Will Core Duo Notebooks Trade Battery Life For Quicker Response?

I've Got A Core Duo Processor LV L2400. What Have You Got?

Before we get into a discussion of the Mobile 945 Express chipset family, we must first sort out the often-difficult problems involved in understanding Intel's new model designations. In May of 2004, after careful consideration, Intel presented its "popular" processing numbering scheme to the mobile PC scene. At that time, Intel let us know that it would also be doing away with mention of cache size, architecture, FSB speed, and other technologies such as Hyper Threading in its product designations. The result was a set of triple-digit numeric codes. The first digit designated the processor classification; 9, 8 and 7 stood for high end, 6 and 5 for middle-class, and 3 referred to entry-level segment CPUs.

Intel has "simplified" its model designations for new CPUs by imitating the standard that AMD set with its Turion 64 model numbering scheme. The new Intel mobile CPU models in the Core Duo and Core Solo series are identified using an alphanumeric code that starts with a character prefix and is followed by a four-digit numeric code.

The letter immediately establishes the power classification, and is thus a metric for how much power the CPU "uses". There are three power classifications: U, L, and T. Those who now believe that these letters represent a definite relationship between power classifications and terms like ultra low voltage, low voltage, and something like temperature are wrong. Intel has officially disclaimed any direct relationship or easy translations for these designations.

Lately, when I find myself considering such matters, I can't help but ask why they don't just call these things something like "Doesn't mean anything 2600" perhaps abbreviated as DMA2600, or even just XYZ2600, instead. The value of the following four-digit number in the new Intel product model codes is likewise a measure of the "performance-related" configuration characteristics of the CPU. The whole shebang looks something like this:

To the buyers in electronics markets around the world, and to technical types everywhere, we wish much joy and success at deciphering the new Intel CPU model codes in the sales pitches they must endure. ;-)