I still get a little confused when comparing dos systems. Which would be a faster, better computer/processor?
1. An older (maybe 5 to 7 Y.O.) system with a 2.52ghz processor?
2. A 3 year old system with an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.80ghz?
Number 1 is what I use daily. Number 2 is being offered to me by someone moving at a hard to resist price.
You said "dos systems" are you actually using dos or freedos, or do you mean wintel systems. A true dos or freedos system will not use any of the advanced features of new processors.
If you are running very tight code it is possible that a 2.52ghz can come out very similar to a 1.8 dual core. Similar but noticably slower.
the reason is the second core would not be used, so this would come down to a comparison of the pipeline depth of the cpus. IIRC p4s have a 31 stage pipe. core has a 14 stage pipe. so the p4 would have to be at least twice as fast or 3.6 ghz, to be better than the core. you are a ghz off this.
If you are running dos I have no clue what would need even half the power of a p4. If you are running windows, or will be; definitely spring for the core.
BTW I have a 1.8ghz athlon64 single core and it is much faster than any of my p4 systems, including my 2.0, 2.5, 2.8, and 3.06
this article is really good:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/313
