Best processors for linux?

[TimSSC]

I am looking to get a new laptop soon, to take with me to college. I do a lot of compiliing (well duh, I run gentoo), so that would probably be the most demanding thing I would need it to be doing. I like long battery life, also. I like the idea of the intel core duo, and that's what I'm thinking of going with. But my question is, which is better for running gentoo, the core duo, or an AMD 64? Also, which is more powerfull, and which uses less power? Thanks.

[GetCool]

There really is no benefit to using any one processor over another in Linux. With a laptop, you should probably use power efficiency as your deciding factor (and unfortunately, I can't help you with this, since I don't really know the mobile CPU market very well).

As far as the Linux OS goes, however, it won't really care one way or another after you compile Gentoo for your given architecture.

EDIT: You may want to check some hardware review sites for more details on various CPUs.

[DNAspark99]

I've got an AMD64 based laptop (HP 3400), fast at compiling, powernow features help with battery life, but it still eats through a full charge in about an hour and a half. (or less, depending on load/usage)

[Kanniball]

for desktops an amd dual core is the best choice.
for laptops with battery life concerns i think centrinos are the best option.

[Schmolch]

Consider a Thinkpad T60, it has a Core-Duo up to 2,2 GHz and with the big battery + ultrabay-battery (you pull the cd-drive out) it can run 8-10h.

http://users.erols.com/chare/elec.htm
this site lists all CPUs with their Power-Consumption


Oh i just realized this is not another "recommend a laptop" Thread but a "recommend a Laptop-CPU" Thread.

Im not sure about that, but didn't the AMD-DualCore-64Bit-Laptop-CPU just come out?
Turion X2 or something, the aquivalent to the AMD X2 for Laptops.

I would say DualCore is the way to go, i dont think a 64Bit SingleCore CPU compiles much faster (if any) than a ordinary 32Bit SingleCore CPU, but with DualCore you immediately get twice the Performance and until now Intel is ruling this area with the CoreDuo (CoreDuo2 coming soon btw.)

[Omega21]

I have a P4 3.2GHz laptop. It owns my friend's dual core.
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iMac G4 1GHz :: q6600 //2x 500GB//2GB RAM//8600GT//Gentoo :: MacBook Pro//2.53GHz

[Schmolch]

[lxg]

[TimSSC]

I am intreaged by this AMD 64 bit dual core, will have to look into that... best of both worlds. I don't need tons of battery life, I am getting this for college, and I'm sure all the classrooms have power outlets (Brown University, btw), but I would like to be able to do a few hours of work outside when I want. As for laptops, I'm currently thinking about a sony vaio, 14" screen 1GB ram, intel core duo, and an nvidia graphics card. However, it seems to me that on board graphics would use up less power?

[TimSSC]

I'm pretty new to the linux world, but how long does it take linux to catch up with new hardware? I mean, when this AMD 64 - dual core comes out, will it be a while before linux supports it (same with the core duo 2?). Thanks for all the replys.

[troymc]

[lxg]

[Omega21]

[Mad Merlin]

[Corona688]

Sigh... I imagine there's going to be even more of this in the windows world -- "Dual Core? It's the same! The benchmark says so!" For a better comparison, run two benchmarks on each computer simultaneously. The single-core will get half the performance. The dual core will get full on both. Each core can only go so fast, but there's two of them.
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