Notebook Processors
In the following report we present all laptop processors which are available at the market at present and give a rough classification of the current consumption and the performance of the different architectures.
An approximate rating with average benchmark values can be found in our version benchmark list of mobile processors.
Intel Core 2 Duo (Merom)
This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more current consumption. As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU).
Features are 2 cores, a 64-bit EM64T command amplification and 2 or 4 MB L2 Cache and 291 millions of transistors, which are finished in 65 nm. Furthermore all types support "Execute Disable Bit" technics, SSSE3 (SSE4), Enhanced Speedstep, LaGrande and most types the virtualisation technics (VT) Vanderpool.
The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Cure 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower tensions (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). The performance of equally clocked notebooks is 20-25% lower than Desktop PCs because of the lower Frontside bus clock and the slower hard disks.
Now, the Core 2 Duo exists in the following versions (sorted by performance):
The energy need of the processors is marked by pre-set letters in front of the type designation (number).
X ... Extreme (fastest) version with the highest current consumption
E ... >= 55 Watt (Desktop PCs)
T ... 30-39 Watt (Standard laptop CPUs)
P ... max 25 Watt
L ... 12-19 Watt (Low Voltage)
U ... <11.9 Watt (Ultra Low Voltage)
The 4-digit sequence indicates the type series (first digit) and performance (other digits). The Core 2 mobile processors ought to get 5XXX and 7XXX (at present T2XXX for Core Duo and T1XXX for Core Solo).
In Summer 2007, the Santa Rosa update has been published with minimal improvements (like the faster FSB 800 and Dynamic Acceleration - the overclocking of one core, when the other one is idle).
In January 2008, Intel introduced new T9xxx and T8xxx Core 2 Duo processors based on the new "Penryn" core. These processors are fabricated in the 45nm (the predecessors in 65nm) and offer a bigger level 2 Cache (3 and 6 MB). Furthermore, Penryn got a faster division unit and 47 new SSE orders (SSE4 called).
Core 2 Duo was presented in 31. July 2006 with the following versions (versions with FSB 800 and Dat - dynamic acceleration technology in 05.09.07):
U7500, 1.06 GHz, 2 MB L2, 533 MHz FSB, VT - 10 Watts
U7600, 1.20 GHz, 2 MB L2, 533 MHz FSB, VT - 10 Watts
L7200, 1.33 GHz, 4 MB L2, 667 MHZ FSB, VT - 17 Watts
L7300, 1.40 GHz, 4 MB L2, 800 MHZ FSB, VT, DAT
L7400, 1.50 GHz, 4 MB L2, 667 MHZ FSB, VT - 17 Watts
L7500, 1.50 GHz, 4 MB L2, 800 MHZ FSB, VT, DAT
T5200, 1.66 GHz, 2 MB L2, 533 MHZ FSB
T5300, 1.73 GHz, 2 MB L2, 533 MHZ FSB
T5450, 1.67 GHz, 2 MB L2, 667 MHz FSB - 35 Watts
T5470, 1.60 GHz, 2 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB - 35 Watts
T5500, 1.66 GHz, 2 MB L2, 667 MHZ FSB - 34 Watts
T5600, 1.83 GHz, 2 MB L2, 667 MHZ FSB, VT - 34 Watts
T7100, 1.80 GHz, 2 MB L2, 800 MHZ FSB, VT, DAT
T7200, 2.00 GHz, 4 MB L2, 667 MHZ FSB, VT - 34 Watts
T7250, 2.00 GHz, 2 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT - 35 Watts
T7300, 2.00 GHz, 4 MB L2, 800 MHZ FSB, VT, DAT
T8100, 2.10 GHz, 3 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT - 35 Watt
T7400, 2.16 GHz, 4 MB L2, 667 MHZ FSB, VT - 34 Watts
T7500, 2.20 GHz, 4 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT
T7600, 2.33 GHz, 4 MB L2, 667 MHZ FSB, VT - 34 Watts
T7600G - as T7600 but with free selectable multiplier (for overclocking)
T8300, 2.40 GHz, 3 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT - 35 Watts
T7700, 2.40 GHz, 4 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT
T7800, 2.60 GHz, 4 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT
T9300, 2.50 GHz, 6 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT - 35 Watts
T9400, 2.50 GHz, 6 MB L2, 1066 MHz FSB, VT, DAT
T9500, 2.60 GHz, 6 MB L2, 800 MHz FSB, VT, DAT - 35 Watts
Intel Core 2 Extreme (Merom, Penryn)
The fastest Core 2 Duo variants of Intel are called Core 2 Extreme. Technically, these processors are based on a Merom/Penryn (X9000) core like all other Core 2 Duo processors, too.
