intel 950 might have problems. I have also notices that my Nvidia card has come with a Powermizer feature. Also, in the clock down states, the turion will cut the voltage to the processor and decrease the multiplier which will save more juice. I think the Intel processor will just change the multiplier on the processor. You also have on-die memory controller but the cache size on the Intel is a lot bigger (4mb versus 512) because they use 65 nm versus 90 on the turion. I think this gives the C2D its speed advantage but AMD is coming out with 65 nm Turion soon so it should have a bigger L2 cache.

If you are getting a C2D with a Nvidia card than take the Intel but it will cost you more.

 

Actually the Intel I have undervolts to .950 v. The core speed also goes from 1995 mhz down to 995 mhz and the multiplier decreases from x12 to x6. It gets more battery then a similary speced turion.

 

I had a core duo so I don't know whether the C2D cuts the volts. I heard it can power down one core and run off the other one which the core duo didn't have. In either case the C2D get worse battery than the Core Duo. Intel with Speed Step has only cut it multiplier for all its mobile processors before.

 

Very, very true, even with the new Intel G965. nVidia and ATI make far better GPUs.