Centrino processor for encoding, will it work?

[videocheez]

I've been thinking about buying a laptop for work and also as an extra machine to do some encoding. Have you heard anything about the Centrino mobile CPU as far as it's encoding performance? Processor speed is listed at 1.3GHz but a guy at CompUSA told me that they are faster than the standard P42.6GHz because they have more cache. It's hard to believe a CompUSA salesman so i thought that I would send it to the forum.

Thanks in advance

[MOVIEGEEK]

The CompUSA salesman wasn't far off,the Intel M CPU is optimized for business/web apps but stick with a P4 for media:http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.html?i=1800&p=1

[gf]

Hi videocheez,
Well the compUSA are RIGHT. This cpu is actually a modified Pentium3, it has 1MB L2 cache, and a 400 MHz bus speed.

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.html?i=1800

And a 1.6 GHz Centrino runs against a 2.4 GHz P4.

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.html?i=1801

I always liked the P3 to the P4, it had better performance.

[WeedVender]

Well uh...
The Centrino Processor is optimised for business alplications and so forth. The core has been revamped and it now alows for a single battery to run for 8 hours, good for encodes. The Cache at that size will also speed up encodes. The best thing is that it doesn't heat up.
And yes he was right. The Centrino runs faster than the P4.
This is just like a Moble Xeon, well almost.

[Bravoxena]

The worst that could happen is slightly slower encoding times, but if you got the cash for a Centrino, go for it! I'd give up ALL of technolgy for a Centrino!

[videocheez]

Would you prefer a 2.6GHz P4 in a laptop or a Centrino chip?

[WeedVender]

It depends...
Some of the 2.6 p4 comming out can enable HyperThreading.
its a motherboard trick though. I saw someone post it yesterday.
But I would go with the Centrino..
Centrino is kinda new though.. it may have a few kinks