Pentium M vs Celeron M

[Kelemvor]

I'm looking for a new laptop and am not sure how these processors compare these days.
For work I have an IBM X40 that, according to My Computer properties, has a Pentium M 1.6g processor.

I'm seeing a ton of laptops offered these days with a Celercon M 420 1.6G computer and am just wondering how these would compare.

The laptop would be used as an every day PC doing mainly email, Internet, etc with the occasional Publisher thrown in every now and then. I want to get an inexpensive laptop but don't want one that's going to feel like it's running really slow and end up ticking me off.

So, all other things being equal (Ram, HDD, etc) how much speed difference in normal everyday computing tasks is there between these two type of processors?

I know the Celeron M can't compare to a C2D or anything like that but until a C2D laptop is available in the sub-$500 range, that's out of the question anyway.

EDIT: Also since we're on the topic, how would the Celeron M compare to an AMD Sempron too since those are the other chip used in budget laptops?

Thanks.

 

[rogue1979]

Both the Pentium M (2MB L2 cache) and Celeron M (1MB L2 cache) are based on a Dothan core.

The Celeron M compares quite well to the Pentium M, in regular desktop tasks and programs you wouldn't notice a difference.

 

[Zap]

The big difference would be the lack of SpeedStep in the Celeron M, meaning battery life may not be as good. Otherwise overall performance is very similar, meaning unless someone had some software that told him/her otherwise, I'd say that under regular non-battery usage most people would not be able to distinguish between the two chips at the same MHz.

 

[coldpower27]

Originally posted by: rogue1979
Both the Pentium M (2MB L2 cache) and Celeron M (1MB L2 cache) are based on a Dothan core.

The Celeron M compares quite well to the Pentium M, in regular desktop tasks and programs you wouldn't notice a difference.

In this case no, the Celeron M 420 is based off the Yonah core.

To the topic creator, you have a Pentium M LV 778 then, if my result are correct, performance wise, you should have a slight advantage since your LV2 cache is faster, and you have more of it, but it is still very close in performance since cache doesn't have that dramatic effect on Pentium M's.

Performance differences should be on the order of only a few percent, something like 3-5% at most. Though your CPU does consume less power.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: coldpower27
Performance differences should be on the order of only a few percent, something like 3-5% at most.

Measurable by software tools, yes. Noticeable when you're doing day to day stuff, no.

Originally posted by: coldpower27
Though your CPU does consume less power.

An extra 30 minutes on battery IS noticeable. 😉