-=PCTechTalk=- What is a Centrino

For those of you concerning buying a laptop, I thought this might prove 
interesting.
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http://www.powernotebooks.com/centrino.php



What is a Centrino? 

In early March 2003, Intel announced the arrival of a new brand name, the 
"Centrino". The concept is a thin, lightweight, cool, quiet laptop with long 
battery life that also uses wireless technology so you can connect to the 
Internet or other computers in your home, office, or any of the rapidly growing 
number of public "hot spots" like coffee shops, hotels, airports, universities, 
libraries, and other convenient places

However Centrino is not a processor. Rather in order for a laptop computer to 
be called "Centrino", it must have the new Pentium M processor, an Intel 855 
chipset, and an Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 (802.11b) or Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG 
(802.11b/g) network card.

The Pentium M processor is the most important of the three, and it has been 
much-anticipated by those who value battery life over raw performance. It uses 
25 watts at full maximum, compared to the >100W a Pentium 4 3.4GHz 
Hyper-Threading processor uses. This allows laptops to be smaller and lighter 
because the cooling system requirements are much lower, and it dramatically 
improves battery life.

Because increasing the processor GHz also increases the power used, Intel 
created a more efficient design with the Pentium M. The Pentium M is set to 
slow down to 600MHz when at idle (where it will consume only 6W), and then just 
like using a gas pedal it will accelerate to its rated speed when you ask it to 
do more than just simple typing. This also greatly improves battery life 
without losing any of its impressive speed.

Then, with the recent introduction of the new "Dothan" version of the Pentium 
M, the L2 On-die cache is now FOUR TIMES that of a Pentium 4 (2,048k as opposed 
to 512k used in the Pentium 4).

With its efficient architecture, and the extended L2 On-die cache, the 
performance of a Pentium M is roughly 1.7 to over 2 times that of a Pentium 4 
processor. L2 On-die cache is where the processor stores the instruction sets 
that it uses most often. Just picture two carpenters each up on their own 
ladder. They both have tool belts on...but one of them has a tool box on his 
paint bucket shelf as well. Now, they both charge the same amount per hour. 
Which one are you going to hire?

The second requirement for the Centrino name is that the laptop must include 
the Intel 855 chipset. The Intel 855 chipset is the second most important 
requirement of the three and is a very low power chipset that does a great job 
of only running the portions of the chip necessary to perform the tasks asked 
of it at any given time.

Now, here comes the rub. Intel also requires their 802.11b or b/g wireless 
cards to be used in the laptop to be able to use the Centrino brand. This is 
simply an attempt by Intel to dominate other companies in the laptop wireless 
networking market. Unless a laptop has the Intel wireless card, it cannot be 
called "Centrino". 

Interestingly enough Intel doesn't offer the best wireless solution at this 
time, and there are several companies offering better wireless solutions.

The PowerPro line of laptops offers you a choice of the Intel PRO/Wireless 
2200BG (54Mbps) network card, or the "GIGABYTE" 802.11g/b TURBO (108Mbps) 
wireless network card at double the speed of the Intel solution. If you select 
the Intel wireless solution you will have a "Centrino" laptop. However if you 
select the Gigabyte wireless solution, or another brand of 802.11b or b/g card, 
the laptop can no longer be called a "Centrino".

Does this make sense to you? Well, while the Pentium M processor with the Intel 
855 chipset will GHz for GHz outperform the Pentium 4 processor laptops, 
"Centrino" is just an attempt by Intel to use their market dominance to take 
over the wireless market. However as long as you see "Pentium M" and the Intel 
855 chipset, be assured that it is just as good, if not better, than a Centrino 
branded laptop system.

We call it the choice between a Centrino laptop, or a "Better than Centrino" 
laptop. 

 

Life is what happens in between plans.

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