Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor Technology for Laptop Computers

The best notebooks have Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology insideΔ

Intel’s NEWEST and BEST performing notebook technology includes:
• Up to 50% faster performance when multitasking‡
• Up to 2X greater range and up to 5X better wireless performanceΔ
• Designed for the longest possible battery life
• Up to 90% faster performance on intensive multimedia applications like HD video encoding‡

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Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology

What the Experts are Saying

"The notebook was fast in our hands-on testing, too. After using it as our primary notebook for several days, we were able to watch a Blu-ray video while running several other programs without affecting video playback.”

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LAPTOPMag.com | July 14, 2008

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What’s Inside

Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology for laptop computers is not just a processor, but a revolutionary technology made up of a dual-core processor, chipset, and integrated wireless—designed together for outstanding performance, amazing battery life and faster, broader wirelessΔ. In short, it is the ultimate in mobile computing for today’s nomadic lifestyle.


Intel® Core™2 Duo processors

Intel® Core™2 Duo processors

Intel® Chipset

Intel® chipset

Intel® Wireless

Intel® Wireless

Key Features for Laptop Computers

Intel® Centrino® Processor Technology
Unsurpassed laptop computing performance
Get performance that meets the processing needs of the most demanding multitasker, whether you’re editing photos, watching HD video, or gaming. With a minimum of 3MB Smart Cache and 1066MHz Front Side Bus, Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology delivers performance gains of up to 50 percent.‡ No more waiting for your notebook to catch up!
Break free with longer battery life
To keep you unplugged longer, we’ve incorporated Deep Power Down and other energy-efficient capabilities into Intel Centrino 2 processor technology. So you won’t need to search for power outlets at every stop along your travels.
Like you’ve never seen or heard before
With HD video and audio decoding, you can access and enjoy more exciting media content than ever while on-the-go.
The future of wireless – today
Operate wirelessly with up to five times better wireless performance, including faster Web browsing, file transfers and rich media downloads.Δ Go from office to park bench to café and back home again without missing an online minute.
Enhanced digital media experience
With Intel® Graphics Technology, you’re choosing a smarter, integrated solution for your visual needs. You’ll experience the hottest media in razor-sharp 1080p HD with crystal-clear images and brilliant color.λ And you’ll enjoy more than three times better graphics performance for a rich, realistic and immersive experience while you’re gaming or watching video.‡
Go thinner and lighter
Intel helps put lighter, sleeker notebooks at your fingertips. How? By making their powerful Intel Centrino 2 processor technology 50 percent smaller.Δ So go thin and unplug with Intel’s smallest Centrino 2 processor technology.

Compare Processor Numbers

Is faster always better? Yes, but it's not always what you should buy.

So as you evaluate the performance of the components below, don't analyze them in isolation from each other, but consider them interdependent partners that make up your projected system. And, keep in mind that your future needs—adding software from a growing family or a growing business—might be different later.

Roll over each word below to find a pop-up box: we have provided definitions you need to know so you can better understand how each will work together in your system.

Processor Family
Processor Family
 Processor
Number
Processor Number
What is this? 		Cores
Cores
What is this? 		Clock Speed
Clock Speed
What is this? 		Front Side Bus (MHz)
Front Side Bus
What is this? 		L2 Cache
L2 Cache
What is this? 		Silicon Technology
Silicon Technology
What is this?
PERFORMANCE
Intel® Core™2 Duo processor
 
T9600 2 2.80 GHz 1066 MHz 6 MB 45nm
T9400 2 2.53 GHz 1066 MHz 6 MB 45nm
POWER OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE
Intel® Core™2 Duo processor
 
P9500 2 2.53 GHz 1066 MHz 6 MB 45nm
P8600 2 2.40 GHz 1066 MHz 3 MB 45nm
P8400 2 2.26 GHz 1066 MHz 3 MB 45nm
P7350 2 2.0 GHz 1066 MHz 3MB 45 nm
LOW VOLTAGE PROCESSORS
SP9400 2 2.40 GHz 1066 MHz 6 MB 45-nm
SP9300 2 2.26 GHz 1066 MHz 6 MB 45-nm
SL9400 2 1.86 GHz 1066 MHz 6 MB 45-nm
SL9300 2 1.60 GHz 1066 MHz 6 MB 45-nm
ULTRA LOW VOLTAGE PROCESSORS
SU9400 2 1.33 GHz 800 MHz 3 MB 45-nm
SU9300 2 1.20 GHz 800 MHz 3 MB 45-nm
Intel processor numbers are not a measure of performance. Processor numbers differentiate features within each processor family, not across different processor families. See www.intel.com/products/processor_number for details.
 
