10/25, 9:55am
Wi-Fi Direct devices now being certified
The Wi-Fi Alliance today started certifying devices to use Wi-Fi Direct, its new standard for creating point-to-point links. The standard builds on the basic concept behind Bluetooth and lets a Wi-Fi device pair directly with another without having to first join a local network. The method makes it possible to share media from a phone, play multiplayer games or otherwise communicate directly, even when no router exists
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03/17, 1:00pm
Acer TimelineX notebooks on US website briefly
Acer USA has already put up product pages for its TimelineX notebooks early, though has since pulled them again. The early look has nonetheless provided specs for the mobile computers, which include the 11.6-inch 1830T leaked yesterday, the 13.3-inch 3820T, 14-inch 4820T and 15.6-inch 5820T. It seems that the 1830T will not, as reported earlier, be offered with a Core i5 chip, but will instead make do with a Core 2 Solo.
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06/24, 4:40pm
AMD new platform strategy
To coincide with its next-generation Tigris notebook platform launch in September, AMD is expected to announce a new open platform strategy called AMD Vision Technology, say sources at notebook manufacturers. A Wednesday DigiTimes report says the new strategy will label notebooks with one of three levels based on their processor and GPU. These will include AMD Vision Ultimate, AMD Vision Premium and AMD Vision.
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06/17, 4:00pm
Intel announces rebranding
Intel's corporate communications manager Bill Calder, in a Wednesday post on the company's corporate blog, informed readers of forthcoming changes in the chipmaker's brand structure. Calder admits Intel's current complex structure has too many platform brands, and product names and brands, which confuses customers. This will start with leading with Intel and what it has done for technology, with Calder pointing to the company's Sponsors of Tomorrow ad campaign.
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06/15, 11:55pm
Dell Latitude Z series
Alleged leaked images appear to show a yet-unannounced Dell Latitude Z-Series notebook, according to a forum post on NotebookReview. The pictures show a dark two-tone finish and a thin profile, along with Windows Vista and Intel Centrino stickers. The notebook appears to place the Ethernet port on an angled surface behind the display hinge.
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07/17, 12:30pm
Compaq 2730p tablet PC
Not announced with its main wave of Centrino 2 notebooks, HP has revealed another such system in Korea. The Compaq 2730p is a tablet PC with a rotating, 12.1-inch screen, capable of native WXGA resolutions. Internally it is powered by a 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo processor, matched to a GM45 chipset; graphics are supplied by an integrated GMA 4500MHD chip. By default, the system comes with 2GB of 800MHz DDR2 RAM.
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07/15, 1:20pm
OCZ Centrino 2 platform
Memory and computer builder OCZ has announced its own, custom version of Intel's Centrino 2 platform. The OCZ interpretation comes in the form of a "whitebook" portable system labeled the OCZNBIM17A, which supports the top-end mobile version of the Core 2 Extreme processor, the X9100. The system is also capable of supporting two AMD M88XT video cards in SLI mode, or a single GeForce 8800 GTX by Nvidia. RAM extends up to 4GB of 1,066MHz DDR3 RAM.
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07/14, 10:40pm
Intel: major laptop news
Intel tonight formally introduced its Centrino 2 notebook platform Monday as well as a new 45nm, 3.06GHz Core 2 Extreme mobile processor, calling it the "highest performing" chip of its kind in the world. The company has additionally rounded out its announcement saying it will release eight new processors over the next 90 days, including the first quad-core mobile processors, and second-generation support for "ultra-thin" notebooks such as the MacBook Air.
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07/12, 2:10pm
Sony Centrino 2 Teaser
Sony today posted a teaser confirming the launch date for its Centrino 2-based VAIO line. The electronics maker expects to formally unveil the new range on July 14th at 9PM Eastern and is known to be introducing several new models as well as potentially refreshing existing systems for the initial launch. In addition to better performance, they should also consume less power in most models.
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07/11, 4:10pm
Sony VAIO BZ Detailed Leak
A series of leaks of Sony VAIO updates has wound to a conclusion on Friday with the appearance of the VAIO BZ. The 15.4-inch pro system shifts to a new 1440x900, LED-backlit display which both produces a better picture, reduces the power draw, and more eco-friendly; like other recent leaks, both systems are also based on Intel's imminent Centrino 2 platform and will come with faster GMA X4500HD integrated graphics than the outgoing BX models.
