I'm looking to get a powerful laptop to do video and photo editing.

I've been looking at the Dell Inspiron 9200, but it only comes with a Pentium M processor, not a Pentium 4.

I called Dell, and they said that a 2 GHz Pentium M runs about as fast as a 3 GHZ Pentium 4. Is this true, or just sales talk?

I want to get a laptop and processor that will render videos and process photos FAST!

Thanks for your help!

Google is an amazing tool:

http://www.cpuid.com/PentiumM/index.php

Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz
512MB PC3200
Asus Ti4200 128MB
WinME/WinXP Pro

Thanks for the link, jam.
Here's a summary from that page (much of which is over my head!)

-------------------------
On mobile platform, the Pentium M is for sure the fastest CPU, and is much faster than the Pentium 4-M. Besides, it is able to vie with desktop computers, that include high-performance chipset and memory, and allows our mobile test platform to perform as well as a desktop Pentium 4 at 2,4Ghz, thanks to its efficient micro-architecture.
With these results, we can assume that the 1,6GHz version of the Pentium M would be very near a 3,06GHz Pentium 4
-------------------

Does anyone DIS-agree with this assesment?

Perhaps pound for pound but not system wide. The processor is only one component in the machine. Desktop machines still have better hard drives, faster memory, better cooling, etc all of which make a desktop the better choice for anything high end in my opinion.

In other words you are picking the fastest Escort in a Ferrari world.

Jimi_l

Yeah, I know I could get a much more powerful desktop, and for a lot less money, but I need to be portable.

Still looks to me like the fastest P4 might be faster than the fastest M. Just not sure if it's worth the extra money, and the lower battery life.

"On mobile platform, the Pentium M is for sure the fastest CPU, and is much faster than the Pentium 4-M"

for sure. If you have to have a laptop, get a pentium m.

I have a follow up question for you all. I am in the same boat as Chuck. I am in the market for a mobile computer.

These are from Dell…

Configuration A
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 765 (2.10GHz/400MHz FSB)
512MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz 2 Dimm
128MB ATI's™ Mobility Radeon™ 9700
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)

Configuration B
Pentium® 4 Processor 3.40GHz w/ HT Tech, 15.4-in WUXGA
1GB Dual Channel DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
256MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9800 AGP 8X Graphics
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
60GB Hard Drive 7200rpm Hard Drive
Dell® Wireless 1350 Internal Wireless (802.11b/g, 54Mbps)

My question…
For a Laptop Is configuration B worth the $1000.00 extra on the price tag.
I want to be able to play fairly high end games like Halo2 and CoD on it. Is the Pentium M going to be enough processor for it?

The proof that there is intelligent life on other planets, is that none of it has tried to contact us. <calvin>

i in the same situation as guamkid, i know that pentium m is faster and sometimes cheaper but i want to be able to run games like the sims 2, and rollercoaster tycoon 3, will pentium m be able to run games as well as pentium 4, please e-mail me with an answer ... cmmtkdbb@yahoo.com

I upgraded to the 2.4 from a 1.8 Ghz. Here are the benchmarks in comparison to my work issued hp nc6000.

HP 1.6 Ghz Pentium M
> Addition/Multiplication (SSE) : 2021.82 MFlops
> Division (SSE) : 513.98 MFlops
> Square Root (SSE) : 387.45 MFlops
> Addition/Multiplication (FPU) : 1295.27 MFlops
> Division (FPU) : 66.72 MFlops
> Square Root (FPU) : 31.84 MFlops
> Whetstone : 555 KWPS

IBM 2.4 Ghz Pentium 4-M (A31p)
> Addition/Multiplication (SSE) : 3658.76 MFlops
> Division (SSE) : 620.91 MFlops
> Square Root (SSE) : 624.83 MFlops
> Addition/Multiplication (FPU) : 1652.01 MFlops
> Division (FPU) : 53.88 MFlops
> Square Root (FPU) : 54.64 MFlops
> Whetstone : 360 KWPS

If you want a laptop which does fast graphics... then buy a laptop with

1. A fast graphics card such as the latest ATi or Nvidia chipset. A lot of high end laptops have upgradable GPUs.

2. A fast CPU - like a Intel Pentium 4 with Hyperthreading Technology (see Alienware).

3. A fast hard drive. 5400 rpm or 7200 rpm 2.5 inch drive. (ie. Seagate or Hitachi)

4. A screen with 1600x1200 or better resolution - but remember LCDs can't do any better than 60hz. Use an external monitor or fast CRT (75hz or faster) for the best response.

5. A lot of fast high speed RAM (512 Mb - 2 GB)

6. Optimize the settings of your game to the GPU, CPU, and memory.

A laptop will never outpace a desktop. Even the fastest Asus or Alienware machine will not outpace a Athlon FX-55 SLI machine.