Intel Core 2 Duo vs. Core i5: Should I Upgrade?
The Difference a Few Generations Make
The Intel Core 2 Duo line of processors was one of the company’s most successful. I personally still use a Core 2 Duo E8400 in my main system, and while I will likely upgrade soon, it’s served me admirably for over three years.
Despite that, it’s quite an old processor at this point. If you have an older but still capable processor such as this you may be wondering if there’s any point in upgrading to a new Intel Core i5.
Let’s have a look at Intel’s Core 2 Duo vs Core i5 and review the benefits you’ll receive.
Processor Performance
The speed of computer processors used to be exciting, or at least noteworthy, to the average consumer. This was particularly true during the 1990’s when the MHz and eventually GHz wars were in full swing. Over the course of a decade we went from processors running at 50 MHz to those running at over 1 GHz, and this was a simple way for buyers to gauge relative performance.
Today, that has all changed. It’s easy to feel a bit confused about buying a new processor with the same clock speed as your old one. Are you really gaining much with the new product?
The new processors make a difference so long as you use your computer for more than basic email and web-surfing. A new Core i5-2500K processor, compared to older Core 2 era products, can provide a performance boost of up to and over 400%. For example, The Tech Report found that the Panorama Factory stitch time (the time required to stitch sample photos into a panorama) of a Core i5-2500K was 11.3 seconds, while a Core 2 Duo E6400 required 41.3 seconds. Anandtech found similarly impressive results when using Windows Media Encoder, where the Core i5-2500K required 22 seconds to encode the test clip but a Core 2 Quad Q6600 required 40 seconds to handle the same.
If you use any sort of processor intensive application, including common apps like Photoshop, Windows Live Movie Maker, and processor intensive games like Civilization 5, you’ll see a significant difference between the Core i5 and the older Core 2 Duo processors.
Indeed, you may be surprised by just how much quicker your computer will feel.
Image credits: The Tech Report and Anandtech (see references)
Graphics Performance
If you’re a serious gamer, the graphics performance associated with a processor isn’t likely to matter. You already have a discrete card that you’ll use one way or another. For everyone else, however, integrated graphics is often important.
The Core i5 processors bring more good news in that regard. When Intel introduced the first generation they brought the integrated graphics processor on to the CPU die and improved it significantly. With the current second-generation Core i5, Intel has now made the IGP part of the processor architecture (the CPU and IGP share cache) and improved it further.
What this means is that a Core i5-2500K is capable of playing many modern games at low resolutions and detail settings. It’s also more than capable of handling any sort of high-definition video.
Although a hardcore gamer won’t be satisfied with it, someone who casually plays games like Starcraft 2 or The Sims 3 will be happy with the performance offered. The new Intel HD graphics provide better driver support, as well, which means you’ll run across fewer errors and have a smoother gaming experience.
Image Credits: IGN.Com
Pricing — And Conclusion
Intel’s current Core i5-2500K, the high end of the line, is priced at $219, while the entry-level Core i5-2300 is priced at $184. These are expensive prices for processors, but the performance justifies the price. In fact, on a price-for-performance basis, these products are bargains.
However, buying one of these new processors is not as easy as bringing one home and sticking it in to your Core 2 Duo system. Intel has changed sockets since then, so you’ll need to buy a new motherboard with a LGA 1155 socket to fit your second-generation Core i5 processor.
In addition to this, the RAM standard has shifted over the last few years.
When Core 2 Duo was popular most systems used DDR2 RAM. Today, however, DDR3 RAM is required. This will add another $40 to $120 dollars to your build depending on the amount of RAM you’d like to have in your PC.
When the processor, motherboard and RAM needs are covered, you’re looking at a price tag of at least $400. If you choose an expensive motherboard or you’d like to buy 8GB of RAM, you’ll be looking at a price closer to $600.
That’s a substantial barrier, and it’s the reason why even a die-hard geek like myself has yet to upgrade. If you have the money, however, the upgrade will likely be worthwhile. Your new Core i5 will make your system feel brand new compared to your Core 2 Duo.