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07/11, 12:20am
Vaio Z series for media
The rumored Sony Vaio Z series was confirmed Wednesday, as photos of informative pamphlets detail the three tiers that will be available. NotebookReview reveals that the 13.3-inch laptops will boast a 16:9 formatted screen resolution of 1366 by 768 in the entry model, or 1600 by 900 in the mid- and high-end models. Processors range from a Centrino 2-based 2.26GHz P8600 chipset, to a 2.54 P9500 chipset. Each model features a dual-layer DVD burner, 128MB or 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS, 200GB to 320GB of hard drive space, and 2GB to 4GB DDR2 memory.
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07/08, 1:50pm
Intel on 25W Core 2
Intel expects to make notebook processors running at 25 watts an everyday occurrence, the company said today. The firm now expects most future systems based on its upcoming Centrino 2 mobile platform to consume less power, dropping significantly from the 35 watts of today's Core 2 Duo processors. The shift should both extend battery life as well as cool down the systems themselves, letting PC designers offer slimmer and potentially quieter notebooks without giving up performance.
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07/07, 3:05pm
Sony VAIO FW and SR Leak
Sony's VAIO FW and SR have been spotted and reveal a design reminiscent of aluminum MacBooks along with additional specifications for at least European models. The VAIO FW is both confirmed to be one of Sony's first notebooks with a 16:9 ratio display and has a 16.4-inch, 1600x900 LCD sharper than the 1440x900 screens found on some 15.4-inch portables. It also has the same through-tray keyboard design as the VAIO TZ, the MacBook Air, and some other systems.
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07/07, 10:40am
New MB Pro Case Spotted
Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro may have had its first glimpse today, says the Taiwan-area site Apple.pro. The report claims to have a photo of the new notebook's casing in prototype form as well as additional details, including items not pictured in the leak. The design appears to be more tapered like that of the MacBook Air and doesn't immediately reveal a backlit Apple logo, although this is most likely due to the incomplete nature of the case.
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06/24, 12:30pm
Lenovo Recs ThinkPad SL
Lenovo late yesterday confirmed the existence of the ThinkPad SL and provided first details about the new notebook line. Effectively an equivalent to Dell's Vostro line, the portables will be aimed at individuals and small companies that want more professional notebooks than the IdeaPads but still want some of the home-friendly features: the systems are set to have HDMI output and a more stylized look than the all-black, utilitarian look of most ThinkPads today.
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06/23, 2:55pm
Sony VAIO notebok
Sony has inadvertently tipped its hand about its notebooks based on Intel's Centrino 2 platform, based on several manuals and product leaks posted online. The VAIO FW will replace the FZ (pictured) and will switch to a new 16.4-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio display that suits it to watching Blu-ray movies. In American form, a stock model should ship with Intel's upcoming lower power 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo as well as 3GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive; higher-end models will speed up to 2.53GHz, top out at 4GB of memory, and hold a 320GB hard drive.
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06/23, 8:20am
Centrino 2 Mid July
Despite Intel's claims that Centrino 2's official appearance is due in August, some of the company's notebook processors and platform will appear in mid-July, according to reports. The chipmaker is now anticipated to launch all its mainstream mobile processors, including 2.53GHz and 2.8GHz full-power chips as well as 2.26GHz, 2.4GHz, and 2.53GHz low-power models, on July 14th. Mobile chipsets for notebooks using dedicated graphics will also be available at the same time.
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06/19, 8:25am
ThinkPad X200 Spotted
Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 ultraportable today has been almost completely detailed through a new leak. The 12-inch notebook now appears set to replace the X61 and, while holding a keyboard as large as for the X300, is small enough to drop the larger system's trackpad in favor of the ThinkPad's characteristic trackpoint. It also has to drop support for an optical drive but should weigh even less than the X61 at 2.9 pounds.
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06/10, 3:15pm
Packard Turion Ultra Notes
Packard Bell today became the next system builder to update its line with newer platforms from AMD and Intel. The 13.3-inch EasyNote RS65 runs on a Centrino 2 chipset with an unspecified Core 2 Duo processor and joins the increasing ranks of ultraportables at its screen size, with a very thin and extremely stylized design; Packard Bell's signature circular trackpad sports hidden buttons while the rest of the system is backed by chrome trim and brushed black metal. Few other details are available beyond its use of a slot-load optical drive and HDMI video out.
