[vn-tech] Centrino faster Pentium 4?

[Tin Le]

> Dear all:
> 
> Centrino with a listed lower GHz is much more expensive than Pentium 4
> with a significant higher listed GHz.
> 
> Business logic suggests that Centrino with lower GHz must be running much
> faster than Pentium 4 with higher GHz right?
> 
> 
> Or is it just because Centrino is new and only make the wireless feature
> more convenient with a price?

It's part marketing and part technical.  Centrino is not faster, but
is more "optimized" for mobile and wireless use.  What that mean is that
they have additional circuitry on chip to support wireless (802.x) so
the laptop builder doesn't have to put as much supporting circuitry in,
e.g. smaller, lighter, and less power usage, plus cheaper in the long run.

The Centrino is the "improved" Mobile Pentium.  Remember those?  You can
still find laptops using Pentium IIIM and 4M, which is nothing more than
Pentiums that supports the ability to go into sleep (suspend) mode.  Their
clock can be drop down to DC and then reawaken instantly.  Well, there are
some additional features mobile pentiums has that desktop ones don't, but
that is the gist of it.

So, theoretically, using Centrino, you can have a fairly light laptop
supporting wireless that last much longer on battery power.

Personally, I prefer the higher speed and don't care as much for battery
life, so I go for the regular Pentium 4 laptops.  The most I need on battery
is 2hrs and most laptops can handle that.  I don't mind bring an extra battery
to swap.  I don't think the extra cost of Centrino is worth it, but that's
just _my_ personal opinion.  Others might like the lighter weight and
need long battery life.

Tin Le
-- 
http://tin.le.org
Tin Le - tin at le.org
Firewall and Security Consulting