Can someone explain mobile processors for me?

[lchyi]

I was wondering if someone can explain the pros and cons of a mobile Pentium 4 vs. a Pentium M. Then how AMD's mobile processors stack up. I'm planning on getting one, but I'm really looking at a Dell.

 

[Abhi]

Mobile chip (Intel and AMD) usually use lesser power and run cooler. In other words, they use less battery power...

For Pentium M's vs. Pentium 4

Pentium M @ x ghz. = Pentium 4 @ 1.5x ghz. (approx)

 

[Abhi]

Oh and...

Pentium 4 +es:
Power
Usually are found in heavy laptops...

Pentium M +es:
Better battery life
Lighter laptops

 

[Wahsapa]

i wouldnt buy anything but a pentium m laptop

 

[DeeKnow]

agreed.... battery life has to be one of your top features

 

[ShellGuy]

Sorry guys i would go with the new AMD 64bit moble processor but that is just me.

 

[beyoku]

I will try to give you some more info.

P4M - Almost the same as a pentium 4 destop chip except it runs at a slower FSB in most laptops and clocks down to save power. Its also runs at a slightly lower voltage than the desktop P4

PM - Was built for mobility and runs at very low wattage to give longer lasting battery time. The technology in the PM is pretty much better than the P4 even at the clockspeed drop. 1.5 pentium M = 2.6 P4 - or something around this manner although some programs still love acutal clock speed.

Mobile athlon Xp - see P4M description. - BETTER THAN A CELERON - ANY CELERON. INCLUDING D AND M.

Mobile athlon 64 - Lower wattage than the desktop chip, they also have a feature called "cool and quiet" and they clock down to save power. I have an emachine with the 3200 kit inside and it benches = to a p4 @ 3.4. The clock speed of my A64 is 800 mhz at power saving mode - and 2ghz full throttle.

If you looking for battery time then go with the PM - To save money and have a faster maching over all you could go with an AMD64. The Dothan's (PM's) are fast but not as fast as the A64's. But with the a64 you loose battery time - mAybe and hour to 1.5 hours. I can get about 3 hours on my laptop with the A64 - PM's get about 4 and sometimes 5 hours. P4M's may get 2 hour 20 minutes.

Read up on the new Tech that coming for the PM it may leapfrog over the a 64 but i doubt it the Athlon 64 3700 kit is out NOW and it is fast as hell and runs cool, and runs at like 35 watts.

 

[Zukatah]

Basically, stay away from all Celerons in laptops, they pretty much suck.

If you need a desktop replacement, get the Athlon 64, you won't be disapointed. If you need it on the go and want something smaller with a longer battery life, you should definately look for a Pentium M based processor (that includes all those Centrinos which is a package including the Pentium M processor).

In my opinion, the P4-m is useless as it's less powerful than a A64 while priced higher, it offers less battery life than the P-M while not packing sufficiently higher performance to make up for it...

If I had to buy a laptop right now, I'd get a Pentium M based lappy for sure!

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: beyoku
I will try to give you some more info.<BR><BR>P4M - Almost the same as a pentium 4 destop chip except it runs at a slower FSB in most laptops and clocks down to save power. Its also runs at a slightly lower voltage than the desktop P4<BR><BR>PM - Was built for mobility and runs at very low wattage to give longer lasting battery time. The technology in the PM is pretty much better than the P4 even at the clockspeed drop. 1.5 pentium M = 2.6 P4 - or something around this manner although some programs still love acutal clock speed.<BR><BR>Mobile athlon Xp - see P4M description. - BETTER THAN A CELERON - ANY CELERON. INCLUDING D AND M.<BR><BR>Mobile athlon 64 - Lower wattage than the desktop chip, they also have a feature called "cool and quiet" and they clock down to save power. I have an emachine with the 3200 kit inside and it benches = to a p4 @ 3.4. The clock speed of my A64 is 800 mhz at power saving mode - and 2ghz full throttle.<BR><BR>If you looking for battery time then go with the PM - To save money and have a faster maching over all you could go with an AMD64. The Dothan's (PM's) are fast but not as fast as the A64's. But with the a64 you loose battery time - mAybe and hour to 1.5 hours. I can get about 3 hours on my laptop with the A64 - PM's get about 4 and sometimes 5 hours. P4M's may get 2 hour 20 minutes.<BR><BR>Read up on the new Tech that coming for the PM it may leapfrog over the a 64 but i doubt it the Athlon 64 3700 kit is out NOW and it is fast as hell and runs cool, and runs at like 35 watts.

I'd agree, the mobile A64 is the real winner. Just that you don't see this chip offered (as of now) with as many laptops, especially smaller form factors as manufacturer's have been brainwashed by Intel. Specifically, it's the cg stepping of the A64 that you want. It offers lower power consumption at idle (though at full power it's the same as the c0 stepping); which translates to increased battery life and cooler running operation. The powernow's throttle feature works very well, but you can use something like clockgen and lock your cpu into the lowest possible mhz/voltage setting (800mhz, .85v for instance), this helps increase battery life even further as the cpu wont even spike to higher speeds. The A64 processor has plenty of power even at 800mhz for typical stuff like dvd playing, internet, wordprocesing,etc. Also, with SP2 of Winxp you have enhanced hardware-based virus protection.

But as I said, the A64 isn't really found with many laptops, especially smaller ones. So you'll prettty much have to stick with Pentium-M's for now if you want light and portable.