Intel Centrino. Lets be clear.

Ok, so you want an Intel Centrino laptop? What the heck is Centrino?

Well, Centrino is not a processor. For a laptop computer to be called "Centrino", it requires the new Pentium M processor, an Intel 855 chipset, and an Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 (802.11b) or Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG (802.11b/g) network card.

Lets break it down.

The Pentium M processor is the hub of Centrino. With 2Mb On-die cache it is now Two to Four times that of a Pentium 4 (2,048k as opposed to 512k or 1,024k used in the Pentium 4).

True, the new Intel Pentium 4 6xx series of processors finally has 2,048k, but the Pentium M processor will still outperform it, GHz for GHz.

Then we have the Intel 855 chipset. This is the second most important requirement of the three and is a very low power chipset. It will only run portions of the chip necessary to perform the tasks asked of it. Clever huh?

The two work together to reduce power consumption and increase performance. So in theory your battery lasts longer and your work gets done quicker!

The Pentium M will slow down to around 600Mhz when your not working though, reducing power consumption when at idle (where it will consume only 6 Watts) or just typing a letter.

Oh, and did i mention the wireless card... Made by Intel of course ;)

Can it get any better?

In January 2005 Intel introduced the new Intel 915 chipset called "Alviso" and the "Sonoma" processor. The new "Sonoma" processor has a 533MHz Front Side Bus Speed (FSB) instead of the old 400MHz FSB that the Intel 855 chipset supported.

And on the Intel GMA900 integrated graphics in the 915GM version the graphics has equaled or surpassed dedicated graphics chips below the Radeon 9600.

Other improvements included dual channel DDR2/533 support instead of the old DDR1/333 single channel memory, 7.1 "High Definition" audio, Serial ATA support and up to - 8 USB2 ports at the manufactureres (OEM) discretion.

Example specification.

At AK computers we have the Sony Vaio VGN-B3XPM which is a good example of this kind of laptop. If this breaks your budget speak to us about one of our Acer Notebooks.

Lets start with a spring clean!

Spring is here!

... no doubt the other half is running around trying to clean the house in time for easter, fluffy bunnies and daffodils.

But is your computer clean?

No I am not talking about porn, what i am talking about is dust build up which can cause computer overheating and ultimately computer failure.

Its amazing how many computers we get in for repair that have died due to overheating. Most users dont think to check the computer for dust build up, and if the computer is in one place for any length of time, it will collect dirt. Imagine your television at home, an electric device which creates a static charge, and how much dust and dirt the screen collects in the space of a week. A computer is just the same although unlike a television the dust doesnt disperse when the power is shut off. Dirt will collect around heat sensitive parts such as fans and heatsinks. Over time this build up can block the fins restricting airflow and thus causing overheating and data errors (crashes, disk corruption and blue screens).

And if it isnt, whats the worst could happen?

Ultimately, cheaper power supplies will burn out causing a surge of electric which can kill everything or just random components. I have seen two 160gb drives fail along with the power supply and the board and processor survive! If you have a clear perspex case you have no excuse for not noticing dirt build up.

Well, heres a simple fix.

The solution is to switch off your computer, simply take a small clean paint brush and poke it around inside the fans and coolers to losen any dirt. Once this is done switch the computer back on and stand back from the dust cloud

Phew, that wasnt so hard was it?

The AK Dog

PS. Problem with mounting updating your ipod? Check here Cannot Mount iPod