Core i3 Vs. Core 2 Duo (What’s The Difference?)
Finding the perfect PC configuration can be overwhelming as there are many different specs and components to choose from.
If you want to build your own setup, you may want to look for the specs that match your purposes.
In addition, your budget can play a significant role in the final result.
If you’re looking for a budget system for an entry-level computer, you may come across two CPU types: Core 2 Duo and Core i3.
If you don’t know what these CPUs offer, you may get confused about which one to choose.
This post will break down the differences between these two CPUs and show you which one can be a better option for different purposes.
Core i3 Vs. Core 2 Duo (What’s The Difference?)
Core i3
Core i3 belongs to Intel’s “i” series of processors released for the first time in 2010.
Since then, Intel has released 12 generations of this series, each generation building upon the previous and improving its features.
Here are the architecture codenames of each Core i3 generation:
- 1st Generation: Westmere
- 2nd Generation: Sandy Bridge
- 3rd Generation: Ivy Bridge
- 4th Generation: Haswell
- 6th Generation: Skylake
- 7th Generation: Kaby Lake
- 8th & 9th Generations: Coffee Lake
- 10th Generation: Comet Lake
- 12th Generation: Golden Cove
They’re available for desktop and laptop computers, as well as mobile and embedded devices.
This proprietary processor built on the multi-core architecture is a dual-core processor with a built-in HUD graphics card.
It’s also available at different speeds, with the latest ones being up to 4.40 GHz.
These processors also come with varying core numbers, with the newest generation ranging from 4 to 8 cores.
They feature Intel’s smart cache of up to 12 MB that supports four threads.
Other features used in the latest generations of core i3 include:
- Error Correction Code memory
- Intel OS Guards
- Intel Platform Protection Security
- Intel Gaussian & Neural Accelerator
- Intel Thread Director
- Intel Flex Memory Access
The latest generations of Corei3, namely the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th generations, also support the Turbo boost.
It’s a technology that increases a processor’s clock speed whenever the system requires it.
This way, the clock speed increases without much power consumption and heat generation because it can reach the desired speed faster and whenever needed.
However, it doesn’t mean that Corei3 processors have high low power consumption; the latest generation of these cores can have a thermal design power (TDP) of as low as 15.
This low power consumption makes them ideal for laptops.
Although most Core i3 processors have DDR3 RAM types, the latest generations come with RAM types of up to DDR5 4800 MT/s.
Core 2 Duo
The Core 2 Duo series of Intel processors are the predecessors of the Core i3 series.
They’re also dual-core, first launched in 2006.
Compared to dual-core processors, the Core 2 Duo had a faster performance thanks to its overclocking abilities and bigger cache memory, enabling users to multitask.
It’s a 64-bit dual-core processor, which means the processor has two cores that work in parallel.
The first-generation Core 2 Duo, with the code name Conroe, replaced Pentium 4 and Pentium D processors, improving performance by 40%.
They featured a revolutionary design that beat AMD processors.
Thanks to their then-new 65nm technology, these processors had a lower heat generation.
They featured up to 2.13 GHz of clock speed and 4 MB of L2 cache.
Different models of Conroe CPU were launched, which were phased out in 2009.
Other generations include Conroe XE, Allendale, Conroe-L, and Conroe-CL.
They all feature different clock speeds and cache sizes.
For example, Allendale was a lower-cost version of Conroe featuring 800 MHz of bus frequency and a 2MB half-L2 cache.
At the time, one of the biggest competitors of Intel’s Dual-core Duo processor was AMD’s Turion 64 ×2, with the former outperforming the latter.
Here are some of the technologies used in Core 2 Duo:
- Virtualization Technology
- Dynamic FSB Switching
- Smart Memory Access
These technologies meant faster data transfer, better usage of the pipeline, and improved output per clock cycle than the predecessors.
The Conroe-L version was a single-core CPU built on the 65NM Conroe-L core microarchitecture.
Generally speaking, the Intel Core 2 Duo series is suitable for light computing tasks, such as word processing, media playing, or internet browsing.
However, overclocking abilities make them capable of doing heavier tasks.
Core i3 Vs.
