Dual-core chips have now been around for a few months for desktop computers but now Intel is about to take them one step further and bring their performance boost to Notebook PCs.
Intel's Yonah (dual-core CPU) chip, a member of the Centrino Duo platform, will soon be used in Notebook computers and will be available in the U.S. later this month, suggesting that portable gaming is about to reach desktop standards.
Until now notebook performance has suffered as a result of the need to keep temperature and power consumption low. With dual-core CPUs these concerns are addressed more efficiently since they utilise lower clock speeds than single-core chips, greatly improving performance. Additional flexibility comes from the ability to shut down one core when in battery mode if battery longevity is a requirement. The last problem facing Notebook hardware designers and manufacturers remain the hard drives which still perform well below desktop standards.
One of the first companies to come to market with a dual-core notebook is Japanese giant NEC which unveiled its Lavie RX LR900 model in Japan just before the holidays. The system features 512MB of main memory and a 100GB hard drive. The machine weighs in at about 4.4 pounds and the battery will provide enough power to last about four hours. The price tag for that particular mobile dual-core offering will be around the USD 1945 mark.
