What exactly is Montevina?

I know it's the new platform, whatever that is. But what is it? Is it going to be something that's more future proof or something?

Sorry, I'm fairly new to all this notebook stuff, just trying to learn as much as I can.

And sorry, I didn't know where to post this...

 

it's new motherboard tech.

-support for 800mhz ram
-faster cpu fsb
-new chip set
-a couple new integrated video cards

maybe a few other things

 

Quad-core!

 

Here is a link to the Centrino Platforms, link. No it will not be more "future proof" that is not a goal or even a consideration. It will be the implementation of the current technology at the time, it will be the "standard" as all before were and all after will be. They already have code names and are working on the next two, Calpell and Menlow likely even further ahead at least at some level. There is no end in sight at this point for the advancements in technology and likely never will be. The best one can shoot for is staying current. And that changes every few months. The release of newer faster processors. And in a big way, new platforms every year is Intel's current plan. They are not looking to achieve a point and then say, "were here, let's stop developing".

 

And they are not just upgradeable? Sorry if that sounds funny, but hey You will have to buy a new laptop every year or so to stay current? (Which isn't a problem for me, as long as I just have something that works. Don't need to buy a new one every year.)

+rep for you sir.

 

Platforms are not just upgradeable, that is correct.Staying current is very expensive. My strategy is buy something good at the time I buy and enjoy until for some reason I need to buy new again then I do it all over again, but not every year or even two.

 

Thanks, I +rep'd you, but you're still at 13 so idk?

I'll probably just wait for the new Latitude series to come out from Dell.

Thx again!

 

Montevina as a platform is unlikely to last more than a year. By then Calpello(Nehalem based) would release. Selling point of Montevina is 2.53ghz dual core processor with only 25W TDP. Plus supposedly better integrated graphics. So if u can wait 3 months for that its worth waiting.

 

according to the wiki article you posted powerpack it says it will support 1066 ram, this true?

 

Yes. Montevina (official name is Centrino 2) is the last Core platform before it is replaced by Nehalem. Montevian features





Performance are for normal size laptops (12" and up) while the other list is for 11" and below. The P series is the best choice for a normal size laptop.

* 25w or less Penryn processors
* Intel GMA 4500 graphics
* High-Def video playback does not need a dedicated graphics card
* Wifi/Wimax combo cards
* DDR3 Ram (800, 1066, or 1333)
* 2nd version of Turbo memory (now 2GB instead of 1GB)
* DisplayPort support
*Support for 8GB ram

 

I think 25w is good turn around. 1st gen dothan had 21w tdp, 2nd gen (sonoma platform) had 27w tdp. yonah increased to 31w, 1st gen merom increased that to 33w and now 2nd gen merom on santa rosa have a TDP of 35W.

 

The key processor to note is the P9500. The T9500 is already out and is a 2.6 GHz 800 MHz FSB 35W TDP processor. The P9500 would be a 2.53 GHz 1066 MHz FSB 25W TDP processor.

I don't think it will launch with Montevina though. It is listed at $348 but will be much sought after. It would have to have a new stepping from the C0 of the current T9300/T9500 and the upcoming T9400/T9600. The other P processors (P = medium voltage) are 1/2 cache Penryns with 3MB cache.

Remember that your DDR3 RAM will cost more for the Centrino 2 systems. Also, there will be a quad core mobile chip for it (QX9300).

The Eurocom M860TU based on the Centrino 2 is supposedly shipping May 1st, 2008.

 

I thought Montevina is releasing during computex early june. if it is releasing earlier that is great news.

 

Why not up to 8GB ram like the new Latitudes?

 

I believe it is still 2 DIMM slots, so maybe they are stating 4GB because 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMMs will be rare and expensive. The Eurocom M860TU looks be a rebranded Clevo M860TU. The M860TU and M570TU were announced at CeBIT. Both are Centrino 2 laptops.

 

My Dell 700m with Centrino 2.0ghz (not even duo) last me almost 4 years, still typing on it.
It's still running fairly strong, it's way too hard to stay current with laptop, probably the same even for desktop.
Just get top of the line at the time you purchase, and all will be fine for at least a few years.

 

So buddy, in other words, Centrino 2 will have 12 inch laptops now? I was looking at buying a Sony Vaio with Centrino 2, how quick do u think companies like that will adapt Centrino 2 if at all? Will it be May or June but in North America or elsewhere??

 

Centrino 2 is launching in the 1st week of June at Computex in Taipei, so likely within days after its launch you will be able to pre-order laptops with it. They likely won't ship for a few weeks though.

BTW, the small form factor Centrino 2 processors are not launching till September. But the Performance ones are launching in June. And you have been able buy 12" laptops for a long time.

 

does that mean that people who have c2d's socket P will be able to upgrade to those processors above or will it use a different socket?

 

It will probably use a new socket, I think it is called Socket B(Why from P to B? No idea...).

 

FSB has been increased to 1066mhz. So new socket.

But I wish intel would continue to support older platform by releasing faster processors. With all the crazy naming it would confuse everyone.

 

I agree but I also accept it does not fit their business model and likely technological issues involved.

