Is a 1.7ghz dual core processor as good as a 2ghz celeron processor?

Question

I was comparing laptops and for the same money it looks as though the better option is the dual core processor but for the course I need to do, it has a minimum pc spec of 2ghz processor. Do you think a 1.7 dual core would suffice?

Answer 1

Anything is quicker than a Celeron with the possible exception of an AMD Duron!  

Answer 2

There would be MASSIVE difference in performance, the 1.7ghz can share the load of calculations.

Although 2 may seem alot, I'm going to wait until Intel makes an 8-Core processor.

Answer 3

yes, get the 2ghz dual core

Answer 4

Yes, 1.7GHz Dual Core is likely to be more powerful than a 2GHz Celeron, but it really depends what you're using it for.

You say the course you're going to do specifies minimum 2GHz, which makes me wonder what the course is and why they specify a relatively powerful laptop? If it's any kind of imaging (photography, video, 3D) or audio course then you will most certainly want the power of a dual core processor, but you may want to go for the recommended 2GHz as well. Sure it will cost more, but better to be sure now than to spend on a laptop that you regret for the next couple of years!

Feel free to edit your question and add more details of what the course is or what you'll be using it for, then I or anyone else can give you a better answer. It's worth getting it right now.

Rob.

Answer 5

a Dual core processor is mostly only marginally quicker than single core if they are for normal programs. They are a lot faster if programs are written for dual core

Study which will do the Job you want

dual core will to a certain extent future proof your computer as more programs will be written for dual core

Answer 6

Dual core is better since two processor cores share the load than a single core. The only weakness of that is that many of the programs are not made to utilize this capability.

Answer 7

a 1.7 ghz dual core processor is much, much better than a 2 ghz celeron! you've basically got two processors sharing the load, the result being much faster performance. i went from a 2.8 ghz pentium (which is better than a pentium) to a 1.8 dual core, and the performance was much better. I wouldn't even think twice about going with the dual core over the celeron.