What's the difference?

What's the difference between AMD Turion and Intel Centrino Duo? And which one you recommend for a desktop replacement laptop (17inch)?


D3158

 

I would recommend a core duo because it is a dual core processor. THe turion is a single core processor but is 64 bit.

 

An AMD Turion is a processor made by AMD. It is 64 bit, meaning that it can address more data references at any given time. Basically, it can "understand" more data than a 32bit processor at any given time. The advantage of 64bit is SOME programs running more smoothly. However, most programs still canot take advantage of a 64bit CPU (Central Processsing Unit) as most programs are still programmed in 32bit.

Recently, over the last few months, a completely new generation of processors have come into the mobile computing market. These new processors are called Dual Core CPUs. These new CPUs are essentially two mobile processors packed into one unit. The result, the motherboard see's the two processors as one as they both use the same, ONE socket on the motherboard, they both share the same connections to other components such as Front Side Bus. Having a Dual CPU does not make a processor twice as fast however. It makes it twice as efficient. Both Cores can be working on different things and so you can run more programs at once. For example: one core could be running a virus scan program and the other core could be running a game without any slow downs. With a single core CPU such as an AMD Turion 64, the virus scan would probably take up all the CPU resources, so you would struggle to any program to open up while doing a virus scan. With a Dual Core CPU, you won't have that issue of a slowdown.

The NEXT generation of CPUs are also Dual Core , but each core will be 64bit. The result is a very efficient CPU. AMD are slightly ahead of Intel by already releasing a 64 bit Dual Core CPU. This is known as the AMD Turion 64 X2.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_13909_13910,00.html

The reason companies are making 64bit CPUs is because some programs are being programmed to take full advantage of 64bit CPU resources. One big thing is Windows Vista which will take advantage of 64bit.

Intel are planning to launch a similar CPU with their new Core Duo 2 CPU.

What is called Intel Centrino is a known as a Platform. For a laptop to qualify as a Centrino, it needs to have a Pentium M CPU (similar to AMD Turion 64), an Intel Wireless card and an Intel Chipset (a component that connects various components togeather for the components to send data to each other.

The Intel Centrino Duo is similar but has one crucial difference. Instead of the Pentium M, a Centrino Duo laptop needs to have a Core Duo or Core Duo 2 CPU.

http://www.intel.com/products/centrino/duo/index.htm

Early next year, the new version of Centrino Duo is coming out and it will have a Core Duo 2 CPU togeather with the Intel Chipset, Wireless Card PLUS some other features.

I hope this has gived you a detailed insight,
Mayz

Can someone please correct me if I have stated anyhting wrong...