Core 2 Duo: Similarities
Comparing the Core 2 Duo and Core i3 processors may not be a completely logical comparison because the latter was launched as a pure improvement over the former.
In addition, as mentioned, the Core 2 Duo series has been phased out, while the Core i3 series is still in production, with the 12th generation recently launched with significant improvements.
Since the Core i3 is the successor of the Core 2 Duo, they share many features, including clock speeds and the number of cores.
Still, since they’re built on different architectures, each coming with different models, the differences may be more prominent than the similarities.
However, both belong to the series of low-end, entry-level computers that can’t offer much clock speed and performance compared to higher-end generations, including Core i5 and i7.
One of the main similarities between Core i3 and Core 2 Duo is that both are dual-core.
It means both have two distinct processors working in the same integrated circuit.
Dual-core processors can operate much quicker than single-core types because each core has a separate cache, enabling the OS to multitask and handle tasks in parallel.
As a result, both of these processors can perform faster than single-core ones while lowering heat generation and power consumption.
Core i3 Vs. Core 2 Duo: Differences
Generally speaking, since the Core i3 is a newer technology that has been improving since its launch in 2008, it’s more powerful than the Core 2 Duo.
As a result, Core i3 processors have improved considerably, becoming much different from the Core 2 Duo.
For example, both had 3 MB of Intel’s Smart Cache but, Core i3 processors have increased their cache to 12 MB.
However, since both have several models and architectures, you may find a Core 2 Duo model that works better for your specific purposes.
That’s why you should compare them on a model-by-model basis.
That said, below are some of their general differences.
1. Hyperthreading
One of the most important differences between Intel’s Core i3 and Core 2 Duo is the former’s hyperthreading ability.
In fact, Intel introduced hyperthreading with the Core i3 series, which means none of the models before the i3 series had hyperthreading features.
Hyperthreading allows the CPU to double its cores by creating virtual cores.
This way, it tricks the operating system into believing it has more cores to improve efficiency and performance.
Each physical core gets two virtual cores, making a total of four virtual cores.
That’s why Core i3 CPUs are generally considered better than Core 2 Duo CPUs, which handle one thread per core.
2. Performance
As mentioned earlier, the core i3 series has developed many advanced features that were not initially available in the first generations.
The architecture has changed over the years, making the series much better than the Core 2 Duo processor in speed and performance.
While the highest clock speed for the Core 2 Duo series is 3.33 GHz, some of the latest models of the Core i3 processor can be as fast as 4.4 GHz.
This faster performance is obvious in both single-thread and multi-thread applications in computer and mobile processors.
What’s more, the socket type used in Core 2 Duo processors is typically LGA 777 with an FSB bus, which is much slower than the DMI bus in the Core i3.
In addition to these features, newer manufacturing processes, bigger L2 cache capacity, higher overclocking speeds, smart cache, DDR5 RAM, and integrated GPU make the Core i3 a better and faster CPU.
The lower fabrication process in Core i3 CPUs also means better performance because it shows a lower distance between the CPU components and the transistors.
As a result, data transfer can be faster, leading to higher performance and power efficiency.
It also refers to the size of transistors measured in nanometers.
Smaller transistors mean you can have more of them inside the same space, allowing for a faster data transfer.
3. Power Consumption And Heat Generation
The TDP (Thermal Design Power) is the maximum power a CPU draws under full load.
Different models of Core i3 processors have different TDP values, but they’re generally higher than those of Core 2 Duo processors.
It means the Core i3 series draws more power at full load.
However, regarding power efficiency, Core i3 processors work much better than core 2 Duo because of their higher speeds.
That’s because they perform tasks faster, making them more power-efficient.
In addition, the Core 2 Duo processor architectures have 65nm and 45nm fabrications.
In comparison, it’s 32 nm and 22 nm for the Core i3, which means the Core Duo 2 is less power efficient and slower than the Core i3.
That said, power efficiency also depends on the tasks you perform on your computer and your usage pattern.
You might find specific Core 2 Duo models that are more efficient than Core i3 because of the user’s usage patterns.
The Verdict
Generally speaking, the Core 2 Duo processor is considered obsolete.
