AMD's mobile 64 bit dual core CPU 64 X2 is neck and neck with Intel competitor Core Duo - at least in some areas. Is there enough here to convince you to opt for a Turion 64 X2 laptop?

Might want to proof read posts before submitting them. .com.com isn't a valid domain

it was probably a typo. If you weren't so lazy you could have removed the second .com and see that the link works

So far I'm reluctant. I would love an AMD laptop with a more powerful graphics solution and a Dual core CPU. I have a mobile athlonXP 2800+ at the moment and like it a lot, but the graphics aren't up to snuff. For my personal (non-work related) laptop I had to get a Intel CPU because this is the only option if you would like a good graphics solution in a laptop for a reasonable price. I was looking at the Clevo notebooks for a while but they're just too expensive. I could build Two decent desktops for that kind of money. I was excited when I first heard of th Turion X2's but now it looks as if the Intel platform is just a smarter buy. I can get a 7900GTX or even 7900GTX SLI with a Core Duo, but with AMD we are limited to IGP and Hyper-Memory, descreat = 128MB+system RAM.

I wonder why there is no gaming benchmarks?
Turion's IGP appears to be better than Intel IGP and this should help it to achieve significantly higher scores.
Is Tom omitting the gaming performance on purpose? :?

I might be convinced, if it's cheap enough. Turion X2 will be competing against Merom by then so hopefully AMD's pricing will be agressive. My next laptop will have a dual-core CPU and I'll evaluate the offerings of both companies at that time, like I always do. While Merom will probably outperform the X2, when it comes to laptops I'll settle for less performance if the price is good.

You know... it is funny. Remember back when AMD released the first x86 64 bit processor, and it blew the Itanium 64 bit solution out of the way and everyone was salivating at the thought of a working 64 bit version of Windows? Remember how Microsoft announced delay after delay at even introducing the first 64 bit version and how, when they did, it was so pitiful and obviously didn't have any real driver support?

Remember how, as a result of that, everyone was quite peeved at Microsoft, saying that the only reason that they were holding back was because they didn't want to embarras Intel so badly since Intel didn't have a good 64 bit core out at the time?

We know that Vista will supposedly have a good 64 bit version at launch (unless they hold back because Intel is only releasing 32 bit laptop processors again). Well, if you want to upgrade to Vista in the future, which may not be too far away now, then you will want the option of 64 bit, I would think.

Well, now there is a 64 bit laptop processor out there, and no one is really even mentioning that, by comparison, the Core processor is absolutely crippled in terms of future upgrades.

I'm not saying that this should warrant a lot of attention or anything, but it should at the least be MENTIONED. Instead, at the end of this article, they give this patronizing garbage about "well, maybe someone should buy some Turion 64 X2s so that they can keep Intel from taking over" kind of line. Why not mention a real, solid, reason based on the technical merits of the platform, like saying that "While you may get the fastest dual core laptop out at the moment by buying a Core Duo laptop, buying a Turion 64 X2 will provide a better software upgrade path in the future."

I just wish that the review sites would stop sweeping this glaring omission on the part of Intel under the rug and pretending it doesn't exist. Just a mention, that's all, just mention it...

Particularly for those of us who will be running Linux on their laptops... as I couldn't imagine not getting a 64-bit capable laptop.

I think the new Intel Merom are 64-bit enabled. You realize that in a world whre 99.99 percent of programs are native 32-bit, preformance gained by a 64-bits operating system is next to nothing. In a prefect world it would take you an eye blink to convert them all, in reality it takes years. It is just childish to think everybody switches to 64-bit as soon as Microsoft put a 64-bit OS out. There is much more involved and has nothing to do with hardware

,,

it was probably a typo. If you weren't so lazy you could have removed the second .com and see that the link works

I did remove the extra .com to read the article, I was mainly warning others that if they click the link it won't work.

Your post actually cites several of the problems with tech journalists that don't even mention 64 bit when it comes to Intel... think. You think Intel Merom are 64-bit enabled? Problem is, not too many people know because no one really mentions it when writing these articles, and you really have to search to find that information. As a result it hasn't really entered the public consciousness in the way it has with AMD.

Next, 99.99 percent of programs are native 32-bit. In the windows world, absolutely true. In the linux world, far more open source programs are 64 and 32 bit (and I had specifically cited Linux in my post...)

Finally, you are absolutely correct, it would be childish to believe that everyone would switch to 64 bit when Microsoft released a 64 bit OS. Did I even insinuate that? No... I was insinuating that Microsoft was trying to hold back AMD's advantage by slowing down the 64 bit adoption in order to not embarrass Intel, thusly putting off the beginning of the transition to 64 bit.

I'm not saying let's wave a magic wand and watch it happen, but we should be working on the transition by doing no more than at the very least MENTIONING this aspect.

oh, sorry then

I agree...
In fact I run SuSE 10.1 x86_64 and I will be looking for a 64bit CPU in my next laptop. This makes my dilema that much more annoying. I haven't made a move on Core Duo because it's only 32bit, I think Merom is supposed to be 64bit. So it looks like I'm going to have to wait until Core Octo or something like that before Merom is affordable. And hence I still have the graphics problem as well. Hopefully the AMD-ATI deal could change the GPU situation for the better. Until then I'm waiting patiently

Also... with regards to the mentioned AMD Notebook Portal. What a nice site. Can anyone actually find it in English though?

I mean, I don't mind reading it in German. I am mildly familiar with the language but, unfortunately, when it comes to technical terms I am unfamiliar with them when they are not in English.

Be nice if the article also mentioned that the sites it was referring to weren't even available in English, considering the article was displayed in English...

No problem.

I am looking forward merom ... not so much a fan of Turion X2. I could go into details, but lets face it Intel just makes a better mobile chip. Turion X2 makes a nice shot at the title but still got knocked out in the 2nd round.

Thank you for illustrating my point. You posted before I ever did, and indicated you were leaning toward a Core 2. Then you stop and think of the 64 bit and that throws a monkey wrench into the whole thing.

The fact is, particularly for those of us who run Linux or who will be possibly looking at upgrading when Vista comes out, 64 bit MATTERS, and as a result should at the very least be MENTIONED every time one of these articles comes out.

After all, most new processors that are coming out are fast enough to handle most any program other than games quite well (well, unless you are compiling code or running some cool 3d graphics software). As a result, I would argue that features are more important than speed, so when a key feature is MISSING from a processor, that should be important enough to mention.

You'd almost think that Intel threatened hardware reviewers and told them that those of them who make a deal out of this were going to be cut off...

Oh well, after looking at Core 2 Duo, it looks like it will be 64 bit, so now I will likely just have to wait even longer to get a laptop with one. Particularly since I am hoping to get an Acer TravelMate that is multi-core and 64 bit (I like their curved keyboards), and if it is Core 2 Duo, then so be it--I'm not beholden to Intel or AMD.

Then again, by the time Core 2 Duo starts actually showing up in laptops, maybe the Turion 64 X4s will be out (could have sworn that I saw something about that for '07, or was that just for desktops?).