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06/10, 4:00am
HP Pav Notebooks June 2008
HP today gave virtually all its notebook line both a cosmetic and performance update, including some of the first Centrino 2-based notebooks. The Pavilion series is now said to have a subtler look with displays that are flush with the bezel, silver-on-silver insides, and a new Imprint finish on the outside. The Intel-based systems use their new notebook platform to supply both faster Core 2 processors as well as faster X4500 graphics on systems that go without dedicated video hardware, while a similar match uses the platform behind the Turion Ultra platform. Improved touch-sensitive media controls and an External SATA port are common across most systems, HP notes.
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06/10, 4:00am
HP EliteBook and Biz Notes
As part of a wide effort, HP today gave its business notebooks a refresh that includes a brand new model. The EliteBook signals one of HP's first rugged notebooks and is designed to survive both cosmetic and internal damage: anodized aluminum on the palm rest and outside shell keep the computer free of scratches, while a magnesium honeycomb cage and an anti-twist 14-inch display prevent impact damage from ruining the system's innards. The casing, shock-resistant hard drive, and spill-proof keyboard help meet US military-grade 810F levels for survivability in extreme temperatures as well as vibrations and very damp environments.
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06/03, 9:10am
Intel 4-series Chipset
Intel today used Computex to formally unveil its 4-series chipsets, the foundation for its mainstream desktops as well as a clue to the graphics technology that will underpin all basic Intel-based systems in the future. The G45 Express chipset is the first to include Intel's new Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD video platform and represents a fundamental leap over the X3000 and X3100 in previous mainboards. The chipset is the first from Intel capable of full hardware acceleration of most HD video formats up to and including 1080p Blu-ray; the technology offloads most of the work from the main processor, even with background apps, and boosts the image quality of the picture itself.
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05/28, 12:15pm
ASUS Cent 2 Notebook Leaks
Much of ASUS' notebooks running both Intel's Centrino 2 platform and the corresponding AMD Puma foundation have been revealed in advance, according to several leaks from Notebook Italia. The M-series will still serve as ASUS' media-oriented flagships, but will now trade power savings for performance: the stock M51VR will use Intel's new low-power 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo that uses only 3MB of Level 2 cache but also consumes just 25W of average power, while both the M51VA and the 17-inch M70VM will use a 35W chip that doubles the cache size to 6MB.
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05/28, 11:05am
Intel Centrino 2 in August
Intel today confirmed the existence of a significant delay for its Centrino 2 notebook platform. While not providing the originally scheduled release date, company representative Bill Kircos now says that the mainboard chipsets and their matching processors will now be ready by the week of July 14th, or between two and three weeks after a widely reported late June introduction. The spokesman also confirms the twofold nature of the delay, which centers around both a technical flaw and legal obligations.
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05/27, 4:10pm
Intel Delaying Centrino 2
Intel is pushing back the launch of its Centrino 2 notebook platform to July 14th, claims a new rumor from TG Daily. The news from insiders allegedly near Intel would have Intel not only delay its launch of newer processors and chipsets past June but force the company to scrap a planned debut at the Computex show on June 3rd. The delay is said to be a combination of both hurdles relating to FCC approval for the 802.11n Wi-Fi chipset as well as flaws with integrated graphics chipsets found by Intel late into development.
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05/15, 10:50am
Intel Quad for Portables
Intel's upcoming quad-core chip for notebooks has been optimized to where it can run in thin-and-light notebooks, according to a new report. The 2.53GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9300 was originally flagged as a 45-watt chip limited to desktop replacement notebooks and slim desktops but is now said to use just 35 watts, putting it on par with the heat and power of current dual-core chips. The advance would permit the quad-core chip to work as a drop-in replacement for high-end notebooks without changing their dimensions.
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05/05, 10:10am
Cox 700MHz Network
Wins by Cox Communications during the recent 700MHz auction will let the company set up its own wireless data network, Cable Digital News says. The cable provider successfully obtained licenses in the frequency range that essentially overlap its existing markets, allowing it to switch on a wide-area broadband service that can handle all of its customers. The service is most likely to be based on 700MHz WiMAX and operate on platform-agnostic level that doesn't require locked devices.