Models:
X7800, 2.6 GHz, FSB 800, 4 MB L2, 44 Watt TDP, Merom, 07.2007
X7900, 2.8 GHz, FSB 800, 4 MB L2, 44 Watt TDP, Merom, 09.2007
X9000, 2.8 GHz, FSB 800, 6 MB L2, 44 Watt TDP, Penryn, 01.2008
X9100, 3.06 GHz, FSB 1066, 6 MB L2, ? Watt TDP, Penryn, 06.2008
Intel Core 2 Solo (Merom)
This is the successor of the Core Solo and technically a Core 2 Duo with only one core. It will be available for laptops starting with the 3. quarter 2007 and only as an Ultra Low Voltage (ULV). Therefore the core tension is very low (=economic). 2 versions are planned at moment:
- U2100, 1.2 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533 MHz FSB, 5 W max. TDP
- U2200, 1.06 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 533 FSB, 5 W max. TDP
Intel Core Duo (Yonah)
Pentium M successor
Double Core processor with a very good relation of performance to current consumption. The 2 MB L2 Cache are used together by the double. The maximum capacity of 31 watts is only 4 watts more than with the Pentium M (predecessor). Both cores are lowered automatically and independently of each other by speed steps down to 1 GHz. In addition it now supports also SSE3 instructions.
After first benchmarks the Core Duo completes all tests at least just as fast as a equivalent Pentium M. With applications, which were designed for multi-processors, the performance can be nearly twice as fast as with the Pentium M (e.g. CineBench around 86% fast)
Models (clock, TDP):
T2700 (2.33 GHz, 31 W, FSB 667 MHz)
T2600 (2.16 GHz, 31 W, FSB 667 MHz)
T2500 (2.00 GHz, 31 W, FSB 667 MHz)
T2450 (2.00 GHz, FSB 533 MHz)
T2400 (1.83 GHz, 31 W, FSB, 667 MHz)
T2350 (1.86 GHz, FSB 533 MHz)
T2300 (1.66 GHz, 31 W, 667 MHz)
T2250 (1.73 GHz, FSB 533, MHz)
T2050 (1.60 GHz, FSB 533 MHz)
T2050E (1.60 GHz, FSB 533 MHz): current saving version with 1.3 instead of 1.4 Volt supply voltage
L2500 LV, 1.83 GHz, FSB 667 MHz
L2400 LV, 1.66 GHz, 15 W, FSB 667 MHz
L2300 LV, 1.50 GHz, 15 W, FSB 667 MHz
U2500 ULV, 1.20 GHz, 9.5 W, FSB 533 MHz
U2400 ULV, 1.06 GHz, 9.5 W, FSB 533 MHz
Pentium Dual Core T2060: 1.6 GHz, FSB 533 MHz, 1 MB L2 Cache (the return of the name Pentium, though Yonah core)
Pentium Dual Core T2080: 1.73 GHz, FSB 533 MHz, 1 MB L2 Cache
Intel Core Solo
Single core version of the Core Duo and successor of the Intel Pentium M; Because of the 65nm reduced structure width also smaller current consumption than Pentium M (maximally 27 Watts); the performance is comparable with the equivalent clocked Pentium M (somewhat faster because of a few improvements).
Models:
T1200 mit 1.50 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 2MB L2 Cache
T1300 with 1,66 GHz 2MB L2 Cache
T1350 with 1.86 GHz, FSB 533 MHz, 2MB L2 Cache (about the same level like Pentium M 750)
T1400 mit 1.83 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 2MB L2 Cache
Ultra low voltage models (maximum 5.5 Watt):
U1300 mit 1.06 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 2MB L2 Cache
U1400 mit 1.20 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 2MB L2 Cache
U1500 mit 1.33 GHz, FSB 667 MHz, 2MB L2 Cache
- Pentium M
The Pentium M was the precessor of the Core architecture, but only featured a single core. The core itself was "nearer" to the old Pentium 3 design than to the Pentium 4 design. In comparison to a Pentium 4M, very fast per megahertz and a modest current consumption with weaknesses in floating point operations. Current CeleronM low cost CPUs show a similar performance as the old Pentium M.
With Intel chipset (855 or 915) and Intel WLAN it is also available with the name Centrino (name for the package).
Models:
900 - 2260 MHz, 1-2 MB level 2 Cache, 90nm and 130nm production process, 400 and 533 MHz front Side bus (FSB);
It is also available as a low voltage version with very small current consumption.
Intel Celeron Dual-Core
The Intel Celeron Dual-Core familiy consists out of dual core CPUs for cheap laptops. Compared to the Celeron M single core family the biggest advantage (in addition to the second core) is the Enhanced Speedstep function, which enables the notebook to downclock the CPU in Idle mode. Therefore, the current consumption can be much lower. Compared to the Core (2) Duo or Pentium Dual-Core processors, the Celeron Cual-Core features much less L2 Cache which leads to a lower performance per clock. The current models all support the Execution Disable Bit function and are ready for a 64 Bit operating system. The 45nm models should need much less current compared to the 65nm processors.
