Pentium processors - what are the differences?

[markengland]

Hi, I am looking to buy my daughter a laptop for around £400. I am aware that the Intel i3, i5 and i7 are the latest procesors, we have seen an i3 with Windows 7 and 2GB memory for £390. However what is the processor below an i3? Is it the Core 2 Duo? I am not sure whether we are better off getting the newer processor with only 2GB memory, or a slightly older processor with 3 or 4GB memory for similar money? It will mainly be for general web browsing, MSN and webcam - all the usual girlie essentials. Any advice would be gratefully received. Many thanks, Mark.

[VHG]

Pentium is just a brand name, and one that Intel are gradually dropping. For the last couple of years they have been using the name for their mid-range cpus.

None of the cpus in your questions are Pentiums. Not sure what you mean by "the processor below".

The Core 2 Duo was the name for their "top of the range" cpus, but that is being dropped in favour of the i3, i5, and i7 cpus.

For all sorts of technical reasons I wont bore you with you are better getting a i3, i5 or i7 (they run cooler and use less power are two good reasons).

[markengland]

Thanks for the reply. I meant to write Intel and not Pentium, sorry. I realise that Intel are the manufacturer and Pentium is the model, so to speak. What I was trying to find out was, what is the next processor down from an i3, in terms of speed and cost? I am not sure whether we are better getting the i3 with only 2GB memory or say a Core 2 Duo (assuming this is a lesser or older processor) but with 3 or 4 GB for similar money. Thanks again.

[ChuckFickens]

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

the next down in the standard intel CPUs (excluding Xeons) would be the core2 extremes or the core2 quads. however for the uses you have listed a intel atom based netbook would be plenty fast enough so I wouldn't get too hung up on the processor.

(it's also worth noting that some of the i's are well down the list below the "older" core2 processors.)