What Is Better: Intel Pentium II or Intel Dual-Core?

The Core 2 Duo far outpaces the Pentium 2.

Released in 1997, Intel's Pentium 2 was the follow up processor to the wildly successful Pentium processor. Sporting a redesigned architecture, 5.5 million transistors and around 512kb of L2 cache, it was one of the fastest processors of its day. Fast forward to 2006 and the release of Intel's Core 2 Duo, we find that CPU technology has shot forward at blazing speed. Outpacing the Pentium 2 in every category, the C2D's have multiple MB's of L2 cache, billions of transistors, two physical cores and outpace the Pentium 2 line by at least 100 percent, if not more.

Size

The manufacturing processes used to make these two processors couldn't be more different. Whereas the P2 was created on a 25 micrometer process, the C2D is manufactured on a 45 nanometer process, an overall 10,000 percent decrease in size. Keeping that fact in mind, these advanced manufacturing techniques have allowed for more processors to be created from a sheet of silicon than previous generations, thus lowering price and manufacturing overheard.

Price

If you're still able to find a P2 to purchase, its price will most likely be astronomical compared to its performance. Intel stopped manufacturing P2s in late 1998 and as such, the price is more in line with a collector's item than a piece of computer hardware. At the time of this writing in early 2010, the C2D is still being manufactured and there are processors for nearly every price point. The C2D's days are limited though, as Intel is slowly phasing in its new line of i3, i5 and i7 processors.

Thermal Output

Because of the larger size of the P2 processor, it creates significantly more heat than the C2D. As such, it requires larger cooling solutions and uses more electricity over time. Its overclock-ability (the amount at which the processor can be pushed beyond Intel's suggested speed limit) is also far less because of the increased heat generation. The C2D is well known in computer hardware circles for not only its minimal heat signature but its extreme ability to overclock with stock cooling solutions and its durability under stress.

Naming

The naming conventions of modern processors are very confusing to most consumers. At one point, both major manufacturers of CPUs (AMD and Intel) used a very straightforward formula to name their processors. Intel simply called each CPU The "Intel X.x" where the X's represent the speed of the processor in GHZ. This continued until the introduction of the first Core Duo line (the predecessor to the C2D) when they changed the names to seemingly arbitrary number and letter designation. Although "Pentium 2" and "Core 2 Duo" can be confusing because they both have the number two in the title, you would be hard pressed to find a Pentium 2 still on the market.

Performance

Finding benchmarks comparing the Pentium 2 to the Core 2 Duo is nigh impossible. Because their architecture is so different, it would be similar to comparing a tricycle to a jet-powered rocket car. The Cored 2 Duo out-performs the Pentium 2 in every possible area: gaming, video and audio encoding and complex system tasks, like compressing files. Should you still have a PC that is running with a Pentium 2 processor, it is time to upgrade. Computer prices are steadily falling and as of early 2010, a very capable C2D system can be purchased for less than $700.

References

• CPU World: Pentium 2
• Intel: Core 2 Duo Processor