References
Anandtech: The Sandy Bridge Review
The Tech Report: Intel’s ‘Sandy Bridge’ Core processors
Difference Between Core 2 Duo and Core I5
| Parameters of comparison | Dual-core | Core 2 Duo |
| Cpu speed | 1200. 05 MHz |
797.78 MHz |
| Pipeline storage | 20 | 14 |
| Bus speed | 200.0 MHz | 133.0 MHz |
| Clock Speed | 1.6 to 2 GHz | 1.86 to 3.0 GHz |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2MB to 4MB |
Firstly, I want to introduce 2 processors named, Core 2 and core i5, then I will go in detail of the core 2 duo and core i5. Core 2 processor is very much older than the Core i5 processor core 2 processor was introduced in 2006 and the Core i5 processor was introduced in 2009. Intelligent people who buildup processors are still made Core i5 processors, they don’t make core 2 processors anymore. Core 2 Duo processors as show in name, are dual-core processors. The quad-core processors are also available from core 2 generation are called core 2 quads. Both names of processors are quite similar so that is so confusing. The Core i5 processors are much fast, enhance and updated processors.
These are available in quad-core models, but the current generation Core i5 is quad-core processors.
Core 2 Duo Processors
The core 2 duo processors were launched in 2006. This is dual core processors. It has 64-bit dual-core processors, which is shown that two processors are worked inside a core 2 in parallel. Core 2 processors are available in notebook and desktop. These are based on the same processor. The notebook processor has a lower voltage than the desktop voltage.
Performance of Core 2 Duo Processors
The performance of the Core 2 Duo processor is very good as we compare it with its competitor the AMD Turion. The core duo processors can beat the competitor with the same clock rate.
Specifications of Core 2 Duo Processors
The core 2 duo processors are buildup in 65 nm, which contains 14 stages pipeline and 2-4 MB level 2.
Each core is based on the Pentium m microarchitecture.
Core I5 Processor
Core i5 processors have launched bt intel in 2009. Core i5 is a computer processor which is available as a dual-core and quad-core processor. It is available in both desktop and laptop computers. There are three types of Core i5 processors and one of these types is ‘I’ series, which is called intel core processors. There are three types of intel core i5 processors.1.The intel core i5 6600k 3.50 GHz Quad-Core Skylake desktop processor,2.The intel core i5 6500 3.20 GHz quad-core Skylake desktop processors.3.The intel core i5 7500 this is the 7th generation, desktop processors.
Performance of Core I5 Processor
Core i5 was designed by Intel, has 64-bit x86 processors, in both desktop and laptop are available. Core i5 microprocessors are positioned between the high-end performance core i7 and low-end performance core i5. Core i5 is mid-range performance processors with performance higher than those offered by the core i7.
core i5 has more core than i3 and have more features.
MEMBERS
Intel has been grouping core i5 processors into 8 generations on the base of microarchitecture.
Core I5
1st generation
Westmere microarchitecture, the Arrandale based i5 processors are dual-core processors. These processors had the FSB replaced with direct media interface 1.0. These processors use socket g1.
Core I5 2
nd generation
Core i5 2nd generation core i5 processors were based on the sandy bridge. It provides higher performance at higher power efficiency.
Core I5 3
rd generation
Core I5 3rd generation of Core i5 processors, based on 22 nm processors for desktop and server. It was introduced in 2011. This is first microprocessors to use tri-gate transistors for their product.
Core I5 4
th generation
Core I5 4th generation of Core i5 is based on a 22nm process for mobile and desktop.
it was introduced in 2013, became the successor to previous generation processors.
Core I5 5
th generation
Core I5 5th generation of Core i5 is based on a 14nm process for mobile and desktop.it was introduced in early 2015, this is a process shrink of Haswell.
Core I5 6
th generation
Intel introduced the desktop Skylake mid-range processors in 2015. All desktop models utilize the LGA-1151 socket which is used for most of the skyline desktop lineup.
Core I5 7
th generation
The 7th generation of Core i5 was introduced in early 2017, are manufactured on Intel was improved 14nm process which allowed higher clock speed at similar voltage.
Core I5 8
th generation
The 8th generation of core i5 was introduced in 2017. Those new microprocessors bring some considerable performance. Those new mobile core i5 also have hyperthreading enabled.
Prof.