1. Intel Dual Core 2 4 Ghz

Intel Mobile Celeron Dual-Core P4600 2.0 GHz Laptop CPU CP7AB SLBZY See more like this. Intel Pentium Dual-Core Mobile P6100 SLBUR 2.0GHz 3MB Socket G1 Laptop.

Intel Dual Core 2 4 Ghz

The Good Major leap in performance on multitasking and most multithreaded applications compared to high-end dual-core CPUs; lots of apparent headroom for overclocking an already fast chip. The Bad High price tag makes quad-core processing an elite technology for now; Apple's twin dual-core Xeons in the Mac Pro make for a faster digital design configuration. The Bottom Line If you thought dual cores were over the top, get ready. Intel presents the Core 2 Extreme QX6700, a single CPU with four distinct processing cores. At $999, the first quad-core CPU will remain an enthusiast part for a while, but as a glimpse of the future, it's clear that clock speed is out and core counts are in. Barely wrapped your brain around dual-core processors? It only gets worse from here, folks.

Welcome to quad core, by way of Intel's Core 2 Extreme QX6700. Don't let the 'Core 2' fool you (great job, Intel Product Naming department), this new chip has four physical processing cores in it that make it a multitasking beast. And if you're still stuck doing only one thing at a time on your desktop, the QX6700's promise for single-application performance is large, as well. We suspect that professionals and forward-looking gamers will be most interested in quad-core chips, and of the pros, the digital-media editors might not want to get rid of their Mac Pro's just yet.