I3 vs I7 processors?

[SKJohn]

I have a question about the duo and quad core processors being used now.  We are looking for a new laptop, and this came up.



Is a duo core 2.16 ghz (I3?) faster or slower than a a quad core 1.6 ghz (I7?)?  Why?  Sorry to ask what is probably a very basic question, but I realy want to know.

Thanks,
John

[Spikes]

In simple, the dual core is faster than the quad core, but the quad core is more powerful (can handle more things at once). Skuzzy said that the i3's aren't that great...there is a 1.6ghz i7?

[Skuzzy]

Clock rate dictates the actual performance, not the number of cores.  The number of cores dictate the number of threads that can run fairly simultaneously.  They do not actually run at the same time as memory bus contention prevents that from happening.

[Denholm]

That i7 can overclock big time giving you better processing abilities. Plus from what I hear, the i3 or i5 is being built from old Intel Centrino technology (lame).

[flight17]

from what i have heard, the I7 is the best as of now from intel. im going to be using it when i build my computer later this spring/summer.