Models:
E1200, 65nm, 1600 MHz, 512 KB L2 Cache, FSB 800
T1400, 45nm, 1830 MHz, 512 KB L2 Cache, FSB 533
E1400, 65nm, 2000 MHz, 512 KB L2 Cache, FSB 800
- Celeron M
800 - 1500 MHz, 512KB - 1 MB level 2 Cache. Technically the Celeron M is based onthe Pentium M / Core Solo but with reduced L2 Cache, a slower FSB and no Speedstep. Therefore, the performance and battery runtime is a bit below the similar Core Solo.
It is also available as Low Voltage Version with very small current consumption.
The 4xx series is based upon the Core Solo and has a Front Side Bus (FSB) of 533 MHz, but only 1 instead of 2 MB L2 Cache. It seems to be bring enough performance for office applications (as the 3xx series).
The 5xx series is based upon the Core 2 Solo (Merom architecure) and is slightly faster than an equally fast 4xx Celeron M. The Celeron does not support any virtualisation technics and has no ViiV and vPRO certificate (in contrary to Core 2 Solo).
410: 1.46 GHz, FSB 533, 1MB L2 Cache
420: 1.60 GHz, FSB 533, 1MB L2 Cache
423: 1.06 GHz, FSB 533, 1MB L2 Cache, Ultra Low Voltage = current saving
520: 1.60 GHz, FSB 533, 1 MB L2 Cache, 64 Bit
530: 1.73 GHz, FSB 533, 1 MB L2 Cache, 64 Bit
523: 0.933 GHz, FSB 533, 1MB L2 Cache, 5 Watt max TDP, Ultra Low Voltage
Intel Atom
The Intel Atom series is a 64-Bit microprocessor for cheap and small notebooks, MIDs, or UMPCs. The speciality of the new architecture is the "in order" execution (instead of the usual and faster "out of order" execution). Therefore, the transistor count of the Atom series is much lower and, thus, cheaper to produce.
The single core Silverthorne core is produced in 45 nm and features MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, Intel 64, XD-Bit, IVT, and Hyper-Threading (the higher clocked versions). The performance of the fastest Atom is still beyond the Celeron product line.
Z500, 0.80 GHz, 0.65 Watt, FSB 100
Z510, 1.10 GHz, 2.00 Watt, FSB 100
Z520, 1.33 GHz, 2.00 Watt, FSB 133, Hyper-Threading
Z530, 1.60 GHz, 2.00 Watt, FSB 133, Hyper-Threading
Z540, 1.86 GHz, 2.00 Watt, FSB 133, Hyper-Threading
Intel Mobile A-Series (Stealey)
The Mobile A100 and A110 processors (codename Stealey) are ULV processors and have been developed for UMPCs (Ultra Mobile PCs). They are based on a Celeron-M with a Dothan core. The CPUs are fabricated in 90nm and have a L2 Cache of 512 KB. The maximum current consumption is 3 W. The processors are combined with a 945GU chipset (ULV version of the 945GM) with integrated GMA 950 graphic card. The Frontside bus is 400 MHz. The A100 is clocked with 600 MHz and the A110 with 800 MHz. Both processors have a low processor performance, which is heavily loaded with MPEG 4 videos.
2,4 - 3.46 Ghz (in former times starting from 1,4 Ghz) with FSB 533 (in former times 400) and 512KB to 1 MB level 2 Cache. It is produced in 90 - 130 nm production process and is relative slow, but uses much current and heats up considerably per megahertz (compared with mobile processors like Pentium M). Technically it is a Pentium 4 with some current saving mechanisms (e.g. speedstep) and less current consumption.
The Mobile Intel Pentium 4 for DTR (desktop replacement laptops) was a special version of the Pentium 4 M. It supports Enhanced Speed Step and other features for the reduction of current consumption, but needs clearly more current than the Pentium 4-M models. It was intruduced with FSB533-connection and clock frequencies between 2.4 and 3.06 GHz.
Technically it is a Pentium 4 M however without speed steps and with less level 2 Cache. In contrast to the Celeron M it is very slow, since the long pipeline of architecture needs a large level 2 Cache. Slow, warm and very hungry for current per megahertz.
AMD Turion X2 Ultra
The Turion X2 Ultra was introduced in Q2 2008 and the core is based on the old K9 architecture (Turion 64 X2) with some K10 (Dektop Phenom) parts like the Crossbar-Swithc, HyperTransport 3.0 link, memory controller). Because of the bigger L2 cache (of the Ultra models), the performance is a bit better than a similar clocked Turion 64 X2. Furthermore, the current consumption went a bit down. Still the performance is not compareable to a similar clocked Core 2 Duo (which feature up to 6 MB L2 Cache).
