Can someone explain to me processor speed. Reps

[supacrazymonkey]

I see that certain laptops like asus ul80vt have 1.8ghz processors but they have amazing reviews. even better than laptops just as new that have 2.4ghz processors. idk I've been looking at specs and assuming that larger numbers but a lot of reviews I've been reading have been suggesting otherwise.

[devil_s haircut]

You see these speed differences a lot with all the new multi-core processors. Basically, take the Intel Core i7 and the Intel Core 2 Duo. Both are quad-core processors from the Intel family, and both top out around 3-ish Ghz (E8400 and i7 950 around 3.0 Ghz). However, they don't even compare due to things like different architecture, multi-threading abilities, power consumption, etc.

A Core 2 Duo has a quad core just like an i7, but in a Core 2 Duo you have 2 dies with 2 cores each, whereas the i7 has one die with all 4 cores together on it. It also has a larger cache, turbo boost technology, and quickpath interconnect (probably all gibberish to most people, but like I said...different architectures).

It's a little beyond my technical knowledge, but I see where you're coming from. Back in the 90's, all you had to do was look at the speed of the processor. Nowadays, it isn't the case.

[Moh7]

what does a larger cache mean?

[hawaiian robots]

what does a larger cache mean?

Typically data that is being processed is placed in Memory (RAM), when the same data is going to be accessed frequently it is then placed in L1 or L2 cache. The more cache there is the faster the CPU can process data that is to be frequently accessed.

In layman's terms:
L1 cache access is very very very fast.
L2 cache access is very very fast.
Memory access is very fast.
Harddrive access is like riding a horse to get from one side of the country to the other.

[supacrazymonkey]

You see these speed differences a lot with all the new multi-core processors. Basically, take the Intel Core i7 and the Intel Core 2 Duo. Both are quad-core processors from the Intel family, and both top out around 3-ish Ghz (E8400 and i7 950 around 3.0 Ghz). However, they don't even compare due to things like different architecture, multi-threading abilities, power consumption, etc.

A Core 2 Duo has a quad core just like an i7, but in a Core 2 Duo you have 2 dies with 2 cores each, whereas the i7 has one die with all 4 cores together on it. It also has a larger cache, turbo boost technology, and quickpath interconnect (probably all gibberish to most people, but like I said...different architectures).

It's a little beyond my technical knowledge, but I see where you're coming from. Back in the 90's, all you had to do was look at the speed of the processor. Nowadays, it isn't the case.

.... lol I wish I understood that. thanks though.

[HurfDurf]

Typically data that is being processed is placed in Memory (RAM), when the same data is going to be accessed frequently it is then placed in L1 or L2 cache. The more cache there is the faster the CPU can process data that is to be frequently accessed.

In layman's terms:
L1 cache access is very very very fast.
L2 cache access is very very fast.
Memory access is very fast.
Harddrive access is like riding a horse to get from one side of the country to the other.

^Pretty much this. Faster memory = faster the CPU can read and write to it. When you open a file it is loaded into memory then the data is processed by the CPU and written back to memory.

Basics of how the caches work:


memory stored in the cache can be read much faster than the ram.

[3000RT]

feel free to post the specs of both laptops and everyone will help you in determining whats faster

[Pleb]

devli_s haircut, do you mean Core 2 Quads are different than i7 Quads? Because you said Core 2 Duo, which doesn't have 4 cores, Duo has 2 cores.