With today’s powerful computers and high processing power, it can’t be a good choice even for low-range computing purposes.
The Core i3 processors were the first generation of the i series that replaced the Core 2 Duo processors.
As a result, the Core i3 was a definite improvement over its predecessors.
It had more refined architectures, which continued to evolve over the following generations.
For example, they ditched the front-side bus design and enabled hyper-threading.
The new architecture, Nehalem, which was used in the first generation of the i3, moved the northbridge onto the CPU die.
It used to be a separate chip that connected the CPU, the bus, the memory, and the southbridge to the peripherals.
These features mean more computing power, making the Core i3 processor a better choice than the Core 2 Duo.
The Core i3 can support more instruction sets thanks to the higher number of transistors and lower lithography.
However, it’s not comparable to the Core i5 and Core i7 series with high-end advancements in computing technology.
That said, you should consider your goals and requirements to choose the best CPU for your system.
Suppose you look for an entry-level configuration with decent processing speed and performance.
In that case, the Core i3 series is a better choice than the Core 2 Duo.
In addition, since there are a large number of models produced under the name of Core Duo 2 and Core i3, you need to compare them by the model and see which specs can fit your purposes.
For example, a powerful Core 2 Due CPU from the Penryn series may even outperform a 1st generation Core i3.
Here’s a comparison of two models from a Core 2 duo series and Core i3 series:
| Cores | Clock Speed | Architecture | Cache | Lithography | Bus Speed | TDP | Launch Date | Turbo Boost | |
| Core 2 Duo E7500 | 2 | 2. 93GHz |
Wolfdale | 3 MB L2 | 45 nm | 1066 MHz FSB | 65W | 2009 | No |
| Core i3 8100 | 4 | 3.6GHz | Coffee Lake | 6 MB | 14 nm | 8 GT/s DMI3 | 65W | 2017 | Yes |
And now, compare these specs with one model from the latest generation of the Core i3:
| Cores | Clock Speed | Architecture | Cache | Lithography | TDP | Launch Date | |
| Core i3-12300HE | 8 | 4.40 GHz | Alder Lake | 12 MB Smart Cache | Intel 7 | 69W | 22 |
Upgrading From Core 2 Duo To Core i3
Now that you know a Core i3 processor may be better than a Core 2 Duo for your entry-level to mid-range computing purposes, you may wonder if you can upgrade your current Core 2 Duo to an i3.
The short answer to this question is no.
That’s because these processors aren’t backward or forward compatible, meaning you can’t replace them.
The most important factor that makes these incompatible is the socket types.
The Core 2 Duo PCU uses the LGA775 socket, which you can’t find in the i3 series.
Here are the socket types found in Core i3 CPUs:
LGA 1150-1151-1155-1156-1200.
In addition, most Core Duo 2 processors use a DDR3 RAM, while the latest Corei3 processors use a DDR4 and 5 RAM types.
You may find a Core i3 processor with a DDR3 RAM type, but it would be a lower-end and older CPU that may not serve your purposes.
Another thing you should consider is if your motherboard can support a new CPU because some CPUs are soldered onto the motherboard.
In such cases, you’ll need to change your motherboard, too.
Is Core i3 Good For Gaming?
If you want a budget gaming setup, you may think of getting a Core i3 CPU, but are they powerful enough for today’s gaming purposes?
As you saw throughout this article, the latest generations of Core i3 CPUs have powerful features that make them decent choices for many CPU-intensive applications.
The number of cores and the hyperthreading abilities combined with the built-in GPUs allow you to play many games with 60 FPS and higher.
However, you may experience stuttering with some CPU-intensive games such as Battlefield V or Assassin’s Creed.
That said, you could experience smooth gameplay if you play with lower settings, especially with Gen 12 Core i3 CPUs.
For example, the i3-12100 Processor is a decent budget CPU for gaming because it has four cores and four threads and a Turbo frequency of 4.30 GHz.
You can use most Core i3 CPUs for 1080p gaming with 1440p monitors, although you may experience occasional stuttering.
Although you may think that the number of cores matters the most in the performance of the CPU, the technologies used in its development and the amount of RAM play a more significant role.