 

Processor Number

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Processor models vary according to cache size, clock speed and RAM speed. If you run compute-intensive programs, the more L2 Cache you have the better. If, however, you use your PC for gaming, streaming video or watching movies, the size of your L2 Cache is not as significant as having a speedy Front Side Bus and some juiced up Clock Speed. That being said, every year, software developers design programs and applications that demand more and more of all three of these elements. So, our advice is to think about tomorrow’s needs as well as today’s. Still don’t know if you should err on the side of caution or throw it to the wind? Choose the best processor you can afford. No matter what, you’re bound to be blown away.

Here is some guidance to consider when looking at our notebook processors:

Intel® Core™2 Extreme mobile processor:
QX9000 series: For the best competitive gaming and/or media performance

Intel® Centrino® processor technology:
T9000/T8000 series: Great for visually intense gaming and/or high definition media
T7000/ T5000 series: Create and store your photos, videos and music

Intel® Pentium® dual-core processor:
T2000 series: Aptly handles a variety of simple computing tasks simultaneously

Intel® Celeron® dual-core processor:
T1000 series: For when you want to run a few basic tasks simultaneously

Intel® Celeron® processor:
500 series: For when you just need the basics

Here is some guidance to consider when looking at our desktop processors:

Intel® Core™2 Extreme processor:
QX9000 series: For the best competitive gaming and/or media performance

Intel® Core™2 Quad processor:
QX9000 series: For the best competitive gaming and/or media performance

Intel® Core™2 Duo processor:
E8000 series: For creating and storing photos, videos and music

Intel® Pentium® dual-core processor:
E2000 series: Good for a variety of simple PC tasks.

Intel® Celeron® processor:
400 series: For when you just need the basics

Multi-core processors are single chips that contain two or more distinct processors or execution cores in the same integrated circuit. While independent, each core can work separately or together on one large task.

Software developers chop up their code (known as threading) and run each piece concurrently through whatever processor core happens to be most available. And, increasingly, software developers rely on Intel® quad-core and dual-core technology so their multi-threaded program can do more things simultaneously producing faster, more efficient results for you.

Tip! For exceptional multitasking, look for Intel® dual-core processors. If you’re a mega-multitasker, gaming elitist, or media maven, look for Intel quad-core processors.

The simplest way to understand clock speed is to imagine a stopwatch measuring laps. Question is, where is the stopwatch: an Olympic pool, a racetrack or a track meet?

Just like a stopwatch, a clock speed measures how fast a processor performs an activity. But which activity?

That’s up to you; how will you use your computer? Will you make a video of your child with your new HD camera? Then find a benchmark test that tells the clock speed of the processor running a media-intensive program. Do you love re-touching photos? Then look up how a processor was benchmarked running the photo software you like to use.

Tip! Yes, you will find numbers. You will see rates in gigahertz (GHz) which means a billion cycles per second.

But numbers don’t tell the story. How you use your processor is what you want to find out. After all, you wouldn’t compare a lap time from a swim meet with an Indy car, would you?

Imagine the RAM of your computer as one city, and the CPU as another. Between them is a freeway: the Front Side Bus. When you’re making calculations, developing graphics—anything you and your software demands—the Front Side Bus transfers data quickly to meet that demand.


Tip! Whatever system you choose, make sure the components work together. For example, if you’re building a media computer, having a 1333 MHz front side bus that can handle HD video is wonderful—but make sure the CPU is adequate for the challenge.

Imagine arriving at the grocery store and having all your favorite food fly off the shelves and fill the cart in minutes.

That’s L2 cache. It remembers the information accessed most frequently in your computer so you can easily get to it without those annoying lags. (Just don’t expect it to remember documents you didn’t save. It’s just a computer, not your mother.)

Tip! More L2 cache reduces bottlenecks and helps speed memory performance.

45nm – A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. Transistors on our latest processors are just 45-billionths of a meter wide. To get an idea of the size of the technology: you could lay over 2000 of our transistor gates side-by-side and almost equal the diameter of a strand of human hair. The new Hafnium-infused Intel 45nm process allows transistors to be packed more densely than the 65nm process. With the use of hafnium oxide replacing silicon dioxide (in use since the 1960s) the new transistors leak less energy, produce less heat and switch faster.