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04/15, 5:10pm
Cizmo CX15 Game Notebook
Cizmo today upped its ante among gaming notebooks with the release of the CX15. Slipping ahead of Intel's official June announcement, the European PC builder claims to equip the system with processors built for the Centrino 2 (Montevina) platform. The CX15 will unusually run on Intel's low-power, full-performance P series Core 2 Duos ranging in speed from 2.26GHz (P8400) to 2.6GHz (P9400) while also using NVIDIA's high-end GeForce 8800M GTX for video. The combination both reduces the cost of the system while also reducing its heat output and increasing its usefulness as a gaming desktop's substitute.
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04/11, 11:30am
Lenovo ThinkPad X400 Leak
Lenovo's ThinkPad X300 is just the first wave of a new line of ultra-thin notebooks at the company, says an apparent leak from Gizmodo. Timed to coincide with the launch of Intel's low-power Centrino 2 platform and processors in September, the line will scale down to a 12-inch X200 but will also move upwards to a 14-inch X400 and even a 15.4-inch X500, supplying a similar case thickness but at the user's choice of screen size.
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04/10, 10:50am
Pioneer First Centrino 2
Australian PC builder Pioneer on Thursday has inadvertently become the first to advertise a system based on Intel's Centrino 2 mobile platform. The DreamBook Style 9008 will be one of Pioneer's thin-and-light 15.4-inch notebooks and will achieve its goal in part by using an unnamed variant of the new "Montevina" era, P-series Core 2 Duo processors: the design will have the faster 1,066MHz system bus from the full-size chips but consume just 25 watts of power, letting it run with less cooling and with longer battery life than full-power 35W chips.
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04/07, 3:50pm
MacBook Redesigns 2008
Both the consumer MacBook and the performance-minded MacBook Pro will receive a major overhaul with their next updates, say sources speaking with AppleInsider. Either design has remained largely unchanged but will now allegedly receive visual cues from the aluminum iMac and MacBook Air, including an all-aluminum design, traces of black, and more tapered edges. The trackpad is also likely to switch to the extra-large design found in the Air, though whether the 13-inch MacBook will gain multi-touch is unknown.
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04/04, 9:30am
NVIDIA GeForce 9M Leak
NVIDIA's planned replacements for the rest of the GeForce 9M notebook graphics line have been leaked, courtesy of driver information surfacing in the latest beta of the company's ForceWare graphics drivers. While some early versions of the mobile video hardware are already in use by ASUS and others, the new leak shows several new models that are likely to replace the majority of 8M graphics chipsets in current portables. Significantly, the lineup includes mid-range GeForce 9600M GS and GT chipsets, which are most likely to surface in replacements for systems that already use 8600M parts, such as the Dell XPS M1530 and Apple's MacBook Pro.
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04/03, 1:35pm
Sprint Xohm Pushed Back
Sprint's Xohm WiMAX service has been delayed from its original spring release date, the company said at the CTIA mobile expo. Originally penned in for April, the release is now slated to occur later in the year and is currently expected by other sources to appear in the summer. The company hasn't provided an official explanation but says the issue isn't technological, instead claiming that the delay is in place to ensure a smooth rollout.
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04/02, 9:30am
Intel Atom at Spring IDF
Intel at the spring version of its Intel Developer Forum today revealed more details of its Atom ultra-mobile processor line, uncovering both the full launch lineup as well as detailing the Controller Hub that forms the backbone of the Centrino Atom platform. The company had initially revealed just its standard 1.6GHz processor but now explains that there will be four additional processors; in the same power class, Intel also expects to ship 1.33GHz and now 1.86GHz versions; these will share the same 533MHz system bus and Hyperthreading technology as the 1.6GHz chip, which can replicate some of the speed benefits that would come with a second processor core.
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03/22, 10:40am
Dell Latitude E5K and E6K
Dell will lead off the introduction of its completely overhauled Latitude E-series with mainstream models that promise both a better image and new wireless features, according to details reported today by Engadget. Besides the visual redesign, the 14-inch E6400 and 15.4-inch E6500 will be the first Latitudes in their class to bring LED-backlit displays that offer better color and light; both receive the option with a 1440x900 panel, while the larger E6500 will also have the option of a 1920x1200 screen. The systems will have the option of 256MB dedicated NVIDIA graphics (likely Quadro chipsets) to drive their sharper displays.
