Upgrading Laptop CPUs...& other ?s

[JoshPass]

I'm going to be getting a laptop within the next month. But I'm not sure about what processor to get. The laptops I have looked at have the Pentium-M Centrino, the Mobile Pentium 4, and the Mobile Pentium 4-M. Are any of these processors upgradable in laptops? And what the heck is the difference between the Mobile Pentium 4 and the Mobile Pentium 4-M?! the only difference that I have been able to see just by looking at the laptops is that the Mobile Pentium 4-M only has a 400Mhz FSB and goes up to like 2.6GHz and that's all, while the Mobile Pentium 4 goes up to 3.06 and has a 533MHz FSB. Am I right here? To me, there would be no point in getting a laptop with a Mobile Pentium 4-M then...'cause that's kinda older stuff. And is intel going to be moving mostly to the Pentium-M Centrino? It costs a lot of money for a laptop so I want to get the best deal. If the Centrino is the future AND they are upgradable, than I will definately get that. Bah, it's all very confusing...hopefully someone has some answers to my questions. Thanks in advance!

 

[Tikerz]

The Mobile Pentium 4 and Pentium 4-M you speak of are the same processor. The 'M' standing for 'mobile'. There are two types of Pentium 4 processors in notebooks today, the Pentium 4 and Pentium 4-M. One being a desktop processor (like the one you have in your rig) and one being truly a mobile processor. The mobile processor has the advantages of a lower voltage (saves power and generates less heat) and the speed-step power saving feature. I wouldn't buy a notebook with a desktop processor unless you really need a 3.06GHz with Hyperthreading in a notebook form. Even then, it'll mostly sit at your desk or be attatched to AC power because battery life is extremely short.

For information on Centrino technology, check out this article.

 

[JoshPass]

ok thanks, I *think* I'm going to go with a centrino. not entirely sure yet. If I don't, I'll end up getting the Toshiba P25. If I get a centrino, I'll get the Compaq x1000. I have another question though. I'm a gamer and I want to be able to game on this laptop for hopefully the next year or two. Right now, the most demanding game requires at least a 733Mhz processor and 16MB of video RAM...of course recommends 1Ghz and 32-64MB video RAM. I know nobody can answer this for sure but do you guys think a game will come out within the next year or two that will require more than a 1.7Ghz Pentium-M(which is supposed to be equivalent to like a high 2.something Ghz P4 'cause a 1.4Ghz Pentium-M is supposed to be equavalent to a 2.4Ghz P4) and a 64MB video card?