What exactly is Centrino and why is it better?

[Rawan AbuSalman]

Hey...
What exactly is Centrino and why is better? Why are the speeds lower and the prices higher? A 1.6 or 1.85 GHz Centrino notebook costs around 1500 to $1800 while a regular P4 notebook, 2.8 or 3.2 GHZ costs around 1200 to 1500 usd!! Are the speeds the same (different terminology) or what?

What benifits are there that are not found in the regular P4?

thnx

 

[idiotec]

Well specificly the P-M ( as Centrino represents the whole package of chipset with wireless etc), is a completely different design compared to the P4.

The P-M is more effecient, so it can do more in each clock cycle. That is why a 2Mhz P-M can compete with a 3+Ghz P4.

It also uses a lot less energy, so you get better battery life, and it runs a lot cooler, which is another advantage in a cramped laptop.

 

[Trotter]

Centrino is basically a Pentium M chip and intergrated Intel wireless on the mobo.

 

[timmer]

yea and hence the 720 730 740 i think that has something to do with speed im not sure how but it does

 

[waynejkruse10]

and they have put them in desktop systems and overclocked the hell outta them and get comparible benchmarks to the FX 55

 

[uzi9mm]

Intel is going to throw about the netburst architecture and go back in time.......

 

[waynejkruse10]

whats netburst?

 

[uzi9mm]

Netburst is the architechure of the current P4's......
(basically, it is just the way the core is "set up" on the die)
But anyways, the graph below is complicated... right??? Well, intel is thinking about getting rid of this architecture, and going for a more simpler design.

 

[Rawan AbuSalman]

so basically a 2Ghz centrion is the equivilant of a 3Ghz P4 (more or less)
What other benifits (wireless) does it have that the P4 doesnt?

thanx

 

[waynejkruse10]

cooler, uses less power.