Easy Question About New Computer

[Slave2Society7]

I feel dumb asking this... I should know the answer, but everything has changed over the years. Anyway, I just got a new computer and under properties it says "AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ 2.21Ghz."
When I bought this I assumed it was a total of 4.2Ghz am I correct or is it really only 2.21ghz? I figured since it was DUEL it ment two processors adding up to 4200Ghz. Technology has flew over my head these past years, thanks
Colin

 

[mnelson07]

It's a 2.21GHz clocked. But it is two separate cores so you by no means wasted your money

 

[b1gapl]

You don't add up the frequencies together. It's just simply two cores running at 2.21GHz.

 

[Slave2Society7]

I think I gotcha so it's really better than if it was one processor going at 4.2GHz?

 

[b1gapl]

It would probably not be faster than a single core at 4.2GHz, but it would be more efficient at multi-tasking.

 

[Slave2Society7]

Ok cool because I do lots of multi-taking Thanks for the answers.

 

[lancec2c30]

Ya, the physical speed of the whole cpu is still 2.2ghz. But there are 2 cores. great at multi tasking. and well anything cpu intensive. Dual core is todays standard. Quad core will be tomorrows.

 

[Slave2Society7]

Nice I made a good choice then I'm amped on this new PC. Gonna try and play some new games

 

[lancec2c30]

What graphics card does it have?

 

[peterhuang913]

A dual core doesn't mean you can add the clocking together. The CPU operates @ 2.2GHz @ 2 cores.