The OFFICIAL Montevina / Centrino 2 Thread

Only $100 extra? Not that expensive

 

What is it? Just an 8700GT equivalent?

 

ok so HP has their new 17" out.
It looks really great too.
Any news on when Dell will put Centrino 2 in Studio??

 

How long do you guys expect it to take for all this to have an effect on the price of "normal" laptops? And how much of an effect?

 

Anyone know if it will be possible to fit in Montevina processor to XPS 1530 which retail came with T8300(penryn), is the mainboard of this notebook compatible with new processors?

 

Broken link

Which model is it?

 

The new CPUs are Penryns also. And no, it won't be compatible because it needs the new chipset to support it's faster FSB. That's the only big difference between the CPU models. Architecturally they're the same.

 

I don't understand why Dell is waiting so long to incorporate Centrino 2...
Many other major companies already are selling notebooks with Centrino 2.

 

They seem really slow the last few years. They used to be a lot faster (and cheaper...)

Still, that Studio line is out, and the new FSB only matters for people who need the fastest possible mobile chip-and even then it doesn't REALLY matter much.

 

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...Versatile+performance&series_name=dv5t_series

 

Not available outside the US - guess I'll wait and compare it with the new XPS laptops...

 

try this:

HP DV5T Series (US ONLY)

 

Darn, too bad those don't have LED backlights available. I still don't know what the heck the mobile 9600GT is, but at worst it can't be any worse than the 8600GT presumably. I might order one if they offered LED backlighting.

 

http://gizmodo.com/5033337/next+gen-intel-notebook-platform-calpella-details

calpella.....

crap, now i want to sell my m1330 next year and get a new one...

 

That's a year off. I wouldn't worry about

And anyway, even then it's not like a Core 2 is going to be obsolete. A fast Pentium 4 is still okay for pretty much everything the 1330 is good at even.

 

Any updates on Dell incorporating Montevina? Its really taking them too long.. Any rumors?

 

We've even got something like a date for *APPLE* :-/

On the plus side, they've got the XPS 1730 on sale for two days, and you can even get it without the physics card (saves $75!) But still no LED backlight for it :-/

 

At this point, I've lost any hope of Dell upgrading the current line-up. To me, it appears as if they are just going to sell the current laptops at large discounts until the new ones come out - whenever that may be.

 

http://laptoplogic.com/news/schedule-for-upcoming-dell-laptops-and-desktop-pcs-5425

 

Yes the speculative dates based off the "leaked" slides which have no credible source. Might as well just have listened to everyone who said the new XPS would be out in august and then said it would be out early September who now rush to believe slides with no credible source that say it'll be out November.

 

Dell has been so late in integrating montevina, to it's consumer line, that any data regarding release of a new xps seems believable .

Bad strategy by dell .

 

That list is already wrong on the first two. Two days later and there's no 540, whatever that would even be.

 

Agreed. When do you think dell will introduce montevina to its new studio line.

 

Maybe three months after Intel stops selling them the old stuff?

 

Probably.

How come all others were able to integrate the newer chipsets so fast, like hp, ibm etc

 

dell are being lazy

 

Not 100% sure if this new line of Precision notebooks will incorporate Montevina, but I would bet farm it will. The add below says they will have 16gb of memory (no that is not a typo) and 1gb of vram. It is a 17 inch quad core desktop replacement to be released this fall.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/22/dell-teases-with-17-inch-quad-core-laptop-with-16gb-of-memory/

 

All of the new Precision and Latitudes are out, and have Montevina. The 17 inch is the only one which isn't yet out.

Greg

 

Hmm...I really want a "consumer" version of a Geforce so the drivers work right (unless you can install regular Geforce drivers on their so-called "pro" versions of those GPUs...)

But, other than that, it's probably dead on for what I want if it offers LED backlighting as an option.

Of course they don't sell them in the EPP store, but I'd definitely look at them. I mean I'll definitely settle for 2 CPUs, but I'd REALLY love 4 (in addition to an 8800 class GPU and an LED backlight )

 

You can install regular drivers so that the workstation cards run as their counterparts; however, it's pretty wasteful IMO. Then again, I don't really game much. The M6400 is quad core not 4 CPUs and will have LED backlight, 16GB system memory and 9800M GTX equivalent w/ 1GB GPU memory.

 

Sounds about perfect then if the price is semi-decent. It would be great if they actually offered a 9800GTX to save a bit of money (not to mention make it easier to know you were actually getting a 9800...)

 

It's a great strategy. As long as they don't tell us when the new ones are coming out people will continue to buy the old ones. The second a new product has a release date the amount of systems being sold now will drop drastically. It's simple economics.

