Core Duo notebooks under S$2,200As
the third
iteration of the
Centrino series, Intel's latest mobile platform differentiates itself
substantially by being the first to incorporate dual-core
processors--previously exclusive to desktops. Basically
analogous to putting two brains in a single skull, dual-core processing
promises to increase multitasking as well as significantly boost
applications that support multithread processing.
The mainboard must come from the company's Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset series. Increasing the front side bus speed to 667MHz for faster data transfer, the 945PM chipset sports a slot for a third-party dedicated graphics processor (GPU). The 945GM mainboard includes the integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 GPU which has lower cost and power consumption by sacrificing video-rendering performance. For the modern portable, wireless connectivity is a must. Beside support for 802.11b and 802.11g Wi-Fi standards, Centrino Duo Mobile systems require the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection wireless chip which can utilize the aforementioned standards as well as 802.11a networks. Last, but probably the most important component to the average consumer, is the Core Duo processor. Capable of multithread processing, Intel claims that multitasking and computing performance are significantly improved while increasing battery life over the older Sonoma platform. Why buy a Core Duo notebook? - Improved multitasking performance. - Increased computing speed with operating systems and applications supporting multithread processing. - Faster 667MHz front side bus for quicker transfer of data. - Lower power consumption. Why I'm sticking with my Pentium M system - No 64-bit support. Users of 64-bit applications should wait for the next generation of 64-bit mobile processors, codenamed Merom, which according to reports are scheduled for release at the end of 2006. - Not all applications provide support for multithread processing. Are Core Duo laptops expensive? Surprisingly, getting on the latest Centrino bandwagon is not going to require you drain your son's college fund. A quick peek at Sim Lim Square's price lists and Dell's online stores show that, for the budget-conscious, one can get a Core Duo notebook for under S$2,200 (US$1,619.76). The table below shows the configurations and availability of such systems. Budget Core Duo
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