Pentium M:
Small and Efficient

Thin and light mobile computing is all about size, weight, and battery life. Because the latest Pentium 4 and Athlon 64 processors can dissipate more than 100W of heat, they aren’t the best options for conserving energy. In contrast, the Pentium M occupies a scant 84 square millimeters of silicon die space and is rated at 21W. The difference is astronomical when it comes to budgeting battery power.

However, the Pentium M also establishes itself as a performance leader, despite lower operating frequencies than competing desktop products. The chip overcomes its speed deficiency by working efficiently, processing more data per clock cycle through a short execution pipeline and a large 2MB L2 cache. Intel manufactures the chip with its 90nm strained silicon process, packing 144 million transistors into a diminutive package that, in many cases, doesn’t even require a cooling fan for normal operation.

The Pentium M also features specific optimizations that further reduce the chip’s overall power budget. For example, Enhanced SpeedStep technology allows the processor to switch between multiple frequency and voltage points depending on what the user is doing.

But none of that is new information. Existing Pentium M processors already boast the efficient architecture, power-saving modes, and 2MB cache. Rather, the real news is that Intel is transitioning to a 533MHz front side bus, up from 400MHz, to improve communications between processor and memory. There probably won’t be a massive performance boost as a result of the faster setting, especially since the 2MB L2 cache keeps the core amply fed with information, but as the architecture accelerates, extra front side bus bandwidth should preserve its ability to scale well.

At launch, Intel plans to unveil several new versions of the Pentium M at its 533 MHz bus setting, from 2.13 GHz down to 1.6 GHz and a couple of even lower-power models, too. Later in 2005, dual-core Pentium M processors are scheduled to debut on Intel’s upcoming 65 nm process. At that point, the platform will undergo another evolution to accommodate the divergent architecture.

The 915GM Chipset:
PCI Express on the Go

Arguably more important to Centrino’s continued success than a revised Pentium M is Intel’s 915GM chipset. Replete with integrated graphics, support for DDR2 memory, PCI Express, Serial ATA, and high-definition audio, the 915GM introduces all of the features championed by cutting-edge desktop platforms to miniaturized mobile systems.

Some of the technologies, such as multi-channel high-definition audio, may seem a little out of place in a laptop. But Intel representatives maintain that manufacturers aren’t required to implement them all in order to qualify their products as Centrino. Rather, many Centrino notebook designs are expected to shed advanced audio and Serial ATA connectivity, at least initially.

For the most part, though, the 915GM’s advancements will find welcome acceptance among system builders and users alike. Ketan Bhat, a technical marketing manager with Intel’s mobile group, cites PCI Express as one of the chipset’s most significant specifications. Not only does it enable high-performance, modular, discrete graphics designs across a 16-lane connector, but also faster Gigabit Ethernet, advanced docking, and the ExpressCard interface through narrower x1 lanes.

“ExpressCard,” he says, “will be one of the platform’s most visible features.” The interface itself takes the place of CardBus, enabling PCI Express and USB 2.0 with a single slot. Because both technologies are native to the I/O controller hub, they’re supported without any additional circuitry, allowing even smaller designs. The PCMCIA expects communications, storage, and security adapters to emerge with ExpressCard support. Intel also demonstrated an add-in ExpressCard TV tuner at CES 2005 in Las Vegas.

Notebooks that forgo discrete graphics in favor of slimmer form factors will come equipped with the 915GM’s GMA 900 accelerator. Significantly faster than Intel’s Extreme Graphics 2 architecture, the GMA 900 component is capable of mediocre DirectX 9 gaming performance. It’s mainly intended to perform mainstream duties though; more advanced graphics demands still require a discrete 3D chip.

Memory performance is just one reason why Intel’s integrated GMA 900 solution gets outclassed by ATI and NVIDIA. Whereas add-in graphics modules include dedicated memory modules, GMA 900 instead uses system memory, reducing overall throughput. Detrimental as that may sound, the 915GM supports dual-channel DDR2 memory at 533 MHz, wielding 8.5 GBps of throughput compared to prior generation’s 2.6 GBps. Budget-conscious builders should also note that the chipset works with standard DDR memory, too.

802.11g Wireless:
High-Speed Freedom

The third component necessary to earn Intel’s mobile Centrino designation is an integrated wireless adapter. Not just any will do, either. It needs to be one of two models: either the Intel PRO/Wireless 2951ABG or the 2200BG. The former supports 802.11a at 54Mbps, 802.11b at 11Mbps, and 802.11g at 54Mbps—all three wireless standards—while the latter nixes 802.11a, which isn’t used much anyway.