Nearly doubling the density of our processors means leaps in performance, an up-to-50-percent larger L2 cache, and new levels of breakthrough energy-efficiency. Cool—in more ways than one.

Performance Benchmarks

Performance for Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology and comparisons to
previous generation Intel® Centrino® processor technology.

 



Watch a full-length Blu-ray* movie on one battery charge

With Intel’s newest mobile technology you can enjoy watching your favorite Blu-ray* movies when you're away from home.

Click here for Blu-ray Playback system configuration.‡


Break free! …with longer battery life

Get Intel’s best notebook technology designed to bring you the longest possible battery life. Enjoy the freedom and flexibility to work, learn and play on the go.

Click here for MobileMark*2007 system configuration.‡





Get a better visual experience

With DirectX* 10 support and a higher graphics core frequency, Intel® Centrino® 2 mobile technology gives you an improved 3D visual experience compared to Intel® Centrino® mobile technology.





Multitask – Do more with your notebook in less time

Get amazing dual-core performance and prepare your favorite photos for sharing on Facebook* while at the same time creating your own family web gallery. This test measures the number of digital photos you can prepare in one minute for sharing on Facebook*.


Share your videos with the world

With the new Intel Centrino 2 processor technology, you can quickly convert your standard-definition videos and link MiniDV format for uploading to YouTube*. This test measures the number of 5 minute videos you can create in 20 minutes.


Quickly compress, store, and share your Hi-Def home videos

Intel’s newest mobile technology makes quick work of the toughest computing tasks like Hi-Def video encoding for sharing on DVD. This test measures the time to convert and compress 30 minutes of Hi-Def video.

Click here for performance system configuration.‡

Click here for detailed performance information.‡

Reviews

Cnet

CNET.com | August 15, 2008

"We don't know how Gateway makes money selling these things, but the combination of high-end components and low price makes the 17-inch Gateway P-7811FX the best mobile gaming deal going right now."
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Cnet

CNET.com | August 14, 2008

"The retail-only Pavilion dv7-1025nr comes in a single fixed configuration built around Intel's newest Centrino 2 platform; components include a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo P8400 CPU (one of the new "power optimized" models) and a generous 4GB of fast 800MHz RAM, with 64-bit Windows Vista to take advantage of it. It's not surprising that such a well-stocked system finished at or near the front of the pack on CNET Labs performance benchmarks."
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pcworld

PCWorld.com | August 5, 2008

"Equipped with the new Centrino 2 processor, Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 looks a mild-mannered ultraportable, and yet it can leap tall workloads in a single bound. Its battery life is phenomenal, and the keyboard is huge."
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pcworld

PCWorld.com | July 30, 2008

"Micro Express has previously topped our charts with affordable portables such as its IFL9025. So our expectations for the company's first machine with Intel's Centrino 2 (the CPU class formerly known as "Montevina") were pretty high. Keeping true to form, Micro Express comes through with the JFL9226, a well-rounded and well-priced ($1299 as of 7/3/08) all-purpose laptop--though it does have a shortcoming or two."
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Cnet

CNET.com | July 14, 2008

"One big advantage of the new Centrino 2 chipset is that the integrated graphics chip (Intel GMA 4700MHD) is DirectX 10 compatible and also plays back full-definition Blu-ray or HD content without a hitch…."
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laptopmag

LAPTOPMag.com | July 14, 2008

"And with Intel's new Centrino 2 technology for fast productivity performance, better-than-average battery life, and a strikingly sleek design, there's no reason why the VAIO FW Series shouldn't be at the top of your short list."
Read Article

laptopmag

LAPTOPMag.com | June 10, 2008

"We can’t share the benchmark results yet, but we can tell you that the dv5t is one of the fastest notebooks we’ve ever tested. Just as important, the dv5t multitasked like a champ. We played a movie, download Mozilla’s Firefox, chatted with friends via IM, and surfed the Web simultaneously, and this notebook didn’t show a hint of lag."
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Ratings provided by CNET. Shopping information is pulled from a third party and is provided as a convenience to you. We cannot guarantee system availability, pricing, or system configuration. See full disclaimer for more information.

+  Product and Performance Data

Δ1 For more information on why Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology enables the best notebooks, please visit www.intel.com/performance/.

‡1 As measured using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom* comparing latest generation Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology-based notebooks with comparable frequency first-generation Intel® Centrino® processor technology-based notebooks. Actual performance may vary. See www.intel.com/go/consumerbenchmarks for important additional information.