The number of cores can help you multitask more efficiently and smoothly.
However, if you upgrade your RAM capacity, you can get more bang for your buck without upgrading your CPU or motherboard.
If you want to play games at high settings and frame rates, you may want to consider a Core i5 or i7 CPU.
Core i3 CPUs aren’t future-proof, and you may experience incompatibilities in future games and other software and applications.
Intel Core i3 Vs. Core 2 Duo
If you are looking for an entry-level laptop or desktop computer, the core i3 vs. core 2 duo comparison presented here will be a helpful read. Being the two main entry-level processor lines developed by Intel, a comparison of first, second and third generation core i3 series with core 2 duo processors will help you make an informed decision.
Why Upgrade to Core i3?
Hyper-Threading, DMI bus, higher processing speed and HD 2500/4000 graphics, along with low power consumption provided by the i3 lines make them worth an upgrade.
We live in times where computing power, once available only at the level of super computers, is now within grasp of the common man. The forerunner in this race to provide the fastest computer processors, who’s probably miles ahead of its competitors, is the computing giant Intel.
The company delivers chips with varying degrees of power and clocking speed to serve the diverse requirement levels of its users. These include the entry-level, mid-level and high-end processors. The core i3 processors, now in their third generation Ivy Bridge line have supplanted the core 2 duo line in the entry level domain. In fact the old core 2 duo line was overthrown by the first two generations of i3 processors long ago. The new hierarchy of Intel chips, in ascending order of computing power, are the core i3, i5 and i7 processors.
All these lines have now evolved to their third generation with the 22nm Ivy Bridge architecture being the latest. Although core 2 duo processors are slowly being phased out of production, they are still available in the market. The old war horses are still in use all over the world. In this Techspirited article, I present a comparison of third, second and first generation core i3 vs. core 2 duo processors, which may help you decide which one to go for.
If you can’t make up your mind about whether or not, an upgrade to a core i3 line would be worth it, keep reading ahead.
Intel Core i3 Vs. Core 2 Duo Comparison
| Intel Core i3 3rd Generation |
Intel Core 2 Duo |
| Core Number | |
| 2 | 2 |
| Processing Threads | |
| 4 | 2 |
| Lithography | |
| 22 nm | 45 nm |
| RAM | |
| DDR3 | DDR2 |
| Hyper-Threading | |
| Yes | No |
| HD Graphics | |
| Yes | No |
| Smart Cache | |
| Yes | No |
| Integrated GPU | |
| Yes | No |
A comparison between processors was simple some years ago with a single core processor.
All you had to look at was the clocking frequency and cache size. The entry of multiple core chips changed it all and life became complicated. With dual, quad and even six core processors hitting the market, there are many more factors to be considered, than before. Intel’s dual core and core 2 duo processors were the first ones to introduce multi-core processor based computing.
Today, Intel has gone through a phase of radical innovation to introduce three successive generations of core i3 processors, that are a significant improvement over the core 2 duo line. The following comparison will provide an overview about how the i3 processors are different from their dual core predecessors. The two points of comparison will be technical specifications and the only other factor which matters, which is – performance.
Technical Specifications
Like the core 2 duo processors, the new core i3 line of processors have two cores, with many other technological enhancements, including an integrated GPU (Graphic Processing Unit).
The clocking frequency of the core i3 series of processors ranges from 2.26 GHz to 3.06 GHz.
Each processor is endowed with the new line of advanced technologies including Intel developed Hyper-Threading, Intel Virtualization and Smart Cache technology which makes these chips faster than core 2 duo processors. This is the most important point in this core i3 vs. core 2 duo comparison.
The Intel codename for the first generation core i3 architecture is ‘Clarkdale‘. They are based on Westmere architecture with 32 nm fabrication and a direct media interface (DMI) bus. The socket type used for core i3 processors is LGA 1156 and the RAM type is DDR3. They support mother boards with the following types of chipsets- H55, P55, H57 and Q57.
