DUAL-CORE PROCESSORS have brought the creamy smoothness of SMP to single-socket systems, and at least in AMD’s case, a single Opteron processor with two cores is actually faster than a pair of single-core chips. That dual-core chip also consumes less power, produces less heat, and makes less noise than a comparable dual-Opteron configuration, making it a tempting upgrade for workstation users and SMP enthusiasts who may not need the horsepower of a dual-processor, dual-core system.
Check out the full review over at Tech Report.