Δ2 Up to 2x greater range and up to 5x better performance (compared to 802.11a/g) with Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology-enabled notebooks. Actual results may vary based on your specific hardware, connection rate, site conditions, and software configurations. See www.intel.com/performance/mobile/wireless/index.htm for more information. Wireless N standard currently not available in all countries. Check with your PC and access point manufacturer for details.

‡2 Performance measured is based on TMPGEncoder Xpress* 4.4 comparing Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology-based notebooks with comparable frequency first-generation Intel® Centrino® processor technology-based notebooks. Actual performance may vary. See www.intel.com/go/consumerbenchmarks for important additional information.

λ Intel® Integrated Graphics with Intel® Clear Video Technology, including improved video playback and quality, are available on systems based on the Intel® G35, G33, and G965 Express Chipsets. Platforms based on the Intel® 945G Express Chipset and above, when configured with memory devices of adequate amount and speed, meet all current requirements for the Windows Vista* Premium OS system logo.

‡3 As measured by 3DMark*06 comparing latest generation Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology-based notebooks, including Intel® Graphics Technology, with first-generation Intel® Centrino® processor technology-based notebooks. Actual performance may vary. See www.intel.com/go/consumerbenchmarks for important additional information.

Δ3 Intel® Centrino® 2 processors (SL9400, SL9300, SU9400, SU9300) compared to same-generation, full-size Intel Centrino 2 processor technology SKUs (for T9400, T9600 processors).

‡4 Performance tests and ratings are measured using specific computer systems and/or components and reflect the approximate performance of Intel® products as measured by those tests. Any difference in system hardware or software design or configuration may affect actual performance. Buyers should consult other sources of information to evaluate the performance of systems or components they are considering purchasing. For more information on performance tests and on the performance of Intel products, visit Intel Performance Benchmark Limitations.

Σ VirtualDub* is a video capture/processing utility. DivX* is a format for digital video. This workload models a user who is taking digital home video content and converting it to an MPEG4 format (DivX) for better compression while still maintaining high image quality. The workload for VirtualDub is a 66.2MB, 110-second MPEG2 video file in 720x480 resolution at 5Mbps. It is converted to DivX format with 720x480 resolution with a total size of 10.3MB.

‡5 Blu-ray* playback: Test was performed using CyberLink* Power DVD* pre-production retail version 8.0.1826.50 to playback the movie "300*" in repeat mode until the battery is fully drained. The movie is 116 minutes long. The results of this test is based on a specific notebook and configuration. Results may vary.

‡6 3DMark* Vantage is a gamers’ benchmark for the DX10 platform. Its primary purpose is to help gamers evaluate their system performance for gaming use and, through online services, relate the tested system to other available hardware.

‡7 Adobe Photoshop Lightroom* 1.1 is a photography application that lets you manage, adjust, and present a large amount of photographs. For this scenario, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is used to resize 125 ten-megapixel and 75 six-megapixel JPEG photos at 480x360 resolution for posting to Facebook* or viewing on portable devices such as an Apple iPhone*. The photos are also used to create a personal HTML web gallery that can be published online. Extrapolation used to calculate the number of images you can prepare in one minute for upload to Facebook*.

‡8 MobileMark* 2007 is a benchmark used to evaluate notebook PC user experience by measuring both performance and battery life at the same time on the same workload. MobileMark 2007 was released in August 2007 and contains workloads that are updated from those found in MobileMark* 2005. Because the workloads within MobileMark 2007 and MobileMark 2005 are different and operating system features between Microsoft Windows XP* and Microsoft Windows Vista* also differ, it is not meaningful to compare the performance scores or battery life results of these two benchmarks.

‡9 Sony* Vegas Movie Studio Platinum* 8.0c is a video editing, audio production, and DVD authoring tool. Using the DivX* 6.8 encoder, this test shows how long it took to convert and compress a 1 minute, 59 second 370MB 1440x1080 HD camcorder video file to a 108MB 1440x1080 HD video file in DivX* format. Extrapolation used to calculate the time it takes to convert and compress 30 minutes of video.

Δ4 System performance, battery life, power savings, high-definition quality, video playback and functionality, and wireless performance and functionality will vary depending on your specific operating system, hardware, chipset, connection availability and rate, site conditions, and software configurations. References to enhanced performance including wireless refer to comparisons with previous generation Intel® technologies. Wireless connectivity and some features may require you to purchase additional software, services or external hardware. See www.intel.com/products/centrino/index.htm and www.intel.com/go/consumerbenchmarks for more information on performance, wireless, power savings and energy efficiency.