Centrino 2 vs non Centrino chipsets: Is it a big deal?

Hi,

I recently seen the hype there was around the Centrino 2 platform released by Intel... but as far as I know, it's only a marketing strategy that *promises* more performance.

I wanted to know if this performance gain is real, minimum or fake? Are there any benchmarks??

Thanks!

 

Don't really get it, what you want to know ?
Do you want to know the difference between the GM/PM 45 chipset and the other ATI/NVIDIA chipsets, or the difference b/w the current Centrino 2 platform and the previous Centrino platforms ?

 

Centrino just means INTEL PROCESSOR, INTEL CHIPSET + INTEL WIFI CARD.

I prefer an Athros WiFi card over INTEL anyday!

 

What I meant was if there is any performace improvements using the Centrino 2 platform (the combination of WIFI, CHIPSET and PROCESSOR) or not, when compared to non-Centrino Notebooks (like, for example, a notebook with nvidia chipset)

 

there are huge variations in performance, depending on what specific set of components you get in each notebook. if you compare the best of the best, there will be a slight increase in performance but that really depends on application - most people don't need anything near bleeding edge though.

 

My question is mainly because of the following: Is it better to get a Centrino2 notebook or the performance loss that results in getting an nVidia chipset is minimal when comparing it to the gain in battery life?

 

As far as I know, Nvidia does not make a notebook chipset. Are you talking about dedicated graphics solution? If so, then those still use Intel Centrino 2 chipset + Nvidia dedicated graphics. There is no performance loss, infact, better gaming performance, the only feature you loss is battery life as the dedicated graphics require more power in general; this includes even when you're not using 3D applications and slightly warmer temperatures.

 

nVIDIA did make some chipsets such as the - 8200M G (MCP77MV) and the 9100M G (MCP77MH).

The 9100M G was a bit better as compared to the Santa Rosa platform, but when compared to Montevina, nVIDIA certainly has some home work to do.

9100M G - DDR2-533/667 RAM, AMD Turion X2/Athlon X2/Sempron, Wireless 802.11b/g (Atheros)....

G45/P45 - DDR2-800/DDR3-800/1066 RAM, Intel Core 2/Extreme, Wireless N (5350 etc)

The 9100M G, in conjunction with the 9200M G, was supposed to provide good graphics + battery life, due to the Hybrid SLI + GeforceBoost, but it wasn't very successful in doing so. (Maybe because of the AMDs )

The 9100M G was comparable to the 965 chipset family, but its kinda obsolete now, like the Santa Rosa.

(A Lousy notebook, with the above chipset - Acer Aspire 4530 )

 

Thanks a lot, that was what I was looking for
I still have a month left to buy my notebook (at least), so I hope I can get more choices by then... And then, I don't know if I'll buy my laptop right away, as it will be getting by the end of the next month.

Thanks a lot !!

 

Just go for the cheapest Montevina based notebook - dedicated/integrated graphics (worth-it). Even a P7350 blows out the highest supported AMD Turion X2 TL-64 (on the 9100M G).

 

why would you get an AMD CPU on a nVidia chipset? AMD chipset is better than Intel's for integrated video; however, Intel processors are generally better than AMDs.

 

Have not seen a notebook with a 9200M G + Intel C2D. I remember the ASUS F3SC had the 8200M G + 8400M G....with a T7500 !!

 

I have the complete Intel Centrino set-up with wireless and all.

I love the 3945. Much better than my roommate's Broadcomm card in his HP, and the Dell card in my girlfriend's notebook.

 

as TINDERBOX put it, CENTRINO is just a word intel made up to reward manufacturers for using CPUs, CHIPSETs, & WIFIs all manufactured by INTEL. just a marketing scheme

but there is a huge difference between centrino2 and the older centrino

CENTRINO 2 is based on the new MONTEVINA platform and will likely be more upgradable

CENTRINO 1 is based on the SANTA ROSA chipset and is limited to T9500 CPUs or lower (must be socket P cpu)

so unless the centrino 1 is much much cheaper, it's probably wise to buy the newer technology of the MONTEVINA platform but the CENTRINO badge is not all that important... it's the MONTEVINA that matters most IMO