Pentium M vs. Pentium 4

[crumsteel]

What is better for gaming? What is the main difference between the 2 processors? Dell has a new XPS laptop that is made for gaming but it uses the Pentium M. Not know the difference in the 2 I am not sure. I can look at the mhz and tell that the M is slower than the 4. 2.13mhz vs. 3.6. Will there be a problem in the long run when a computer game requires a Pentium 2.5ghz?

[ChrisGwinn]

What is better for gaming? What is the main difference between the 2 processors? Dell has a new XPS laptop that is made for gaming but it uses the Pentium M. Not know the difference in the 2 I am not sure. I can look at the mhz and tell that the M is slower than the 4. 2.13mhz vs. 3.6. Will there be a problem in the long run when a computer game requires a Pentium 2.5ghz?

There are several different flavors of P4s - the older northwood ones and the newer prescott ones are what you're most likely to run into. The general sentiment seems to be that the newer (Prescott) P4s are disappointing and the Pentium Ms are pretty good. Originally the PMs were just for laptops, but Intel seems to have decided to go with that line for desktops as well.

Here's a recent comparison of the P4 and the Pentium M on the desktop - http://www.techreport.com/reviews/2005q ... dex.x?pg=1

[EvilHomer3k]

The Pentium M is much faster clock for clock than the P4. The newer pentium m's (which is what you're looking at in the new XPS laptop) are some of the best chips around. What you'll be missing is the hyperthreading capabilities of the P4's but that doesn't matter one bit for gaming. The Pentium M is a great chip. I don't think you'll have any problem with games requiring a 2.5ghz processor that won't install. Most games will still install but warn you that you don't meet specs.

The main disadvantage of going for a laptop over a desktop for gaming is the video card. The new XPS Generation 2 has the GF6800 Ultra, though, which is about as fast as the current 6800 Ultra cards for the desktop. I believe you can upgrade the video cards on the xps systems but there's no guarantee that dell will make another generation of cards for it.

In short, if you're debating between the XPS and the XPS Gen. 2, go for the Gen 2.

[crumsteel]

Thanks for the link ChrisGwinn, that site had some good info. I have been looking at getting a laptop (might be for a while) and was trying to see if the M chip would be better once I seen dell was offering it on there "mobile gaming machine". So far from what I can tell it has it's good points and bad points depending on the application. I am just curious why alienware, sagar, ect are still just offering the p4 and not the M yet for there gaming machines if it has some performance benefits.

[ChrisGwinn]

Thanks for the link ChrisGwinn, that site had some good info. I have been looking at getting a laptop (might be for a while) and was trying to see if the M chip would be better once I seen dell was offering it on there "mobile gaming machine". So far from what I can tell it has it's good points and bad points depending on the application. I am just curious why alienware, sagar, ect are still just offering the p4 and not the M yet for there gaming machines if it has some performance benefits.

My guess is that there are a few reasons why you see a lot more Pentium 4s than Pentium Ms on the high end machines. First, a lot of people only look at clock speed. Second, desktop motherboards are only starting to become available. Third, there may well be channel/availability/pricing reasons for OEMs to use the P4.