 

Whats the difference between the P9500 and the T9400? Does the increase in wattage help performance or something?

 

It increases battery life by decreasing power-consumption.

 

So when u say Performance ones launching in June, u mean they'll be like 12-15.4 inch screens and thinner and all cuz of the new Centrino 2 small chip-set design factor?? If so, how long do u think before it comes to Canada?

 

No. The normal "performance" Penryns are coming out this summer. The low voltage ones, made for ultramobiles, are coming out in fall.

 

then whats the upside to the increase in power-consumption if the specs listed there are the same?

 

There is no increase in power consumption. The power usage goes way down, back to the levels that mobile Pentium processors had. Remember when you could get 4+ hours of battery life on a Pentium M (like my mom's work Dell D410)? Well, know you can get that and the performance of a dual core processor at the same time!

 

Hopefully at September we are going to see ultraportables with the Montevina ULV. Or in the worst start ordering from this date. I can't wait to see the battery life of the ultraportables with the new chipset... Toronto guy there are plenty of 12'' ultraportable out there already.

 

Yea I know but I am looking for a Montevina 12inch laptop, hopefully by Sony. By the way, do you guys think its really worth the wait? I mean its not even guaranteed that it'll come May/June, just like how Intel has been stating for years about Q9450 since the beginning of time and it aint even out yet!!!

 

It's nice to hear that about the longer battery life. However, if someone in the market for a new laptop (ie: me ), would you recommend holding off for a few months until the new stuff come out? Will the technological jump between Santa Rosa and Montevina be big enough to be worth the wait?

 

^^

I dont think montevina would be that much faster. I have not seen too many applications being bandwidth starved to demand higher FSB. Promising things are better IGP and P-series TDP of 25W.

If u really need a laptop now, T9300 based laptops are great deals. If u can wait wait another 2-3 months for montevina. Like any new platforms I expect a small premium initially for montevina but Dell/HP/Lenovo deals, it should come down fast.

 

I don't know if the speed differential justifies someone starving themselves unnecessarily. In my opinion, WiMax does justify waiting for someone who does not really need a machine right this second. If it really does what they're reporting it will do, WiFi is a thing of the past. Its almost impervious to the deficiencies of WiFi, while offering greater range and bandwidth. That's truly what I'm more excited about right now. I'm in a situation where I usually can get access to a laptop on demand, so I can wait if I decide to. Others may not be so fortunate. However, anyone out there who really needs a laptop should just get one now. If anything, buy one now and sell it to get one with the better technology once it comes out . . . that seems like a lot of hassle for a marginal performance increase, though.

 

The WiMax is great in theory but read some reviews about the new WiMax ... they say it really sucks!

 

What is the difference from Wi-Fi and WiMax? Also, I know that Montevina is going to be released at computex at 3-7 June. What about the small factor Montevina ULV?

 

WiMax is a very long range Wifi, think cellphone towers.

 

Small form factor Montevina is coming in September.

 

If you don't need a laptop now, then wait. I'm waiting for X4500 (which significantly increases performance against the current X3100) and the 25W TDP processors before I go back to school. I hope they improve Robson 2, so that those without SSDs can have a boost...

 

Of course, it's new technology. New technology usually has issues before fulfilling it's true potential. WiMax hasn't even been released, so these people who are reviewing it have no idea how it will work yet. They're judging a product that is not complete. I'm sure people said WiFi sucked in the beginning. That's just the way it is. I'm still excited about it's potential.

Exactly, and I'm sure people criticized cell phones to death until . . . fast-forward about 10-15 years . . . hardly anyone I know owns a landline phone connection.

 

Is that official? Any link? I believe that Montevina will make a big difference especially on ultraportables. More battery life and less heat is exactly what counts in this kind of laptops. And X4500 graphic card will mean also some gaming too.

 

^^^ Research it on Google yourself.

 

I did but I didn't see any precise date. Q3 is very general info.

Edit: You were right! Found it here:

http://www.blogcatalog.com/post-tag/montevina

 

I found this and thought I'd post it. I don't know if it's been posted already, but here it is anyway:

 

when u guys say that montevina for the ultraportables will be released later than june... do u know if the Alienware m15x fits into which category? i hear that the m15x will be released with montevina in june... if so, thats titeee

 

Good news.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/graph...pring-2008-Montevina-Is-A-Graphics-Monster/p1

 

Montevina will be released in the beginning of June. I'm sure Alienware will have pre-orders on June 1st (even before it's officially released, though it will probably take a month to get). Though I wouldn't call the m15x an ultraportable by any stretch...

 

Anything Alienware makes will definitely NOT fall under the ultraportable category. If you look at THAANSA3's table, the m15x should fall under "Extreme" or "Performance".

 

Are we sure that Montevina ULV will use this X4500 graphic card? If I read correctly is twice as powerfull from the X3100 one.

 

Twice as powerful compared to the X3100 sounds good, but realistically it's still dismal performance compared to other solutions (ATI or Nvidia dedicated solutions). It's great that the X4500 may get a performance boost, but don't expect it to be a great 3D performer as the X3100 scores about 570-590 3Dmarks in 3DMark06.

 

Hi, what kind of advantages would the increased FSB offer?