Pentium 4 vs Centrino

[randy1001]

I'm trying to find out information regarding these 2 processors. I would like to know if a Centrino processor is as powerfull as a Pentium 4. I'm looking at purchasing a laptop and I'm confused if I should buy a P4 running over 2Ghz or a Centrino running around 1.3Ghz. I havent got any straight answers from anybody who could tell me. In other words I want a medium powered laptop with decent graphics in case I want to play a game or to along with my business use. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Randy

 

[shadus]

Generally the mobile chips are scaling processors, depending on power consumption they function at various rates... with no scaling active (plugged into ac) it will function slower than a standard p4. I really don't know exactly how much however.

Shadus

 

[ZER0]

the pentium-m is basicly a p3 with 1mb of l2 cache and sse2. it is faster per clock than the p4 but doens't clock as high.

 

[Mephistopheles]

That "general" feeling you have is somewhat different with Centrino.

Centrino has an excellent performance per clock, which basically means that a 1.6Ghz or so Centrino can match a 2.4Ghz Pentium 4. They don't clock as high - the top centrino is a 1.7Ghz chip - but they have several interesting power-saving features which make them more appropriate for laptops/notebooks than the Pentium 4 M's. Very interesting pieces of hardware, these centrinos.

(be careful with the distinction: Pentium M is Centrino, Pentium <b>4</b> M is just a lowered-voltage Pentium 4.)

<font color=red><b>M</b></font color=red>ephistopheles

 

[Kemche]

To Clarify, Pentium 4 is the name of the processor and Centrino is the name of the platform. Centrino platform is made up of Intel Pentium M processor, Intel Chipset and Wireless network. Centrino platform is designed towards low power high preformance. Pentium M processor is based off of Pentium III processor with SSE2, High Processor side Bus (400Mhz), 1MB cache and some other preformance features like micro ops fusion etc. The way I see it is Centrino 1.3 Mhz would preform more or less like Pentium 4M 1.8Mhz to 2.0Mhz. I could be wrong about this. Major advantage of Centrino platform is the battery life. You will probably get about 30 to 60 minutes more in battry from centrino platform.

I hope This helped. Also Tom's Hardware did a review on Centrino when they were released. You should read that and decide.

KG

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity." - Sarah Chambers

 

[Mephistopheles]

Yes, Kemche is right. Centrino is the name for the whole platform, including chipset, processor and wireless network. And just to clarify, the 1.4-1.5-1.6-1.7Ghz Centrinos that are out use a "Banias" core. The Centrino processor family will soon get another member, "Dothan", which carries some architectural improvements, as well as a full 2MB cache, instead of 1MB, as in Banias. Dothan will debut at 1.8, 1.9 and 2.0Ghz. I'd expect a 2.0Ghz Dothan to perform <i>very</i> well, but I won't risk trying to guess. The introduction of Dothan should severely cut prices for Banias-based centrino platforms...

<font color=red><b>M</b></font color=red>ephistopheles