Depends--what do you want to use it for? And what core 2 duo specifically?
The i3 is a better processor for applications such as photoshop. However, in game performance it can lose out to a more powerful core 2 duo. Gaming systems tend to use either high-powered core 2 duos or core i5s, so a system with an i3 will likely not have as good a graphics card.
That should give you a general idea, but to answer completely we need to know what you're looking at and what you want to use it for.