Even though the mobile version of the Pentium 4 won't be announced until next month, several vendors are already selling laptops based on the desktop chip as a way of meeting pent-up demand. In some ways the strategy is to Intel's benefit, since AMD's mobile Athlon processors currently have a performance advantage over Intel's current notebook lineup.
Intel warns against the practice, but a Pentium 4 laptop tested by ZDNet UK gave a surprisingly good showing: It doesn't overheat, has good battery life and, most importantly, performs well.
The main downside to the Hi-Grade Ultinote M6400 is its weight, an effect of the cooling systems needed to keep the chip from overheating. But weight may not be a major concern for buyers looking for a desktop-replacement laptop, and if they can save several hundred dollars by using the less-expensive chip, it may be worth the trade-off.
Intel's argument against the use of desktop Pentium 4s in laptops rests largely on the fact that additional design work is needed to ensure they work properly with the laptop infrastructure. "There is a benefit and a risk to it, and the OEMs have to deal with those issues," said an Intel spokesman. "Intel did not design the processor for those requirements, so the manufacturers have to do that work for us."
However, tests found it is possible to make the chip run properly in a notebook, without performance degradation. Continuous testing didn't show any degradation, and the laptop didn't grow overly warm or generate excessive fan noise.
Intel also argues that consumers should be careful about giving up the various battery-saving technologies it builds into mobile chips, such as SpeedStep, which reduces chip speed when it the power isn't needed. Tests found, however, that the 1.8GHz-based laptop delivered creditable battery life.