AMD Turion64 X2
64 bit dual core (2 core) processor, code name Taylor (2 x 256 KB L2) and Trinidad (2 x 512 KB L2), DDR2-667 support, Pacifica (AMD-v) virtualisation technics, 31-35 W TDP, socket S1, 90 nm fabrication, separated L2 Caches, integrated 333 MHz DDR, 800 MHz Hypertransport
AMD Turion 64 X2 is intended to be positioned against the Intel Core Duo was presented in 17. May 2006. The current consumption is not higher than with Centrino-Duo-notebooks (TL-45 with ATI Xpress and Mobility Radeon X300). This means, that approximative the same battery runtime and fan functions can be expected (with this chipset). However, the performance was 20% below the T2300 (1.66 GHz) due to the lower L2 Cache (Core Duo has 2048 Kbyte shared L2 Cache). Nevertheless, the performance is sufficient.
In March 2007 a Turion 64 with reduced structure was announced (as a response to Intels Santa Rosa Core 2 Duo), which have up to 2.3 GHz.
TL-50 1.6 GHz 2 x 256 KB L2 Cache, 31 Watt TDP
TL-52 1.6 GHz 2 x 512 KB L2 Cache, 31 Watt TDP
TL-56 1.8 GHz 2 x 512 KB L2 Cache, 33 Watt TDP, 65nm (31 Watt after May 07)
TL-58 1.9 GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache, 31 Watt TDP, 65nm
TL-60 2.0 GHz 2 x 512 KB L2 Cache, 35 Watt TDP, 65nm
TL-64 2.2 GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache, 35 Watt TDP, 65nm
TL-66 2.3 GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache, 35 Watt TDP, 65nm
This is a derivative of the Athlon 64 with SSE3 and nx storage protection, 32 and 64 bit support, integrated memory controller for PC3200 memory, current save mode, HT800. The ML versions have a TDP of 35 Watt and the MB versions 25 Watt.
Speeds:
MT-30 / ML-30 (1.6 GHz, 1 MB L2)
MT-32 / ML-32 (1.8 GHz, 512 KB L2)
MT-34 / ML-34 (1.8 GHz, 1 MB L2)
MK-36 (2.0 GHz, 512 KB L2, 31 Watt TDP)
MT-37 / ML-37 (2.0 GHz, 1 MB L2)
MT-40 / ML-40 (2.2 GHz, 1 MB L2)
ML-42 (2.4 GHz, 512 KB L2)
ML-44 (2.4 GHz, 1 MB L2)
Regarding the consumption MT might be very similar to a Pentium M. The speed is moderate and approximately as fast as an Pentium M with equivalent clock speed.
In contrary to the rare cases, where Desktop Athlon 64 X2 processors are inserted in DTR laptops, AMD introduced in summer 2007 the "Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processors for laptop PCs" series with CPUs, which are based on the Turion 64 X2 core. The CPU is designed for socket S1 and contains an integrated DDR2 memory controller.
The processors are based on the Hawk-25 core and offer 2 cores (dual-core) with a 128 kb l1 cache and 256 kb l2 cache. The mobile laptop processor supports MMX, extended 3DNow!, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, AMD64, PowerNow!, NX-Bit and AMD-V. The FSB works with 800 MHz (HyperTransport HT1600).
AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-53, 65 nm, 1700 MHz, 31 W TDP
AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55, 65 nm, 1800 MHz, 31 W TDP
2700+ (1,6 Ghz) - 4000+ (2,6 Ghz). The rating is comparable with the clock rates of Pentium 4 M. It is a 32 and 64 bit processor relative fast per megahertz and uses moderately much current (and produces heat). The top versions are DTR (Desktop replacement) versions for large laptops.
2800+ to 3000+ mobile Athlon 64 with reduced level 2 Cache; The rating is not comparable with Athlon 64 Rating. A 3000+ Athlon 64 is faster than a 3000+ Sempron. There is no 64 bit support.
Especially: Sempron 2100+, socket S1, 9 Watt TDP, 1 GHz
Mobile version of the Athlon XP regarding rating comparable with Pentium 4 clock frequencies; Somewhat more slow than Athlon 64 with same rating and no 64 bit support.
Successor of the Crusoe processor; not as fast as comparable Intel and AMD processors, however very economic current consumption;
Not as fast as comparable Intel and AMD processors, however very economic current consumption;
VIA C3 Nehemiah / C3-M Mobile Nehemiah
VIA Eden / Eden-N (max 7 Watt Stromaufnahme)
VIA C7 / C7-M
Current saving processors, however not as fast as a equivalent Pentium/AMD processor