Core 2 Quad (C2Q) Basics

• As the product's name suggests, the CPU contains four processing cores. Having twice as many cores as a dual-core processor means the C2Q is faster than a dual-core -- as long as the data being sent to the chip is designed to be handled by more than two cores.
  
  

Parallel Processing

• Most software is not designed to recognize more than one processor core, although this is changing, particularly with 3D games. If the computer has more processing cores than the software knows how to handle, those extra cores will go unused.
  
  

Die Size and Power Consumption

• Core 2 Quad processors built on a 45 nanometer (nm) die size consume up to 65 watts of power, the same as an Intel Core 2 Duo. However, comparable AMD CPUs such as the Phenom II X2 consume about 10% more power.
  
  

Heat

• Since the 45nm Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs consume less electricity, they generate less heat than comparable AMD dual-core CPUs.
  
  

Price

• In general, a dual-core processor will cost substantially less than a Core 2 Quad, since there is less circuitry involved with a dual-core and they are easier to manufacture.