Dothan Revisited: Gaming Performance

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While putting up impressive gaming numbers is one thing, one simply must consider the benefits of the Pentium-M architecture in comparison to these other high-end CPU’s. The Pentium-M can compete typically perform within 5% of top of the line Intel/AMD consumer level processors in gaming while running at one fourth the heat production levels. Power consumption numbers are also far, far less on the Pentium-M compared to other modern processor lines. Basically, you’re getting solid gaming performance without all the nasty side effects of running at high clock speeds, thanks to the efficiency of the Dothan core architecture.

Also keep in mind that the Dothan Pentium-M is running on a fairly old feature set, and it can still put up numbers on par with today’s fastest gaming processors. The Pentium-M doesn’t have technologies such as Hyper-Threading, Dual Channel DDR-400/DDR2 memory, on-die DDR memory controllers, or fast graphics interfaces like AGP 8x/PCI Express. It performs this well on antiquated platform technologies, which immediately makes us think of how well this processor could perform with a modern chipset.

Several astute readers pointed out that the next Intel Pentium-M chipset, Alviso, is not that far off. While this chipset has been delayed multiple times (as it was supposed to debut with the initial Dothan-based Pentium-M processors earlier this year), its current scheduled release date is “Early 2005”, which could mean anywhere from two to six months off. Alviso is set to pair the Pentium-M processor with a 533 MHz FSB, dual channel DDR2-533 memory, PCI Express graphics, along with the ability to pair up with Intel’s ICH6R core to give the chipset Serial ATA/150 RAID and High-Definition Audio. Obviously, the Pentium-M paired with such a chipset would be a direct rival to Intel’s own Pentium 4 processor lineup, and we’re certain that there are some internal conflicts at Intel which would arise if such a chipset made it to the desktop. We can only hope that it does.