Because there’s been little activity in wireless networking lately, neither of the two Centrino wireless modules is particularly newsworthy. Intel spent a fair amount of time at CES demonstrating the maximum potential of 802.11g by streaming live television and videoconferencing. However, the capacity of a wireless notebook to participate in those activities will be situational, hinging on link speed, distance, and signal strength. The more pressing story is that Centrino is compatible with every major wireless standard, and corresponding notebooks will work anywhere there’s a shared access point.

Time To Sell
Centrino

The natural next step is to start selling Centrino configured according to your needs and bearing your own branding. ASUS is one of the manufacturers involved in making that whitebox vision a reality for resellers. It assembles unbranded barebones machines, lacking processors, hard drive, memory, optical drives, or operating systems with the mind that resellers can configure their own designs, establish a reasonable margin, and satiate customer demands with quick turnaround.

These aren’t everyday mainstream notebooks, either. The first model, which will be available by the beginning of February according to Kent Tibbils, director of business development for ASI, boasts a 15.4-inch widescreen display. It centers on the 915GM chipset and consequentially limits your graphics subsystem to Intel’s GMA 900, but you’ll find that most users will appreciate the compact design versus more powerful 3D.

Later in the second quarter, Tibbils is expecting more advanced ASUS designs, specifically the Z71V, with DDR2 memory, NVIDIA GeForce Go6600 discrete graphics, and an option for Serial ATA hard drives. As with the initial round of Sonoma-based designs, the Z71V will feature an attractive chassis and plenty of configurable options.

Incidentally, ASUS’s Timothy Lin points out that by selling barebones systems, the company allows resellers to dodge some of the volatility associated with mobile hardware. Rather than buying a complete system that might depreciate $200 in the course of a month, the reseller acquires a minimalist chassis then follows up with the other relevant components when a customer is ready to buy. Using such a strategy saves money and makes it possible to compete more readily against bigger names on the cost front as well as premier support.

Max Group, another prominent distributor, is taking a slightly different approach by building its own unbranded notebooks, allowing resellers to configure necessary options online and order the finished product. Max Group cites its ability to act quickly as an asset to resellers, especially when it comes to coordinating customer support and providing service. Indeed, when there’s a problem with a notebook, coming to a quick resolution helps preserve that customer relationship. The company claims that it can build to order in three to four days, making it easier for resellers to focus less on system building and more on sales.

Centrino:
Not Just Mobile Anymore

We’ve already seen a few motherboard manufacturers experiment with the core Centrino components in desktop environments, realizing mixed results. The missing ingredient, it seemed, was a modern platform with the same features available on more carefully finessed mainstream chipsets. Now that those specification bullet-points have made their way to Centrino, expect to see media center PCs and lightweight gaming systems employ a number of mobile parts and deliver performance in-line with what you might expect from bulkier desktop products.

Even at this year’s CES 2005 trade show in Las Vegas, before the platform had made its official debut, certain companies were already demonstrating the flexibility of Sonoma as a desktop solution. Enterprising resellers should take a closer look at the mobile 915 chipset as motherboard manufacturers begin unveiling low-volume Pentium M prospects. Last generation’s technology was already capable of keeping pace with the fastest Pentium 4 systems and you should find that this modernized marriage of technology turns in even faster numbers while generating a fraction of the heat.

In Retrospect

Sonoma, the second coming of Centrino, is undoubtedly a welcome addition to Intel’s mobile arsenal. The obligatory Pentium M is faster, the 915GM chipset enables much more functionality, and the wireless adapters—well, those haven’t changed much. But beyond the standard threesome of necessary Centrino ingredients, Sonoma also introduces ExpressCard, high-definition audio, Serial ATA, PCI Express graphics, and DDR2 memory. Oh, and new Centrino notebooks are expected to enable all of those features without sacrificing anything in the way of battery life.

“As with any other significant product launch, white box partners who understand the technology enjoy a competitive advantage by being able to explain each component and its benefits,” says Tibbils. “Thanks to immediate availability of unbranded notebooks through distributors such as ASI, it’s possible to customize certain aspects of the Centrino platform and deliver a more compelling solution to your customers.”

But don’t just stop there. Also keep a lookout for opportunities to incorporate the Pentium M into desktop applications. Media center PCs are particularly popular right now, and the processor’s efficient pipeline and thermal-friendly design make it easy to build fast, reliable, quiet appliances that enable demanding HDTV reception, PVR, and gaming. The first-generation Centrino was a bit behind the times. With this new iteration, the sky’s truly the limit for innovation.