core2duo explain please?

[cpnotebook80]

With the core 2 duo, the processors have 4 cores now right?
How does that translate with memory intensive programs utilizing cpu power.
For example i was assuming, Adobe PS3 can use one core to its max
Itunes+iphoto+mozilla on the 2nd core etc etc and it wont slow the system down whatsoever
Is this correct?

If not, how would a core 2 duo sysmte handle multiple memory intensive programs ?
Any program for the mac to show how much each core is being utilized?
How does ram play a part with the core 2 duo.

thanks

 

[robbieduncan]

No. Apart from a very small number of Core2 processors (which are clearly labelled as Quad) they are still dual core processors. The 2 refers to the fact that they are second generation Core processors.

 

[timmillwood]

also it's photoshop CS3 not PS3, thats the playstation

 

[jsw]

With the core 2 duo, the processors have 4 cores now right?

As mentioned, no, they have 2.

How does that translate with memory intensive programs utilizing cpu power.

The more RAM you have, the more the CPUs will be loaded. If you use very RAM-intensive apps and have insufficient RAM, there will be a lot of disk swapping.

For example i was assuming, Adobe CS3 can use one core to its max
Itunes+iphoto+mozilla on the 2nd core etc etc and it wont slow the system down whatsoever
Is this correct?

Yes, in essence, assuming sufficient RAM. There's no way to force the Mac to devote an entire CPU to one app if you're running more apps than you have CPUs, though. It'll load balance.

If not, how would a core 2 duo sysmte handle multiple memory intensive programs ?

It will use each CPU as much as possible, but disk swapping will reduce the efficiency in many cases. It depends on whether the active parts of each app are currently able to fit entirely into RAM.

Any program for the mac to show how much each core is being utilized?

Applications->Utilities->Activity Monitor, among others.

How does ram play a part with the core 2 duo.

thanks

Same as with any CPU - if you have enough RAM that you don't need to swap, the CPUs will run at much higher efficiency, assuming there aren't other bottlenecks (file i/o, network bottlenecks, etc).