Information AboutCentrino |
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Centrino, a platform- Marketing initiative from Intel , covers a particular combination of CPU , mainboard Chipset and Wireless Network interface in the design of a Laptop Personal Computer . Intel claimed that systems equipped with these technologies should deliver better performance, longer battery life and broad Wireless Network interoperability. The chips were developed at Intel's Haifa , Israel R&D center and since their introduction in 2003, over US$5 billion worth have been sold. To qualify for a Centrino label, Laptop vendors must use all three Intel qualified parts, otherwise using only the Processor and Chipset will carry the Intel Core label instead. SUCCESSIVE IMPLEMENTATIONS Carmel platform (2003) Intel used '' Carmel '' as the code name for the first-generation Centrino platform introduced in '''March 2003'''. The Carmel platform consists of:
Industry-watchers initially criticized the Carmel platform for its lack of an IEEE 802.11 g-solution, because many independent Wi-Fi chip-makers like Broadcom and Atheros had already started shipping 802.11g products. Intel responded that the IEEE had not finalized the 802.11g standard at the time of Carmel's launch, and that it did not want to launch products not based on a finalized standard. In early 2004, after the finalization of the 802.11g standard, Intel permitted an Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 BG (code-named Calexico2) to substitute for the 2100. At the same time, they permitted the new Dothan Pentium M to substitute for the Banias Pentium M. Initially, Intel permitted only the 855GM chipset, which did not support external graphics. Later, Intel allowed the 855GME and 855PM chips, which did support external graphics, in Centrino Notebook s. Despite criticisms, the Carmel platform won quick acceptance among OEMs and consumers. Carmel could attain or exceed the performance of older Pentium 4-M platforms, while allowing for notebooks to operate for 4 to 5 hours on a 48 W-h battery. Carmel also allowed notebook-manufacturers to create thinner and lighter notebooks because its components did not dissipate much heat, and thus did not require large cooling systems. john likes marc Sonoma platform (2005) Intel used ''Sonoma'' as the code name for the second-generation Centrino platform, introduced in '''January 2005'''. The Sonoma platform consists of:
The Mobile 915 Express chipset, like its desktop version, supports many new features such as DDR2 , PCI Express , Intel High Definition Audio , and SATA . Unfortunately, the introduction of PCI Express and faster Pentium M processors causes notebooks built around the Sonoma platform to have a shorter battery-life than their Carmel counterparts; Sonoma notebooks typically achieve between 3.5-4.6 hours of battery-life on a 53 W-h battery. Napa platform (2006) The code-name ''Napa'' designates the third-generation Centrino platform, introduced in '''January 2006''' at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show . The platform initially supported Intel Core Duo processors but the newer Core 2 Duo processors were launched and supported in this platform from July 27th 2006 onwards. The Napa platform consists of:
Intel uses Centrino Duo branding for laptops with dual- Core ("Core Duo") and ("Core 2 Duo") processors and retains the Centrino name for laptops with single core ("Core Solo") processors. Some of the initial Core Duo laptops, are still labeled as Intel Centrino rather than Centrino Duo. Santa Rosa platform (2007) The code-name ''Santa Rosa'' refers to the fourth-generation Centrino platform, which was released on Wednesday 9 May 2007 . The Santa Rosa platform consists of:
The Santa Rosa platform comes with dynamic acceleration technology. It allows single threaded applications to execute faster. When a single threaded application is running the CPU can turn off one of the CPU cores and overclock the active core. In this way the CPU maintains the same Thermal Profile as it would when both cores are active. Many expect Santa Rosa to perform well as a mobile gaming platform due to its ability to switch between single threaded and multithreaded tasks. {Link without Title} . Other power savings come from an Enhanced Sleep state where both the CPU cores and the chipset will power down. The wireless chipset update was originally intended to include WWAN Internet access via HSDPA (3.5G), (code-named Windigo) co-developed with Nokia After announcing a working partnership, both later retracted the deal citing the lack of a clear business case for the technology. [http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-02-14T100351Z_01_HEL005089_RTRIDST_0_NOKIA-INTEL-URGENT.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna . Support for WiMAX (802.16) was originally scheduled for inclusion in Santa Rosa but appears to have been delayed until Montevina in 2008 {Link without Title} . There have, however, been reports that WiMax may still be introduced in 2007. The Santa Rosa platform is branded as "Centrino Pro" when combined with the enhanced security technologies Intel introduced with VPro and will be called "'''Centrino Duo'''" when they are not used. {Link without Title} Montevina platform (2008) The code-name ''Montevina'' refers to the fifth-generation Centrino platform, scheduled for release in Q2 2008 {Link without Title} . Montevina will support Penryn , Intel's 45nm die-shrink version of its current generation of 65nm Core 2 processors.
Calpella platform (2009) The code-name ''Calpella'' refers to the sixth-generation Centrino platform, the succesor of Montevina and will compete with AMD's Fusion platform (codename Eagle). CPU (codename Gilo) will support two and quad core versions. Other details are currently unknown. MARKETING Intel has reportedly invested US$300 million in Centrino Advertising . Because of the ubiquity of the marketing campaign, many consumers mistakenly refer to Pentium M and Intel Core processors as "Centrinos". Many consumers have received the impression that only Centrino provides wireless connectivity in a notebook. This has resulted in increased demand for Intel's PRO/Wireless chipsets. The Centrino marketing program has been widely assumed to be responsible for the success of Intel notebook PCs. However, findings of the Japanese FTC in March of 2005 indicate that the financial incentives associated with the Centrino program were used as illegal, Anti-competitive Practices by Intel to induce its customers not to buy notebook chips from Intel's long time rival AMD . In the quarter immediately following the JFTC ruling, AMD boasted more than 60 notebook computer design wins which was a strong resurgence from the {Link without Title} drastic share reductions seen in 2003 and 2004. SEE ALSO REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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