Diff between laptop & desktop processors

[cpgoose]

Hiya,

Can you really compare the processors in an advertised laptop vs. a desktop? From Dell (for example), the laptops are always Pentium M at about 1.6 Ghz, but the desktops are Pentium 4s at about 2.9GHz. Can you not compare the two different chips, or are the desktops just that much faster than laptops?

Thanks!

[northcat_8]

Actually some are the same processor.

I have a P4 2.667 Ghz processor in my desktop right now, came out of a notebook.

My desktop PC starts up like a flash, where as my notebook takes forever to finish loading Zone Alarm. I have 1 GB of RAM in my Desktop, and 512 in my notebook.

On my desktop I have 18 Process running in task manager, where as on my notebook I have 36. But my Desktop does not require things like "wireless manager", all the touchpad drivers, Norton Anti-Virus (norton because where I work won't let me use AVG )

Now I don't know what the "mobile" part has to do with the processor, but I do know you can run Notebook processors in desktop computers.

I think the main speed difference comes from a few different places. I would have to say RAM or the size of the hard drive and the efficiency and speed at which it can access data.

I have a 60 GB HD in my notebook, but I doubt it runs at 7200 RPM, although admittedly, I don't know for sure.

Or maybe my desktop just has better genetics and that is why it can run faster

[ps2daddy]

I have also always wondered that myself I do know that the mobile processors uses less energy so you can save more on batter life vs using a standard processor

(Always wondered why you want to buy 1.6ghz mobile processor laptop when there are 2.8- 3 ghz standard processor laptops out there for similar prices )

[cpgoose]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I know what you mean...Dell always has deals that are like $500 for a desktop with really good specs, or $900 for one with a processor that's half the speed.

[Cobra]

but I do know you can run Notebook processors in desktop computers.

I used to run an AMD Athlon XP-M2500+ Barton in my desktop machine.

The difference is that those mobile processors were hand-picked as the best of a particular batch of cores. They run cool and can run with lower core voltages. They are also multiplier-unlocked making overclocking a lot easier. That's why I bought it.

[ROF]

In my experience Barton cores are easily overclocked and in most cases they do not have any special cooling requirements when doing so.

[Cobra]

They are often good, but the mobile versions were insane.

[ROF]

I never tried a mobile in a desktop, but I have a 2500 in a dead laptop. The core should still be fine so I may try this tonight. Anything I should know or is it pretty straight forward? Any particular BIOS settings I should be aware of?

[rallynavvie]

In my experience Barton cores are easily overclocked and in most cases they do not have any special cooling requirements when doing so.

Wow, almost a flagrant threadjack had Cobra not mentioned a Barton in the previous post

There are some big differences between the mobile and desktop processors. The most notable of late is that notebook processors are not only made to run cool and at lower voltages than their desktop counterparts (as Cobra mentioned) but they also have the ability to scale back their clock on the fly so as to draw even less power on idle. The cores are often the same as their desktop counterparts but the architecture on the chip is very different in order to do this. They're not just the pick of the litter, C

Most mobile chips carried the same socket design as their desktop counterparts so you can use them in your desktop system as very able overclocking candidates, or if you wanted to run a great fanless system. They are obviously more expensive than the desktop processors though, and they aren't always the fastest of the lot, even when overclocked. In fact these days most all of the mobile chips are one socket older than the current bunch. Intel Pentium Ms are still running 478 and AMD Mobile Athlon 64s are running 754. But if you wanted to breathe new life into your 754 system a couple years down the road then overclocking a mobile chip may be the best performance you could attain from your machine.

[Doramius]

I just hate laptops altogether. Oh, I use them all the time. But try switching out the video-card for an upgrade. NOT GONNA HAPPEN, without severe damage to the mainboard. After 4 years, the notebook PC is worth s**t and you're stuck with being able to do only only basic tasks. As for business purposes, it's great.

I had a Gateway 2500 from '00. I'd like to try and see someone play Battlefront II on that thing. You'd be lucky if you could install it.

[rallynavvie]

That's really not what laptops are for though, and I always dissuade people from even thinking about them unless they're always on the go with it. And it's probably a good thing most of them aren't upgradeable. The boards on most of them are optimized rather well for the existing hardware.

