Notebook related question: P4 vs. Centrino

#1 iks

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Posted 05 January 2004 - 05:33 PM

Hello...

I am sorry I am asking this question here since it is not Windows related but I don't really know where to ask. I am buying a Notebook, so:

What is Intel Pentium-M Centrino?
Why are Centrino Pentiums working at much lower frequencies (1.4GHz and so on)?

And final: What is better: Intel Pentium-M Centrino 1400Mhz or Intel Pentium IV 2.800Mhz?
With 'better' I mostly mean 'faster'.

Thanks and have a good day all of you.

-Andrej

#2 jmmijo

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Posted 05 January 2004 - 06:04 PM

Faster is a relative term in that faster CPU clock speed doesn't always mean better

The Centrino brand name is a set of chips that work together to solve a specific need for mobile computing, the CPU, the Chipset and Wireless communications.

The reason the CPU runs at a slower speed is that it's a more effecient CPU so it gets more work done at a slower clock speed. It also runs much cooler and and hence uses far less power and so battery life is increased greatly.

I wouldn't neccessarly say that a P4-M running at 2.8GHz compared to a Centrino 1.4GHz is faster depending on the task. How fast can you type in formulas in Excel or how fast a typist are you really

Gaming on the other hand is quite different so every single cpu clock cycle is important and of course so it the graphics card being used

#3 sapiens74

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Posted 05 January 2004 - 07:07 PM

If you are looking for a Desktop type performance then Centrino is not the best solution.

If you are looking for batter life, and integrated wireless then go with Centrino.

I have the Compaq x1015 and its a great laptop

#4 Down8

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Posted 06 January 2004 - 12:42 AM

Just to toss some fuel in there:

My friend has a dual Xeon 1.5MHz, with a GF4Ultra, and he says his 1.5GHz Centrino w/GF4 Go is faster in games. Not apples to apples, but possibly useful info.

He just moved up to a new P4/Rad9800P system though, so he ain't hurting for raw power.

-bZj

#5 Mr.Guvernment

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Posted 06 January 2004 - 06:12 AM

a Moblie 1.4 is = to a p4 2.4ghzCPU.

the moblie is based of the pIII since the p4 was really a bad designed chip and is too power hungry really foir laptops.