Intel saves batteries and pumps multimedia with Centrino 2

ntel on Monday launched Centrino 2, its latest mobile platform, which the company claims will increase laptop battery life while delivering speedier performance and faster wireless connectivity...



Laptops with the Centrino 2 platform include Core 2 Duo processors running between 2.26GHz and 3.06GHz, a graphics chipset capable of handling high-definition graphics and a wireless chipset. Three of the new Core 2 Duo processors run at 25 watts for lower power consumption compared to earlier processors, which ran at 35 watts of higher.

Chipset wise things look good as well, with three new offerings available, named the GM45, GM47 and PM45. GM45 and 47 will offer support for DDR2 and (for the first time in notebooks) DDR3 memory and boast integrated graphics under the label of X4500 HD, which will offer improved performance from X3100, as well as DX10 support along with HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. Supposedly GM47 is twice as fast in 3DMark06 as its predecessor, although you still won't be playing Crysis on it.