In mid-2011, a second generation Intel core i3 series was launched, consisting of 17 processors. It includes the core i3-2100 desktop series and the core i3-2300 mobile processor series. They are enabled with some new technologies, which include Intel Fast Memory Access, Intel Flex Memory Access, Quick Sync Video, InTru 3D Technology, Thermal Monitoring Technologies and Intel Insider, which are not available in the first generation core i3 series of processors.
Besides a doubled DMI operating speed (5 GT/sec) and lowered power consumption, they are equipped with the Intel HD Graphics 2000 technology.
Very recently, a reincarnation of the core i3 was launched in the form of Ivy Bridge microarchitecture with a 22 nm manufacturing process. Using tri-gate or 3D transistors, Intel has managed to add more transistors in lesser space creating high-performance, power-efficient chips. With Hyper-Threading (simultaneous multithreading) enabled, the two built-in third generation core i3 processors can work on four threads simultaneously, thus making parallel computing possible. Besides the substantial boost in computing power, these chips offer 3 MB smart cache, with on-board Intel HD 4000/2500 graphics that can run intensive graphics without an external video card. In both desktop and mobile domain, these processors currently rule the market.
So how does the old dual core line measure up against these computing ‘young turk‘ core i3 processors? Let’s find out.
Core 2 Duo processors came in three types of architectures, codenamed as ‘Conroe‘, ‘Wolfdale‘ and ‘Allendale‘. With 65 nm and 45 nm fabrications, they are a tad slower and less power efficient than the 32 nm/22nm based core i3 processors. The socket used for core 2 duo processors is LGA 775 and they come with a FSB bus. This bus type is a lot slower in operation, compared to the DMI bus in core i3 processors.
Coupled with the fact that i3 processors have a L2 cache size of 2 x 256 Kb and a L3 cache size of 4MB/3MB, with Hyper-Threading and Smart Cache enabled, core 2 duo processors are indeed slower. Moreover, DDR3 compatibility in core i3 processors, compared to DDR2 compatibility of core 2 duo processors, makes them faster. The price range of Intel core i3 is $100 to $133, which makes them top options in the entry-level market. The price of the third and second generation core i3 line ranges from $117 to $250. On the other hand, the price range of core 2 duo desktop line, which is still in production, ranges from $112 to $285.
Performance Compared
The technical specifications have made it clear that Intel core i3 beats its predecessor, core 2 duo, in almost all departments and in all three generations. This is but natural, as they were indeed designed to replace them. Be it processing speed, multitasking or graphic output, opting for core i3 processors is the logical choice to make. It is also clear that the second generation core i3 line has already been superseded by the third generation. Things change very rapidly in the technological arena. So if you want to go for the best entry-level processors, choose from the third generation core i3 line of processors. For your convenience, I have listed the best core 2 duo, core i3 (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation processors) in the following table.
| Best Core 2 Duo Desktop Processors | Best 1st Generation Core i3 Processors |
| Core 2 Duo E8600 (6M Cache, 3.  33 GHz) |
Core i3-560 (4M Cache, 3.33 GHz) (Desktop) |
| Core 2 Duo E8500 (6M Cache, 3.16 GHz) |
Core i3-550 (4M Cache, 3.20 GHz) (Desktop) |
| Core 2 Duo E8400 (6M Cache, 3.00 GHz) |
Core i3-390M (3M Cache, 2.66 GHz) (Mobile) |
| Core 2 Duo E8300 (6M Cache, 2.83 GHz) |
Core i3-380UM (3M Cache, 1.33 GHz) (Mobile) |
| Best 2nd Generation Core i3 Processors | Best 3rd Generation Core i3 Processors |
| Core i3-2130 (3M Cache, 3.40 GHz) (Desktop) |
Core i3-3240(3M Cache, 3.40 GHz) (Desktop) |
| Core i3-2125 (3M Cache, 3.30 GHz) (Mobile) |
Core i3-3225 (3M Cache, 3.30 GHz) (Desktop) |
| Core i3-2350M (3M Cache, 2.30 GHz) (Mobile) |
Core i3-3130M (3M Cache, up to 2.  60 GHz)(Mobile) |
| Core i3-2340UE (3M Cache, 1.30 GHz (Mobile) |
Core i3-3227U (3M Cache, up to 1.90 GHz)(Mobile) |
Dual core chips will always stay in vogue, despite the onslaught of quad and hexa-core processors, as they serve the multitude and most software programs are still built to utilize two cores at the most. Going for an advanced line of processors is always beneficial in the long run. You should also check out the Intel core i5 and core i7 processors before going ahead, as they offer far more computing power and speed, compared to the entry-level core i3 or core 2 duo lines. Decide on the processor you want, according to your usage requirements and of course giving due thought to your vitamin ‘M’ levels, before choosing one!
