What is a Dual Core Computer?

I've been reading about these, what are they?

A dual core processor is a CPU module that contains two computing units on a single chip. Two processors stuck together in one module means that you only need a single socket on the motherboard.

How would I spec one? Is it P4 ? or AMD? Do I get a special motherboard or just a special cpu socket? Thanks.

Both Intel and AMD have dual-core processors available. The lowest priced AMD I've found is about $100 more expensive than the cheapest Intel, but it also claims to be the equivalent of a full 1Ghz faster.

As far as I can tell, the respective sockets on either Intel or AMD compatible boards are just plain, vanilla, T (Intel) or 939 (AMD) layouts. However, some other pieces of the motherboard (BIOS, FSB, and whatever else) may or may not be compatible with a dual-core chip. You definitely need to check whether a motherboard can handle a dual-core processor.

Here are some Intel processors:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=&PropertyCodeValue=507%3A16915&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&description=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=343&Submit=Property

Here are some AMD processors:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=&PropertyCodeValue=507%3A17007&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&description=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=343&Submit=Property

Intel boards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=706%3A17634&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&description=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=280&Submit=Property

AMD boards:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=710%3A17168&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&description=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&SubCategory=22&Submit=Property

Happy hunting!

You definitely need to check whether a motherboard can handle a dual-core processor.

In addition to that, you'll need an operating system and applications that are designed with dual-core or dual processor hardware in mind. Otherwise they'll simply ignore the other processor (or core) completely, and your extra investment will be for naught.

I think there is a special edition of Windows XP (and possibly 2000) that will recognize and use multiple processors. Applications that can see and use multiple processors are few, but in existence.

Of course SMP has been around for 100 years in the UNIX world, semirecently in the linux world, and it's kindasorta around in the Mac world (though still not well implemented).

In about 5 years or so, 64-bit multiprocessing computers will be the norm, tho.

I use windows XP Home and Adobe Audition 1.5. Do these support Dual Core?

You will need XP Professional to make use of a dual-core system. I don't know if Audition is specifically meant for dual-core operation, but I imagine that you will get at least a small tangible benefit if the operating system can dynamically offload tasks to one core or the other.

It's my understanding that Windows 2K Pro will also handle dual core processors. That makes sense too with them being NT platform. I know HP had some dual processor units that NT would run as well as Win2K Pro though I'm sure the dual core is handled differently. I had one at one time but didn't have NT on it, I was running 98.

Yep, yer right. Windows NT 4, Windows 2000 Pro, and Windows XP Pro all support dual processors.

Hi,

M$ licencing is based on Socket.

therefore XP Home works just fine with Dual Core.

for Dual Dual Core you need XP Pro.

for comparative benchmarks check this out

www.adkproaudio.com/benchmarks.cfm

Scott

ADK

Huh?