Laptop Buying Guide: What CPU should I look for?

Laptop Buying Guide
What CPU should I look for?

The single most important component in your laptop is its central processing unit, or CPU. Essentially the brain of a computer, this processor has a huge impact on what applications you can run, how smoothly they run, and how many you can run at the same time.

The two biggest players in the CPU arena are Intel and AMD. Of those, Intel's CPUs comprise the lion's share of the market currently. Most laptops currently have dual-core CPUs, such as Intel's Core 2 Duo. Low-cost Netbooks, however, use single-core CPUs, such as Intel's Atom.

Options: Intel processors | AMD processors | VIA processors

Intel


Core i7: Intel's newest line of mobile CPUs adopts the high-end graphics/gaming performance of the desktop Core i7 line, and is expressly for those who want top-end power--namely, hard-core gamers and those who prefer desktop-level graphics processing power. The Core i7 Mobile series has better power management than its desktop cousins, but they still draw more power than other laptop CPUs, and will generally be found only in larger desktop replacement laptops.

Core 2 Duo: This is Intel's ubiquitous mainstream processor, which comes in a variety of designs based on processor speed and manufacturing size. A newer line of Core 2 Duo CULVs (consumer ultralow-voltage processors) have slightly slower performance, but allow for longer battery life, and are showing up in new ultrathin laptops, where space, cooling, and battery life are key issues.

Atom: Intel's entry-level single-core processors are found primarily in the popular Netbook category. Their limited performance is best for simple, single-task computing such as e-mail, basic Web browsing, and office document work. They're fine for low-expectation budget computers, but are unable to play most games or HD video. Common Atom chips include the N270 and the N280, and you should generally avoid the slower Z-series Atoms, intended more for handheld mobile devices than laptops. Revisions to the Atom line are due in early 2010.

Also from Intel


Core 2 Quad: As the name implies, these are four-core processors that excel at multitasking and computing that requires running multiple apps at once.

Core 2 Solo: Some of Intel's ultralow-voltage processors (ULVs) still have only a single core. These sit somewhere between the Atom and the dual-core ULV CPUs. They're often seen in ultraportable laptops that aim for small sizes and good battery life but leave our mainstream features such as optical drives. While these chips are a small performance step up from the Atom, the price premium asked for them makes us suggest holding out for a dual-core ULV processor.

Pentium Dual-Core: Multicore CPUs that don't qualify for the Core 2 Duo tag are marketed as Pentium Dual-Core. We've seen these in very inexpensive mainstream laptops, and they're a good value if you need a dual-core 14- or 15-inch laptop for less than $600.

Celeron: There are still a handful of Celeron processors available in the least-expensive mainstream laptops. As trading up to a Pentium Dual-Core laptop can be as little as $50 more, we suggest avoiding Celeron CPUs.

AMD

AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core: AMD's alternative to Intel's Core 2 Duo processor amounts to an affordable budget alternative in mainstream laptops, but we've found that Intel CPUs consistently perform better in similarly priced systems. This has not always been the case, and these two companies have swapped the top performance spot more than once over the years.

AMD Athlon Neo: Found in thin-and-light notebooks and Netbooks, the Neo is one of AMD's newer processors. It favors long battery life and low power consumption, similar to Intel's Atom processor. Unfortunately, the systems we've seen with the single-core Neo have been more expensive than Atom Netbooks, with very little performance boost. The new X2 version of the Neo is a dual-core part, and has some potential.

AMD Turion X2: This is AMD's low-power-consumption version of its mainstream laptop CPU.

VIA

Via Nano: A third low-power processor option for Netbooks, the Nano is from chipmaker Via. The handful of Netbooks we've seen with Nano offer similar-to-better performance than the Intel Atom, and Via says this CPU is eventually destined for a wider range of products than just Netbooks.

A note about GPUs and Netbooks

While discrete graphics chips, such as the GPUs provided by Nvidia and ATI, are key for video editing and PC gaming, it's important to note two new Nvidia products that will also enhance certain products in the Netbook arena.

Nvidia Ion: Nvidia's first graphics option for Netbooks, the Ion is based in part on the integrated GeForce 9400M GPU in Apple's MacBooks. The added graphics power can help Atom-based Netbooks play back HD video smoothly, and even handle some basic gaming.

Nvidia Tegra: Nvidia's integrated CPU/GPU is intended for hybrid devices, which are smaller and more affordable than Netbooks, running hybrid versions of smartphone operating systems. The Tegra focuses on smooth HD video playback and some graphics capability, and also appears in mobile entertainment devices such as the Zune HD.

Source: CNET Reviews

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