Because technology is constantly evolving, older/inferior processors are quickly becoming outdated. Intel's Core 2 Duo processor line is one of the most successful on the market today. But, with the introduction of Quad-core and I-3,5,7 technology, one might think that the Core 2 Duo processors will become just another outdated piece of technology. While Quad-core technology does offer improvements, this does not necessarily mean the Core 2 Duo is being phased out. Quite the contrary, in fact: the Core 2 Duo stacks up just fine against its Quad-core counterpart.

What's the Difference?

Duo and Quad refer to the number of cores in each processor. Cores can operate independently of one another if need be, acting as redundant systems and carrying out separate functions. You might be tempted to think that Quad-cores are better than Duo-cores because the math fits. 4 is TWICE as much as 2, so the Quad-core processors must be twice as good as a Duo-core, right? Not exactly. A Duo and Quad with the same clock speed will run equally as well unless more than two cores need to be engaged. Quad-cores have their advantages, but their performance is notably better than a Duo-core only when placed under high demand.

The Matchup

Let's take a look at two comparable models processors.

1. The Core 2 Duo E8400 Processor. This is one of the most popular models on the market, and is used in many desktops because it's powerful and doesn't use a lot of energy. It's got a clock-speed of 3GHz and, as noted above, has two cores. It's a powerful processor which is both speedy and efficient.
2. The Core 2 Quad Q9550s is a fair comparison. It's got a clock speed of 2.83 GHz per core and has (you guessed it) four cores. It performs with the same speed and efficiency of the Core 2 Duo, but outpaces it when placed under greater strains.

The Distinguishing Factors

The Core 2 Duo processors are much less costly than their Quad-core counterparts. On the other hand, the Quad-core processors can handle multiple tasks better than the Duos, because they can engage more cores as needed for processing. But which one is the better value? While Quads can outperform Duos, this doesn't necessarily mean they're a better value. Comparable Quads can cost twice as much as their Duo counterparts. A SLB9J CPU is one of the best values among Intel's Duo processors. Unless you plan on using very processor heavy programs, an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 is a better value than the comparable Q9550.