Sonoma
The Sonoma Mobile Technology introduces what Intel calls as the next generation of the Centrino Mobile Technology. Featuring new components and enhancements, this new mobile platform is set to storm the mobile PC industry again the same what the Banias did almost two years ago.
This time, the new Sonoma Mobile Technology features an enhanced Pentium M processor, a new chipset, a new wireless LAN adapter, a new integrated graphics solution, a new memory interface, Serial ATA support and even improved audio capability!
And here are some of the key features and specifications of the new Sonoma Mobile Technology platform from Intel's platform brief documentation.
Platform |
Intel
Centrino mobile technology based platform ('03-'04) |
Intel
Centrino mobile technology based platform ('05) |
Key
Selling Point |
CPU | Intel® Pentium® M Processor (400 MHz Front side bus) | Intel® Pentium® M Processor (533 MHz Front side bus) | Better able to run demanding applications |
Chipset | Intel® 855 Chipset Mobile | Intel® 915 Express Chipset | Improved performance |
Wireless | Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection | Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection | Greater wireless LAN connection flexibility |
Memory technology | DDR1 200/266/333MHz | Dual Channel DDR2 400/533 MHz | More performance |
Graphics support | Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 | Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 | High quality graphics, without requiring discrete graphics |
Input/Output support | PC Card support | ExpressCard based on USB/PCI Express | Enables faster system response |
Hard drive technology | Standard IDE | Serial ATA | Performs better |
Audio capability | AC ‘97 | Support for Intel® High Definition Audio | Premium sound quality |
Features |
Benefit |
Intel® Pentium® M Processor | Power optimized 533 MHz processor system bus provides up to 33% faster transfer rate than previous generation for increased performance. |
Support for Intel® Mobile Voltage Positioning (Intel® MVP IV) | Dynamically lowers voltage based on processor activity to lower thermal design power enabling smaller notebooks. |
Support for Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology w/ multiple voltage & frequency operating points | Allows matching of performance to application demand. |
Optional Execute Disable Bit Support | When combined with a supporting OS, helps block certain viruses that try to use memory buffer overflow to attack a client PC. |
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 | Graphics core delivering 2X the graphics performance of the Mobile Intel® 855GME chipset. Provides a high quality, stable and cost effective solution. |
Support for Dual Channel DDR2 400/533 MHz memory | 60% improvement in peak bandwidth from DDR-333 to DDR2-533. |
PCI Express Bus Architecture | Delivers 2X I/O bandwidth for improved system, application performance & smooth multimedia performance. |
Integrated high speed USB 2.0 | Support for up to 8 USB 2.0 ports for maximum 40X faster data transfer rate. |
Serial ATA hard drive interface | Enables up to 150MB/s transfer rate for disk traffic & provides aggressive link power management functionality. |
Intel® Display Power Saving Technology 2 (Intel® DPST2) | Reduces display backlight power by up to 400mW with minimal visual impact. |
Intel® High Definition Audio | Can support DTS, THX, and all Dolby technologies for a premium home theater experience. Multi-streaming capability enables support for separate audio channels with independent audio streams to different devices. |
Dual band dual-mode 802.11b/g and tri-mode 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED wireless LAN support | Flexibility to connect to most available industry standardsbased WLAN (802.11b, 802.11a & 802.11g) infrastructure. |
Intel Centrino mobile technology with Intel®PRO/ Wireless 2915ABG Network Connection provides industry standard wireless LAN security support (such as 802.1X, WEP, WPA, WPA2, 802.11i, and AES) | Based on PC manufacturer’s availability, enables enhanced wireless LAN security in compliance with evolving industry standards. |
Support for Cisco Compatible Extensions (such as LEAP, EAP-FAST and CKIP) | With Intel® PROSet/Wireless softwear version 9 and based on PC manufacturer’s availability and validation, enables interoperability with latest Cisco WLAN infrastructure. |
Intel® PROSet/Wireless software version 9 with: • Intel Smart Wireless Solutions • Improved network adapter user interface • Single sign on • Security Assistant • Wireless troubleshooter • Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM) support |
Makes it easier to connect to wireless LANs and manage WLAN connections. |
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