Whats the deal with dual core laptops ( 2 Views )

1. I've been totally out of the loop on CPU tech the past 2 years and thus have not really followed up with this "Core Duo" and Dual core mess.
   
   I have a Dell Inspiron 8600, Centrino 1.6ghz, 1gig ram, right now that i use for mostly web development, photoshop, a little flash, and quite a bit of multi-tasking. Would upgrading to a dual core CPU improve my performance tremendously? Or am i better off just getting a faster clock single core CPU...or maybe just upgrade my current 4200rps hdd to a 7200rpm?
   
   
   (kezban, Netherlands Antilles)


2. your laptop will probably not support the new core chips either duo or solo
   get a faster hdd and more ram maybe
   
   its possible that you could get a higher speed dothan 2.1ish and chuck that in
   
   
   (mehmet, Iraq)


3. what a Dothan compared to Centrino? I guess i coooouuulld search.....
   
   
   (esma, Sierra Leone)


4. Centrino is just Intel's marketing name for the package of Pentium M cpu, Intel chipset and Intel wireless. Likewise, 'Centrino Duo' is the marketing name for Core Duo cpu, Intel chipset and Intel wireless.
   
   Dothan is Intel's codename for the second Pentium M core, the original was Banias. Your 8600 supports the Banias and 400MHz FSB Dothan's (Dothan's with 533MHz FSB would not work).
   
   Dual core would help quite a bit for the tasks you do, but you would need a whole new laptop.
   
   
   (burccu, Bhutan)


5. By the time you upgrade your hd, ram & cpu....you could have sold you 8600 and bought a 1505 or 1705. If you do a lot of multi-tasking, you'll definately notice a difference. I use my 9400(same as 1705) for the same purposes you listed (and Cinema4D)....but I do it all at the same time :D It's really nice to be able to do that.
   
   You can get a 17" 1705 with a T2300 Core Duo, 100gb hd, & 1gb ram for $1200. That's a good deal. The 15" 1505 would be even cheaper.
   
   
   (Ahmet Selim, Bahamas)

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