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03/21, 11:55am
Dell Latitude E4000 Detail
Dell's Latitude E4000 series will more explicitly target the same very thin, advanced technology field covered by Apple's MacBook Air and Lenovo's ThinkPad X300, according to leaks continued today by Engadget. While both the E4200 and E4300 will offer thinner LED-backlit, 12-inch displays, the E4200 will be far thinner than earlier Latitudes and will measure between 0.6 and 0.8 inches thick and will optimally weigh just 2.2 versus the 3 of its challengers. This will in part come from its storage: the E4200 will require either a 32GB or 64GB solid-state drive instead of a conventional hard disk.
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03/20, 2:20pm
HP Pavilion dv3000
Hewlett-Packard has broken from its usual emphasis on the US by introducing a new Pavilion notebook model first in Asia. The dv3000 series is the first modern home portable from HP to ship with a 13.3-inch screen and takes up a smaller footprint than the dv2000 as a result. The change also brings a new external SATA and USB hybrid port that offers expansion for fast external hard drives without compromising on size.
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03/20, 11:10am
Dell E-Series Roadmap
Dell's Latitude E-series overhaul is now due for June and will represent a sweeping change to its lineup, according to a roadmap leak supplied by Engadget. The new-look systems will ship immediately alongside the launch of Intel's Centrino 2 and use the faster, cooler processors of the platform to slim down the design compared to existing models. Previous leaks have also pointed to a brushed-metal surface and a better hinge similar to that from the XPS line.
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03/19, 3:40pm
Intel WiMAX, 802.11n plans
Intel has announced more details on its plans for wireless in Centrino 2 systems, a Taiwanese publication reports. The centerpiece option is its "Echo Peak" module, which combines 802.11n Wi-Fi with support for WiMAX, the company's cellular-like standard that has greater range. This will however come at a significant cost to end users, as Intel is charging OEMs themselves $43 to $54, depending on specifications.
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03/19, 1:45pm
Dell Latitude XT 2 Leak
The Latitude XT's first major revision should see a faster device and potentially the inclusion of an optical drive, says information reportedly leaked to Engadget. The convertible tablet will reportedly switch completely to Intel's Centrino 2 platform and use its newer, faster low and ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo processors along with the faster GMA X4500 integrated video that comes with the new chipset. Refinements to technology should also allow Dell to fit an extremely thin DVD drive into the system rather than rely on a dock.
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03/11, 2:00pm
Intel Centrino 2 June Line
Despite Intel's aggressive plans to roll out its Centrino 2 mobile platform in June, the company is now set to push back processors suitable for the MacBook Air and for gaming notebooks by as much as three months, a leaked roadmap shows. Contrary to some early expectations, the June release will only focus on processors for the most common notebooks. Two high-performance Core 2 Duo chips at 2.53GHz and 2.8GHz will consume the same 35 watts of power as most current processors; three power-optimized processors at 2.26GHz, 2.4GHz, and 2.53Ghz will be more efficient at 25 watts but share most of the same features as their more demanding siblings, with only a reduction from 6MB to 3MB of Level 2 cache affecting the bottom two models.
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03/05, 3:00pm
Intel announces Centrino 2
Although long expected, Intel has confirmed that its new notebook platform, codenamed Montevina, is officially being christened as Centrino 2. Systems built under the specification will use 45nm Penryn processors, with clock speeds up to 2.8GHz and normal thermal design power ratings between 25 and 35W. Some processors, though, will use a special compact design like that in the MacBook Air, producing an ultra-low power consumption of 5W.
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03/04, 12:55pm
AMD debuts Puma platform
In the wake of its 45nm quad-core announcement, AMD has also formally unveiled Puma, a new mobile platform (not pictured). The technology is allegedly aimed at Intel's Centrino platform, which combines a Core 2 Duo, a GM965/PM965 chipset and onboard wireless; Puma turns to a new Turion Ultra processor, combined with an RS780M chipset and a Wi-Fi adapter. As with Centrino, a dedicated videocard is optional.
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02/27, 11:50am
Intel GMA X4500 Tests
The integrated graphics that form one of the key improvements to Intel's upcoming Centrino 2 notebook platform may perform twice as well as that in current systems, say new leaked benchmarks as well as specifications. While the chipmaker is already known to be upgrading the built-in graphics option with the GMA X4500 when Centrino 2 (nicknamed Montevina) appears in the spring, new tests point to twice the performance in synthetic 3D tests such as 3DMark06. The increase stems both from a redesign as well as sheer clock speed. On the top-end GM47 Express mainboard, the X4500 will be clocked at 640MHz versus just 500MHz for the X3100 used today.
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