Core 2 Duo versus Core i3.
February 26, 2016, Friday
22:42
ultrafx
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Blogs
This material was written by a site visitor and has been rewarded.
Hi all! Without unnecessary words and emotions, I would like to share the results of a cursory comparison of some popular synthetic tests. It turned out a couple of hours of free time, which coincided with the desire to drive the pieces of iron again. At first, I just wanted to see what frequency I could get on a combination of a Core 2 Duo E7500 with a Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L motherboard, the combination that I already wrote about in previous entries. As a result, we managed to run the system at the FSB frequency equal to 341MHz. A further increase led to a reboot of the computer, regardless of raising the voltage. As for memory, the BIOS only allows you to select a multiplier in increments of 0.5. The choice was between 852MHz and more than 1000MHz (I didn’t remember the number). At 852MHz everything worked stably without unnecessary gestures, and at a frequency above 1000MHz Windows refused to boot. Timings can not be changed, raising the voltage did not affect anything. As a result, the result is 3750MHz for the processor and 852MHz for the memory. Then it became interesting whether such overclocking would help to catch up with the more modern Core i3 running at the nominal frequency.
Configurations:
- MSI H67MS-E23 (B3)
- Core [email protected]
- 2x4Gb DDR3-1333MHz Kingston
- WD5000AAKX
- WD5001AALS
- Windows 7 64-bit
- Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L
- Core 2 Duo [email protected]
- 2x1GB DDR2-800@852MHz Kingston
- ST3250620AS
- Windows 7 32-bit
Multi-threaded test results for Core i3-2100 include Hyper-Threading, because I didn’t turn it off. In applications with 1-2 threads, 1-2 threads were used (to compare the result per core). In reality, of course, Hyper-Threading will outperform the Core i3 by up to +100% to the two-threaded result, as evidenced by this graph:
Therefore, in real conditions and applications involving more than two threads, Core i3, of course, will get a good boost. For example, in Cinebench R11.5, the Core i3-2100 score rises from 2.25 to 2.93.
Results:
The result is almost identical. Quite good for an old platform, albeit at a higher frequency. Although the difference is not that big.
And this test doesn’t seem to see any architectural difference between the two processors and reacts as much as possible to the frequency. Therefore, the result on the Core 2 Duo E7500 turned out to be even better than on the standard Core i3-2100.
Overclocking is already here and the difference in frequency still does not help the dual-threaded E7500 to catch up with the i3-2100 running in four threads.
LinX 0.6.5 results without AVX, E7500 does not support it. In such conditions, the E7500 managed to slightly outperform the i3-2100, despite the latter’s Hyper-Threading.
In SuperPI 1M, the increased frequency didn’t help the E7500 catch up or even overtake the i3-2100, it only brought it closer to the result. Although fellow DigiMakc from the forum on the Xeon X3363 (analogous to Core 2 Quad) with slightly better overclocking, higher memory frequency and low timings managed to get 12,320 seconds.
And here the E7500 managed to get ahead a bit again.
As a result, we can state a good result. Under a fairly small overclock, in general, it turns out to catch up somewhere, somewhere even to bypass the more modern Core i3, mainly in those conditions when the number of threads is limited to two. In conditions where all four threads are involved, the Core i3 will be faster almost always. I would venture to suggest that the Core 2 Quad (and similar Xeons), at least with no worse overclocking, will be able to compete with the corresponding Core i5. In addition, unlike the Core i3, the Core i5 does not have Hyper-Threading technology, and therefore the Core 2 Quad and Core i5 will be in the same conditions, both quad-core and quad-threaded.
Another thing is that not everything is measured by synthetics.
