Intel core i3 vs Intel core 2 Quad?

Question

I asked the same question before but got it a little wrong. Could i even upgrade to even a core 2 duo from a Pentium 4? I have an Asus P5KPL-AM motherboard. I play games like modern warfare on my computer and do a lot of HD video rendering.
My PC Specs
Intel Pentium 4 3.00 GHz
2 GB RAM
500 GB Hard Drive
nVidia GeForce 9500 GT 1 GB graphics card

Answer 1

No. Best case scenario, your system MIGHT be able to support a dual core processor of the socket LGA775 variety, like a dual core Pentium or a Core 2 Duo E4xxx series. A Core i3 is not compatible with your motherboard, the i3 uses socket LGA1156 and your Pentium 4 uses socket LGA775. I'll re-post an answer I gave to an earlier question:



There are some factors that you must consider when changing the processor in a computer. Socket compatibility, motherboard support and bios support.



Socket compatibility-

The cpu must be compatible with the motherboards socket type. For example, a socket AM3 motherboard will support most AM2, AM2+ and AM3 cpu's, but a socket AM2 motherboard will not support a socket AM3 cpu. Also, an oem (branded) system with a socket 775 motherboard WILL NOT support every socket 775 cpu.



Motherboard support-

If you're currently using a single core cpu, the motherboard might not support a multi core cpu. Motherboards that support quad core cpu's have more voltage regulation circuits than motherboards that support single and dual core cpu's. If you have a custom rig, this may not apply, since most current motherboards can support almost any cpu of the proper socket type. Some oem (branded) systems use a motherboard that will allow you to use a cpu up to a certain wattage, but not more.



Bios support-

For custom rigs this usually doesn't apply, but for an oem (branded) system you can only use a cpu that is supported by the system maker. For example, the system maker has a bios version for a motherboard that has a Core 2 Duo E5200 in it, but the system maker might not have a bios version that would allow a Core 2 Duo E8600 to be used on that motherboard. Some oem systems with a dual core can support a quad core, but in order to find out exactly which processors are compatible with your motherboard AND have bios support from the system maker you'll need to go to the system makers website to find out which cpu's can be used. If you try to use a cpu that doesn't have bios support from the system maker, either it won't work properly or it won't work at all.





EDIT

If your motherboard is in a custom rig and NOT a branded oem system, use this link. It lists all cpu's that are compatible with that board. You may need to flash the bios for certain cpu's, be careful there, if you lose power or your internet connection while flashing (downloading a new version of) the bios, it will render you bios chip inoperable, which basically makes your motherboard useless until you replace the bios chip. Again, be VERY careful if you need to flash the bios. Here's the link, select 'CPU Support List'.

http://www.asus.com/Product.aspx?P_ID=xs6iinKxu0y5agcg&content=specifications

Answer 2

If you were just doing you're first two tasks, you could have used the Intel Atom processor as both are not resource intensive but since you want to run GTA IV (none of the other games you listed aren't something that requires an amazing laptop processor) and the minimum requirements for GTA IV are a Core 2 Duo at 1.8GHz you could get away with a laptop equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor but that's the minimum so the game isn't going to run great. Now out of the processor lines you tried to list only 3 are real and their names are the Intel Core i3, the Intel Core 2 Duo and the Intel Core 2 Quad. Centrino 2 is nothing but a name used to signify a laptop is using a combination of 3 Intel products in a laptop (the processor, wireless card and graphics card all must be Intel products to carry the Centrino name), it is not a processor. As to which one you want to be looking at, ultimately the Core 2 Quad is the best choice for the best performance due to the fact it offers the same clock speed as an i3 processor but instead of being a 2 core processor that uses hyperthreading to create 2 more virtual cores to mimic a quad processor (this doesn't provide the same performance though) it actually has 4 physical cores for processing tasks and is the closest in meeting the recommended requirements for GTA IV. The Core 2 Quad also will allow for Photoshop to run and can handle video editing (I currently have Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Adobe Premiere CS4 both running on a Core 2 Quad equipped laptop without issues, but I never imported DV tapes on it yet). I'll list 2 laptops below equipped with Core 2 Quad processors that should handle playing GTA IV and all the other tasks you listed well. Ultimately if you can't afford a Core 2 Quad equipped laptop, the next best bet is an i3 equipped laptop although to get one that can handle a game such as GTA IV is difficult since a lot of them come with graphics cards that can't handle the game (Best Buy didn't have a single one), I'll list one below though.

Answer 3

Yes you can upgrade to a Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad. Even a Pentium Dual Core would be better than what you have right now. No, you can't upgrade to an i3, but to answer the original question, i3's are newer, but only Dual Core (Meaning two cores), and Core 2 Quads are the previous generation Intel Quad (4) core processor.

Answer 4

core2quad is not a duo

pentium 4 is not the same as i3. Get your facts straight.