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Intel Announces New, Slower, Chip
kshkval writes "According to Business Week, Intel is marketing the Centrino, a 1.6 Ghz chip that is slower than previous laptop processors from Intel, but does more. Hey, isn't that what Apple and AMD have gotten so much guff about? The worm turns..."
Ben and Jerry's isn't a nice friendly company any longer.
It's a division of Unilever
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/710694.stm
While everything over at Benjerry.com makes you think all is happy and hippy in Vermont, the whole thing is a division of a Anglo-Dutch multinational.
I have a different take on it: I think this is a good chance for Intel to start focusing on minimization... If they do this "single chip" thing long enough, then PDAs, cellphones, gameboys, etc... might eventually be running on top of a single-chip style platform from Intel.
:)
I'm glad this is happening, more competition means better prices. I generally like Intel products, so this is good news for me.
Actually, AMD tried the "most stuff on a chip" technique several years ago, with built in video and NIC built into the support chips. They failed miserably. I actually purchased 5 of these systems to use on a network where the clients need barely more than a terminal. I sent all 5 back. Nvidia is atempting to do similar now, but its not very cost effective for most applications. Up to now, it has looked better on paper than in practice.
Hopefully, Intel will do better. I prefer Intel chips over everything else. (no comments from the peanut galley please) Doesn't mean I don't think they are full of crap in their marketing dept.
Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
* Intel® Pentium® M Processor
* Intel® 855 chipset family
* Intel® PRO/Wireless network connection
Further explaining:
Yeah, but the processor (the Pentium M) will also be available separately.
from the article:
Although the CPU itself -- called Pentium M -- that's part of the Centrino brand will also be sold separately, most analysts believe that Intel will offer PC makers major discounts -- and advertising dollars -- to make the bundle irresistible. Intel is expected to offer generous reimbursements to PC makers that mention Centrino in their ads.
The "Centrino" which was previously known by the codename "Banias" is the first ever CPU Intel has designed specifically for mobile computing.
It's the combination of the a mutant P3 with the quad-pumped P4 bus, SSE2, lots of power-saving tricks, and an assload of L2 cache (1MB!).
From the limited previews I have seen of it, these things are quite nice, especially with Intel combining the new CPU with mainboard built-in wireless networking adapter. They perform well, and do consume significantly less power than any other mobile chip (excluding the Transmeta CPU, as I have come to the conclusion that they never really existed outside of Japan. Have you seen one in North America?).
"Centrino" is now officially branded Pentium-M...a rather obvious naming strategy IMHO, but a good one. Look out next year, once Intel has its 90nm fabrication process up and running, we should see "Dothan" code-named CPUs...with 2MB L2 cache...mmm
Btw, this news story is old, Slashdot admins, pick up the slack!
------- "From bored to fanboy in 3.8 asian girls" ----------
The Centrino Brand is a combination of three main things.
- The new Banias processor
- The Montara 852/855 Chipset
- Integrated 802.11b
This means that mobile computer makers can make new lighter, faster, cheaper, and colder laptops.Centrino computers are designed for Mobile features, which doesn't always neccesarily mean speed. Banias runs colder than comparable processors from Intel, it has a host of new features to support all the crazy things laptops want to do (Better power management, bus control, hotkey support, more feature rich graphics etc...)
Intel is trying to jump on the new Mobile computing pattern. There is less and less of a focus on the absolute fastest processor and more of a focus on different ways (espeically easier ways) of using your computer. I mean who really uses all of their cpu cycles on a 3Ghz P4 with HT anyway (some people but not most)?
When wireless really picks up and people have reliable, quick, super lightweight laptops that can easily fit in a backpack or briefcase sales might pickup like Intel hopes.
I cant believe some freak idiot modded your post informative. AltiVec IS NOT MMX. MMX was some stupid extra instructions that resulted in some performance gains for some apps. AltiVec is an incredible advanced vector prossessing unit that doubles or even triples the chip speed.
-You may license this sig for only $6.99.
If my application doesn't use more than 60% of the power of one of the low power chips yet has a requirement of long battery life, I'm idiotic to use an Intel anything! Off-loading mpeg decoding or other processor intensive tasks to a task specific chip and reduce cpu load and cpu requirements.
Kinda like using a sledgehammer to pound in a finishing nail. Both will do the job but which one is less likely to cause unwanted side effects? (ie smashed fingers)