Mobile CPU AMD/INTEL

I've only seen one review. Two notebooks were compared - one with a Turion X2 2.4GHz and the other with a Core2 Duo at 2.33GHz. Both had QuadroFX 2500m graphics, 2GB RAM and 100GB 7200rpm hard drives. The Turion system actually ran at a lower resolution.

The Turion didn't fare very well. It wouldn't complete the Inventor benchmark and SolidWorks was "unstable". This could have just been a problem with an early production unit from a small supplier. The overall SPECapc score for the C2D was 1.97 and the Turion 1.81. Most of the difference was in the graphics score. The C2D was also much faster on the 3DS Max render tests. On the other hand, the Turion faster on the SolidWorks STEP import test and 3DS Max frame rate tests. They were about equal on the Delcam Powermill benchmark.

(The original article had a spreadsheet with benchmark scores. I can't find the link to the spreadsheet in the archived article, but I still have a hardcopy.)

The workstations reviews are mcadonline are really good. They cover a wide range of systems - not just the top-end models from major OEMs - and perform an interesting array of bencharks.

Thanks Jim,

I think that without any data from an actual comparison using SWX the macd review and the CPU review on Toms Hardware makes me think INTEL is the way to go.

Kev