Snowrider, re: I'm assuming you're saying this [If the frequencies are available at launch it'll impact Intel's mobile ASP's until Merom in a significant way.] because you believe that 64 bit support is a significant factor in the purchasing decision. If my assumption is correct, then we'll have to agree to disagree because 64 bits has done little for the single core Turion over the single core Pentium M processors and Centrino Platform.
Windows Home edition still doesn't support 64b. Vista will support it across all releases (incl. Home). So the major difference now is that Vista is imminent and will make 64b the sole standard (32b Vista will work but with less features than 64b). Consumers - stupid as they are - are starting to know this. And a bit after May they'll be offered the choice (dual core 32b Centrino now, 64b DC Turion X2 now). Turion X2 will be popular because it has the features the consumers and businesses want. Consequently Centrino (Yonah version) will become slightly less popular. Only 'slightly' because after all it is an Intel product. Also only 'slightly' because AMD is locked out of Dell, Sony, and the like. Still I think it'll be enough to affect Intel mobile ASPs in low single digits. I know: Just *one* opinion based on logic.
re: Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't Core Duo have higher IPC than Turion? If true, then a 2.16GHz Centrino Duo platform should have no problem outperforming a Turion X2. Personnally, I'm curious to see the battery life of an Turion X2 based system.
Well currently you're right ofcourse. But as of May it's different because current Core Duo (Yonah) IPC is in rather general terms on par with current Athlon X2, and will be rather close to Turion X2 as well. They'll be more or less on par. Battery life differences between the two will be much more determined by components like screen, video, harddisk, etc... than by the cpu's, meaning Turion X2 systems might still have slightly lower battery life. A bit further down the road Merom (Core Duo as of Q4 this year) will outperform both its predecessor and Turion X2.
Regards,
Rink
