Intel® Core™ i3 vs Intel® Core™2 Duo

The Core i3 is a newer processor, so if you can get it for about the same price, I think you should for the i3. I've read that it gives better battery life as well. Also, because it's newer, it should be more "future-proof" and able to handle newer software better, later down the road.

Aside from all those minor things, there really isn't that big of a difference for your needs. Many applications don't even utilize the hyper-threading technology yet, so it's not all that important, imo.

Just get whichever one you want, though I'd suggest the i3 =P

i3 hands down. Overall a way better processor.

If the i3 laptop uses integrated graphics, but the Core2Duo laptop comes with discrete graphics. I would get the Core2Duo and the discrete graphics. Considering, that they are both priced similarly.

However, if you can get the i3 laptop with discrete graphics then I would go for that. Since, you play games and it would be more future proof.

+1 to best answer suggestion.

What are the specs of these two notebooks?

Yea...The specs...