Intel core 2 duo test drive

The launch event this past July for Intel's next-generation CPU family, Core 2 Duo, was (as expected) filled with speeches and demos showing how much faster the new chip architecture was compared to the preceding Core Duo parts. And (as not entirely expected) the Core 2 Duo and high-end Core 2 Extreme desktop offerings have actually lived up to the hype, delivering excellent performance in synthetic and real-world tests alike.

But while desktop buyers have snatched up every available Core 2 system, laptop buyers had to wait to see how well Core 2 Duo would perform in a mobile platform, as sample units were not available until mid-August (manufacturers should have chips in quantity for September sales). We got our hands on the first Core 2 Duo-based laptops, and we're pleased to report that the new CPU does indeed make good on the claims Intel put forward, making Core 2 Duo far and away the most powerful mobile processor available today