Buying Guide: Mobile Processors Explained

Buying a laptop is confusing, and unfortunately the major processor company’s haven’t done much to make it easier on your. There is a bewildering array of processor brands available from both Intel and AMD, and while both companies would like to think each brand is distinct, the truth is that they often bleed together.

It’s important to know what’s powering your laptop, however, because it has a major impact on its performance characteristics. A laptop with an Intel Atom will behave much differently from one with an Intel Core i5. In this article I’ll briefly explain each processor currently on the market so you’ll be armed with knowledge when you make your purchase.

 

Intel Atom

The processor which allowed the netbook craze to start, the Atom is now in its second revision, called Pinetrail. It is still as slow as ever, however, so expect most Atom processors in netbooks to have a single core and be clocked at 1.6 or 1.66Ghz. Atom is fine for browsing the web, but there are a lot of things it can’t do. It can’t play 3D games made in the last decade or so. It can’t play high-definition flash video (or high-definition video of any sort). And it is too slow to do serious number crunching – even a complex spreadsheet can bog an Atom down.

Dual-core Atom processors are becoming much more common thanks to a inexpensive 1.5 GHz part that’s now available to laptop manufacturers. Although this does nothing to address Atom’s problems with 3D and video content, the dual-core processor is noticeably faster in day-to-day use and has minimal negative impact on battery life. The only real downside is price, but spending an extra $30 for a dual-core Atom is a wise move.

Intel Celeron

The Celeron is Intel’s bottom-of-the-barrel line of mainstream processors. It’s a confusing processor to consider because the brand name doesn’t refer to any particular architecture. A Celeron could be an old Core 2 Duo based product or a feature-stripped version of a Core i3. Generally speaking, you’re probably best off avoiding Celerons, but if you’re on an extremely tight budget that might not be possible. Make sure you check out Intel’s Celeron processor specifications page before buying – this will let you know if the Celeron you’re looking at is a new or old model.

Intel Pentium

At some point Intel apparently decided having one entry-level brand wasn’t enough, so the Pentium name re-emerged. Like Celeron, Pentium processors are low-end, feature-stripped versions of Intel’s other architectures. There are Pentium branded processors based off a wide variety of Intel architectures from Core 2 Duo to the modern Sandy Bridge design. You can find a complete list of Intel’s Pentium offerings on the company website.

Core 2 Duo/Quad

 

Once Intel’s flagship, this line of processors is now very outdated. Core 2 Duos are occasionally found in old bargain models that might still be available as clearance items or refurbished units, but otherwise you’re unlikely to run into these processors. They still offer respectable performance, but you’d better be getting a great deal, as a more modern Intel processor with a similar clock speed is going to be at least 25% quicker.

Intel Core i3/i5/i7

Intel’s Core i3/i5/i7 line represents the company’s cutting-edge mobile processors. The Core i3 series is the least expensive and least powerful, while the Core i7 series is the flagship.

Currently, there are two different architectures powering different Core processors. The older processors, now referred to as the “first generation,” are designated by three-digital model numbers such as 330 or 720. The newer, “second generation” processors are designated by four-digital model numbers such as 2410 or 2630.

Right now the second-generation Core products are the processor you want in your laptop. They offer incredible performance and come with Intel HD graphics integrated into the processor architecture. Unlike past Intel HD renditions, this new version is quite competent and can handle basic 3D games like World of Warcraft.

AMD Athlon/Phenom

Formerly AMD’s flagship for mobile products, the Athlon and Phenom are now long in tooth. This design has been around for ages and has not enjoyed the frequent boosts in performance and power efficieny found in Intel’s Core series. It’s gradually fallen behind until and is now no longer competitive with any processor offered by Intel.

That’s not to say the Athlon’s performance is intolerable. It’s still a mainstream laptop processor, which means it will outperform netbook processors easily. However, in many scenarios a second-generation Core i3 is capable of achieving benchmark scores that are twice that of the AMD Athlon. Clearly, unless the Athlon is significantly reduced in price, it isn’t a great choice.

AMD Fusion

The latest mobile processor from AMD, the Fusion line is targeted toward netbooks and budget ultraportables. These processors have clock speeds similar to Atom processors, and while they are slightly faster on a performance-per-clock basis, the difference isn’t significant. The main selling point of these processors is instead the Radeon integrated graphics that are part of the processor architecture. Although not suitable for hardcore gaming, they’ll handle basic games and most HD video without problem – which is more than anyone can say about current Atom offerings.

Power draw isn’t as miserly as Atom, but most netbooks based on Fusion do manage between 6 and 9 hours of life away from a socket. Unlike Intel, AMD doesn’t mind if manufacturers place their Fusion processors into larger laptops. As a result, there are already some 15.6″ laptops on the market with netbook pricing and battery life of 5 hours or more, such as the .

 

AMD Turion

I’m a admitted AMD fanboy, but there isn’t much I can say here in AMD’s defense. The Turion processors offer adequate performance, but they consume too much power. The Turion processors are not a bad choice for a mainstream laptop or for a desktop replacement, and Turon based laptops are often less expensive than their Intel counterparts. If you’re interested in mobility, however, avoid the Turion like the plague.

Verdict

The Intel Core series is the undisputed leader of the mainstream laptop market. They combine excellent power efficiency with cutting-edge performance that is well in excess of what is available from AMD. The integrated graphics included in the second-generation Core processors is compelling, as well.

In the netbook space, however, AMD is putting up a good fight. Atom is still the processor of choice for battery life, but Fusion offers quicker processor performance and superior graphics performance at a price similar to Atom. Battery life is the only disadvantage, but most Fusion based laptops still manage 6 hours of endurance or more.