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Home > Laptops > Intel Centrino Laptops Explained

Intel Centrino Technology Explained

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When you buy a Centrino laptop, you're getting a combination of features that give notebook PCs long battery life, wireless data access, and low-voltage processing power, all while focusing on making mobile computers thinner and lighter. But exactly what does that mean?

Did you know that Centrino is not just a processor? For a laptop to wear the Centrino badge, it must have a blend of three specific technologies that work together.

To know what Centrino is, is to first know what it is not. Did you know that Centrino is not just a processor? There is a general misconception that Centrino is in fact one of processors used in notebook PCs. For a laptop to wear the Centrino badge, it must have a blend of three technologies that work together, one of which is the processor. So what are these three technologies?

Look for a Centrino badge
similar to one of these
when purchasing a laptop
with an Intel processor.

You now know the first technology, the processor. Currently, three processors are available in the Centrino lineup, Intel's Duo Core, Solo Core and older Pentium M processors are used because they use less power and give off less heat. The benefit? This allows notebook PC manufacturers to make smaller an thinner notebooks PCs because they can use items like smaller cooling fans to keep these powerful chips cool. Second is the chipset, think of a chipset as the glue that holds all the pieces together. With powerful and smarter chipset architecture, your laptop not only runs more efficiently, but includes powerful audio and video features. This makes Centrino technology very attractive for those who wish to enjoy music and video on their notebook PC. The third piece of the Centrino puzzle is wireless connectivity, also known as Wi-Fi. This allows you to browse the Internet, check your e-mail, log into home or business networks and more, all without wires tethering you to your desk. Wi-Fi allows you to have wireless networking at speeds up to 54MBPS from your living room, the pool or at the office cafeteria so that you can work wherever you happen to be.

Below is an illustrated example of Centrino technology, using Intel's most powerful processor option, the Core Duo:


PROCESSOR	CHIPSET	WIRELESS CAPABILITIES
Most of your computer's power and speed comes from here. Until recently, a more powerful processor required more battery power and generated a lot heat. Processors used in Centrino laptop combine power and energy efficiency so you get the power you need and longer battery life, not to mention a much cooler laptop.	The glue that holds everything together, the chipset is vital to in providing a foundation for your memory, audio and graphics capabilities, maximum speed of your hard drive, USB connectivity and much more. Intel offers several chipset options designed specifically for certain processors, laptop sizes and more - so you get the most out of your computer's foundation.	All Centrino laptops come with wireless networking capabilities built in (WiFi) so you can connect to the internet wherever you are without additional add-in cards or hassle. Many Centrino laptops also include Bluetooth connectivity allowing you to easily connect to items like a mouse or keyboard, your PDA or mobile phone - all without wires.

Below are some of the features and benefits of Intel Centrino laptops:

Benefits

Revolutionary mobile performance
Intel Centrino mobile technology delivers breakthrough mobile performance to run multiple demanding applications simultaneously.

Battery life
The new power-saving features of Intel Centrino mobile technology enable improvements in battery life, giving you the ability to do more on the go.

A variety of smaller, slimmer form factors
A new Intel mobile dual core processor-based laptop, for example, actually has a smaller hardware footprint than previous laptop designs to enable a wide variety of notebooks.

Expanded wireless connectivity
Intel Centrino mobile technology helps you enjoy extended wireless mobility, with new features that let you connect to most available industry standards-based networks.

Personal Users

Breakthrough mobile capabilities
Get ready for breakthrough mobile capabilities with dual-core processing on the newest Intel Centrino laptops. Do more at once to push your laptop and your potential to the limit with new multitasking features.

Immersive entertainment
A new Intel Centrino laptop delivers enhanced performance to take advantage of new multi-threaded games and supports more high-definition capabilities, including audio, video, DVD and TV, with enhanced three-dimensional graphics via the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (Intel GMA 950), for an intense visual experience.

Amazing new connections
New Intel Centrino laptops enable easy connectivity to most available industry standards-based WLANs, improved interference immunity and flexible roaming.

Professional Users

Breakthrough mobile capabilities
Compute more and in more places. With an Intel Centrino laptop, your employees can simultaneously run demanding applications—such as CAD, 3D modeling and serious number-crunching programs—while running security and virus protections in the background.

Improved manageability and security
Intel Centrino technology-based laptops are Microsoft Windows Vista¹ ready, preparing you for the latest software while keeping the cost of buying new laptops down. And as part of the Intel Stable Image Platform Program (Intel SIPP), new Intel Centrino laptops help IT departments effectively plan and manage technology transitions.

Enhanced connectivity and collaboration
Intel Centrino laptops have Optimal Enhanced AP Selection that lets users roam intelligently, allowing them to choose between either the fastest or the most stable connection rate when required.