Jason Dunn
05-10-2004, 09:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116057,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,116057,pg,1,RSS,RSS,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"Intel expands its mobile CPU power this week with the release of three fast new models of its Pentium M processor, formerly code-named Dothan. The first notebooks to run the new chips post about a 10 percent jump over comparable older models. The chips are featured in four new notebooks from Dell, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM. The notebooks blazed through early tests and also offer the same top-notch battery life typical of the Pentium M family.<br /><br />The new Pentium Ms come in speeds of 1.7 GHz, 1.8 GHz, and 2 GHz, and boast several improvements over the last generation of Pentium Ms. Most notable is a larger level 2 cache--2MB, up from 1MB. They're also the first to bear Intel's new naming scheme for processors, which replaces clock speed with a processor model number. These chips are at the core of Intel's Centrino mobile platform, which is made up of the Pentium M processors, the chip set that supports them, and Intel's wireless (Wi-Fi) implementation. Like the CPUs, the platform also is upgraded in this generation."<br /><br />Looks promising for those of us always looking for more CPU power to crunch digital media. <a href="http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3122-5133713.html?tag=cnetfd.ldgif">C|NET has several detailed reviews</a> of new Dothan-equipped laptops, and <a href="http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=428">Trusted Reviews</a> has a very detailed review of the Systemax TourBook 5127. What's worth noting here is that in TR's review, the 1.8 Ghz Dothan CPU clocked in only one point lower than a 2.8 Ghz P4 in the SYSmark 2002 test. That Dothan is one hot CPU!<br /><br />It's also great to see Intel offering support for 802.11g - the Centrino platform has been advanced a fair bit today.