I have two lappers. One is my work laptop, a tough old IBM Thinkpad. That one goes all over with me since I cover 5 different locations and am always running all over the place. It main purpose is email, internet access, and doing reports and the like and it suits just fine even though it's just a 500 MHz P3. The other one is my portable media center and it rarely gets used even though it's the nicer of the two with a 1.8 GHz Pentium M and a good video card in it.

As for power usage they both have mobile chips. With the two batteries in the IBM I can get 8 hours of regular use from the P3-M, the HP I can only get 3 hours of use from the single battery in it on the big P4-M. I did notice that the battery life cuts back to about 1.5 hours when using the laptop to watch TV or videos though, even though it seems like the processor isn't burning too hard. I'm guessing the video card takes its toll there.

[Doramius]

Looking at the way technology is moving, I don't think it will be too long before notebooks go modular like a tower is. Flash drives are staying small, but holding more information. Video cards can do the same. Even RAM can be shrunk down in size and stay very cool.

Honestly, look at it. The only major worry is the monitor and how it will close. Once you get a few general form factors as standard for cases, monitors won't be a worry for long.

[ROF]

@rallynavvie

I absolutely love the old Thinkpad line. The construction of the laptop is built to last, but I'm curious, the thinkpad is notably heavy without any batteries, how do you carry it around with two batteries inside? It must weigh a ton. I wish I still kept my old thinkpad but I passed it along to a relative some years ago and they managed to spill water all over it while it was on.

[rallynavvie]

I carry it in a leather laptop bag with all the rest of my paperwork and junk. I go backpacking and the like and it certainly isn't any heavier than a pack or a canoe on your shoulders, but I guess I just got used to hauling it around.

[ROF]

Yep, it's a heavyweight but one of best constructions on a laptop I've seen in quite sometime. Systemax has a decent shell and so Acers. In my opinion, Gateways and Dells are the worst in construction. I can't begin to tell you how many Gateway screens I've replaced in the last year. I still have two ready to be put into service from my last eBay purchase.

[Doramius]

I might have a Latitude screen for ya. :/

[ROF]

I have a Latitude C600 screen and most of it's casing left. I had to replace a dead P/S this summer for someone. After this someone needed a replacement touchpad for the same series C800. The touchpads are interchangeable in the C series in case anyone needs that info.

[rallynavvie]

Ooh, I do need a Latitude 610 screen for a coworker's laptop. But I think it may still be under lease so I may be able to fix it for free.

[ROF]

I get laptops DOA for between $5-$20 on eBay. Usually only the board and proc is dead. Some include batteries and even others include HDD and optical drives too. Some are gutted though.

[Doramius]

Honestly, I don't see why someone with some engineering background in computers couldn't put something together and make a modular laptop with space to place a standardized mobo & other features in it.

Take a look at it this way. Though Flash drive style & size would be ideal, the current style of mini HDD is compact on it's own. 512MB RAM can be compacted pretty well. Interchangeable video crad that runs like an 8X AGP would probably be your greatest difficulty, even moreso than a processor. I usually have no problem keeping processors cool, but GFX cards for me are the worst. I get into some games and video editing software and I could burn a card right out if it's not cooled properly.

The monitor itself wouldn't be too much of a challenge except to standardize a hinge, sizes, locking mechanism, shape, and maybe a few other things. Right now laptop screens aren't wired like normal monitors. the main equipment to make a normal monitor work is included in the assembly. For most laptops, the equipment is part of or mounted on or around the mobo. That can easily be changed if it can be standardized.

Now I can liquid cool a tower, but how would you liquid cool a laptop and still keep it portable? Maybe put the pump/reservoir and power converter in one unit that socket plugs into the side or back? water & electricity don't mix well, so getting something like that to seat properly without leaking or causing corrosion near the power might be difficult.

Technology is moving fast so we might not have to worry as much about cooling in the future, but we'll see as time passes. I'm trying to find the site again, but apparently some research is in process to use crystalized carbon technology to create processors, instead of silicon. Basically a diamond/cubit zirconia material processor. You could get extremely high speeds without having to cool it at all or as much as normal processors. The power consumption would also be extremely low, even for tremendous amounts of processing tasks. I had never heard of using carbon material instead of silicon material for processors before and it was quite interesting.