Chapter 4. Processors

Certainly one of the most important parts in any computer is the central processing unit, or CPU. The CPU can also be referred to as a microprocessor, or just processor, for short. Several types of processors are used in portable systems from several different companies. Processors for portable systems can be the same as those used in desktop system, but several processor companies also make special processors specifically optimized for use in portable systems. These are generally referred to as mobile processors. This chapter examines primarily the mobile processors used in laptop/notebook and other portable systems.

Currently, Intel and AMD both manufacture processors designed for either desktop or mobile use, and Transmeta makes a series of processors under the Crusoe name that are exclusively for mobile use. As with desktop systems, the majority of mobile systems use Intel processors, and creating chips designed specifically for mobile systems is a major part of Intel's development effort. Over the years , Intel has introduced many different processors for mobile use. Intel has focused on mobile processors since the 386SL came out October 1990, and since then has dramatically expanded mobile processor technology and features, up to the Pentium M first introduced in March 2003. By comparison, AMD was late in catering specifically to the mobile processor market. AMD's first major mobile-only processors were mobile versions of the K6-2 and K6-III released in 1998. In May 2001, AMD announced a line of mobile Athlon 4 (Palomino) and Duron CPUs. The mobile Athlon XP came in April 2002, and the mobile XP-M processor was introduced in March 2003.