Pentium M as a desktop processor?

[The Pentium Guy]

I think this processor'll be good as a desktop solution, when paired with ASUS's little converter thing.

http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2382

Despite a few flaws in it's architecture

That being said, despite being paired with enough memory bandwidth, the Pentium M continues to fall behind in desktop performance. As a gaming platform and as a general purpose/office machine, the Pentium M does fairly well, but it is in content creation, workstation and media encoding applications that the Pentium M continues to fall behind. Part of the problem is that the Pentium M needs clock speed to compete, which we saw when we overclocked it up to 2.56GHz. But even at 2.56GHz, the Pentium M wasn't a competitive CPU when it came to tasks like media encoding, indicating that if the Pentium M is to succeed on the desktop, it's going to need some architectural improvements.

It does extremely well in games (On par with the FX-55)

At this year's Spring IDF, Mooley Eden (head of the design team who brought us the original Pentium M) diagramed the architectural features that would be improved in the next version of the Pentium M (code-named Yonah). All of the architectural improvements, outside of the move to dual core, involved SSE and floating point performance - the two major weak points of the Pentium M's present day desktop performance.

At an overclocked state (by only ~400 Mhz) it shows considerable increase in performance.

Discuss (don't troll or flame please).

-The Pentium Guy

 

[0roo0roo]

is it cheap

 

[airfoil]

Costs way too much to be used as a mainstream desktop CPU.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

Oh... that brings up a good point - I never thought of that

 

[shud]

You could have a hell of a gaming laptop though!

 

[Lonyo]

I hate to say this, but Anandtech are off the mark.

the Pentium M wasn't a competitive CPU when it came to tasks like media encoding, indicating that if the Pentium M is to succeed on the desktop, it's going to need some architectural improvements.

It's not competetive when it comes to media encoding against what, exactly?
When you compare the Pentium M, clock for clock, with an AMD64 CPU, it's pretty much spot on, a 2GHz Pentium M vs a 2GHz AMD64. Given that the Pentium M has a limited platform (ie: slower memory etc), that's pretty good, and with faster memory it may close the gap and be equal clock for clock with the AMD64's.
It also overclocks quite well, which suggests it has frequency headroom, and if used on a desktop (built for desktop by Intel, and not using an adapter/special motherboard), things like heat would not be an issue and they may push up frequencies and voltages to make it more of a competitor frequency wise with the AMD64's as well as being on par clock for clock.
It has potential to compete with AMD64's, if Intel up the speeds and give it a desktop platform, rather than limiting it to the mobile arena where things like heat and power consumption are key issues.

 

[Ronin13]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
It has potential to compete with AMD64's, if Intel up the speeds and give it a desktop platform, rather than limiting it to the mobile arena where things like heat and power consumption are key issues.

Isn't that what they are planning to do with the Conroe chip (a dual core chip based on Pentium M - for desktops), expected to ship in Q3 2006?

 

[biostud]

Benchies

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Ronin13

Originally posted by: Lonyo
It has potential to compete with AMD64's, if Intel up the speeds and give it a desktop platform, rather than limiting it to the mobile arena where things like heat and power consumption are key issues.

Isn't that what they are planning to do with the Conroe chip (a dual core chip based on Pentium M - for desktops), expected to ship in Q3 2006?

Haven't seen any Intel roadmaps, so I would assume you are right.
Basically, the Pentium M is desktop ready, as soon as Intel bother to impliment it in a desktop package (ie: chipset support, better FSB, not worrying about heat). I'm suprised somewhat that it won't be until Q3 2006 though, sooner would have been nice, but I guess by then 65nm production will be in full swing and hopefully ramping up clock speeds qon't be too hard.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Intel already has an improved platform for the Pentium M, it's the 915-somegobbleofletters. With DDR2 and PCI-E support, it's equivilent to their P4 based chipsets.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: airfoil
Costs way too much to be used as a mainstream desktop CPU.

Do you think that could be because it is designed for MOBILE use?

Mobile chips are ALWAYS more expensive than desktop counterparts.

And the ASUS converter is mediocre. You are hampering "M" with single channel DDR333 (maximum) and a low FSB.

Eventually, "M" will be on the desktop. With an improved FPU, DDR2, SSE3, and higher FSB speeds, it will be a formidable opponent. Already, "M" outperforms both P4 and A64 on a clock-for-clock basis. Even with the restrictions placed on it.

 

[Auric]

I think I read about a desktop M board recently so adapter not required. I believe it was ASUS too, n'est ce pas?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: airfoil
Costs way too much to be used as a mainstream desktop CPU.

Do you think that could be because it is designed for MOBILE use?

Mobile chips are ALWAYS more expensive than desktop counterparts.

And the ASUS converter is mediocre. You are hampering "M" with single channel DDR333 (maximum) and a low FSB.

Eventually, "M" will be on the desktop. With an improved FPU, DDR2, SSE3, and higher FSB speeds, it will be a formidable opponent. Already, "M" outperforms both P4 and A64 on a clock-for-clock basis. Even with the restrictions placed on it.

naw, intel just doesn't have a reason to lower the prices. they aren't under uncredible pressure in that area from anyone. its how its always been. and so its not really worth it for most.

 

[RalfHutter]

Originally posted by: Kensai
Intel already has an improved platform for the Pentium M, it's the 915-somegobbleofletters. With DDR2 and PCI-E support, it's equivilent to their P4 based chipsets.

I think it's 915-GMm.