 

I agree! moreover, there's no point of getting a new platform, it doesnt do any good at all.

 

You missed my point then and obviously haven't done enough research. Any new platform that increases batter life to me is worth it. My point was that for dell if they release the date and specs of centrino 2 XPS the value of their current models plummets and no one will want to buy it. The new centrino 2 processors are definitely worth it. I will never settle for a second rate product.

 

I get that but what I don't get is that many, who knew, bought hp notebooks with montevina and the p series processors being offered on hp dv5t or some other notebook like sony etc. Doesn't that hurt dells' business, as most magazines are rating centrino notebooks (pc mag etc). Although dell has released latitudes but those are business notebooks.

As many people know that intel released centrino2, so why would someone buy outdated technology unless it's really cheap. As far as I know those who buy the older chipset 965 won't be able to upgrade there processors while the newer chipsets will be compatible with future processors (P socket).

 

is the gain worth the $ increase?
why do i need more battery life when power plug is every where??

 

Then purchase your outdated laptop and be happy, while others wait for the new one.
For some people, montevina is a significant enough upgrade, for some it makes no difference. Who cares? Just buy whatever you want.

 

that's true. just buy what you want.

 

Centrino 2 is not that big of a difference. It seems it was more of a refresh. WiMax was supposed to be more widespread and that would have helped Centrino 2's cause, but that didn't happen.

Small battery gains, a bump in FSB, DDR3 memory - that's about it.

The new nehalem architecture; however, will be very exciting! (For me, at least)

 

Centrino 2 (Montevina) *IS* a refresh. There are no major architectural changes from Santa Rosa. BTW Nehalem is the CPU architecture (Gilo being the codename) for desktops, the next platform for mobiles will be Calpella (6th gen. Centrino platform using Auburndale for dual core and Clarksfield for quad core - as opposed to Penryn for the CPU).

 

If there are no architectural changes, then why can't Santa Rosa use DDR3 ram or Turbo Memory 2?

 

Well that's all it is-just a new chipset. It's nice, but it's not that huge of a deal. Penryn was a bigger deal earlier this year, and THAT wasn't that big of a deal.

DDR3 is nice and all, but DDR2 is fine for now too, and they give it away in cereal boxes Which is awesome beyond belief.

I wouldn't even care if it had the new chipset-I just want a decent CPU, 8800 or better class GPU, and LED backlit screen...

And since I've waited so long, I want four CPUs too, forget these dual cores

 

DDR 3 uses less power. You can get all the things you want right now if you don't wait for dell. What you want has been out Wolfpup.

I'm waiting on Centrino 2 for DDR 3 ram and a 13 inch laptop that isn't 2k+ in price. The U330 is the perfect example. It's only 1000 dollars and has DDR 3 and Centrino 2. An XPS will be similarly priced hopefully except will allow faster CPUs and 4 gigs of ram. This bump was for batterylife and that's the most important part of a laptop to me. Of course I'm going to wait for Centrino 2 dell laptops. I'm on the go all the time and when I'm traveling I don't want to have to worry about looking for a plug or hoping that not all the spots are taken up in the lounge at the airport. If speed is important and you don't care then of course you'll be happy with Santa Rosa. Some of us want/need batterylife and that's what is important to us. In that case Centrino 2 is definitely worth the wait.

 

FINALLY Dell seems to be updating their Home notebooks at the moment!! On the Dutch Dell site, the Studio 15 now has the option for a P8400 and T9400 processor and also includes the new 5300 wireless chip. They seem to be updating still though, not all options / models are filled in!!

Edit: New model number is the Studio 1537, excellent!! Only on the top Studio 15 model on the Dutch site so far! Hoping they'll upgrade other models soon as well then!

Link: http://configure2.euro.dell.com/del...nl&m_30=136650&oc=N1053505&rbc=N1053505&s=dhs

 

Montevina upgrade also available on their Swedish site. Checked the UK one and didn't see any of the new stuff yet.

 

Wow maybe we'll see montevina laptops in the US sooner than that expected November 11th date.

 

The ATI HD 3650 is available on the new Studio 1537 model (on the Dutch site link above)!!!

 

Nice! I think a few weeks back someone else hinted at the 1537 being the Montevina Studio notebook. Looks like they were on point.

 

Lets hope they do the same for US. Presently 3650 is being offered on Studio 17 only, it will be a nice upgrade for the 1535.

 

This is very interesting indeed. Especially if you look at the dell coupons section, they all expire tomorrow the 26th, perhaps the montevina models will be released the 27th?