Intel Pentium 4 M question

I am buying a laptop solely for mobile gaming purposes. Im looking at an alienware laptop with

Processor Type: Intel Pentium 4 M
CPU: Pentium 4 3.4 GHz (with Hyper-threading)

My questions are what is hyper-threading and i looked over the processor section. The info says that the p4m is a new P4 version but it was made in 2004. Should i get a newer processor like the core duo or the 64 x2. Specs are very important to me. Everything else on the pc is fine but i dont know much about processors. Please help me

 

Going with an Athlon X2 or Core Duo (and Core 2 Duo) is certianly MUCH better (that guide is very old)
Hyper-threading is a technology when a single core CPU tries to do the job of a dual-core CPU.It sometimes brings a ~30% performance gain but sometimes it even decreases performance.

 

I certainly hope that laptop you are looking at doesn't cost too much...that's old stuff.

 

ok it sounds like you want a high performance gaming machine and just have no clue what is going on. you have come to the right place.

start over. and stay the hell away from the pentium 4.

start a new thread in the "what notebook should i buy section"

being here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=29271

good luck.

(core 2 duo, 8600m gt, 2 gigs of ram, you should be set)

 

I noticed you asked about the Radeon 9000 in another post. I have to say that is a pretty old system. Maybe about 5 years old. Not for gaming current games. Not even for playing games less then 3 years old.

 

That is the worst mobile CPU ever.
It has horrible power consumption, and lousy performance compared to the competition. Don't.

Oh, in general I'd just avoid Alienware... You get to pay a 100% price premium, and all you get in return is a fancy logo on the case. Not really worth it.

Hyperthreading was the Pentium 4's attempt at "emulating" a dual-core CPU.
With a proper dual-core system, the CPU consists of two independent cores that can each run a different thread at full speed.

The P4 only has one core, but some of the time it can handle two threads, though at a lower efficiency. Overall, the technology is obsolete, and has been for a few years.

 

I know that powernotebooks.com and possibly xoticpc.com both sell notebooks that are built from the same base as Alienware's, except without the price increase for glowy logos. You can roll the extra money into better upgrades, so you either save money, or get a faster machine for the same amount of money.

I also agree with the "stay away from P4" mantra here. The 3.4GHz one is a pretty quick CPU, but it's VERY hot (even the M version), and won't perform nearly like the Core 2 Duo's, or the X2's.

 

My cousin's got a P4 3-3.4ghz and it is SLOW!

it's also a very heavy 17" laptop and it seems like the fan is ALWAYS on!

stay clear of them, they might have been somethin back in the old days but now theyre just paper weights

 

They're capable for gaming but they do get very hot and can cause damage to other components... the cpu equilvalent of the dodge viper, using a giant 8 litre engine to create power.

Unless this is an older machine and you're getting it very cheap i'd really recommend going for newer technology, at least a pentium-M or Turion 64.