Centrino 2 technology consists of 3 main components: Intel Core 2 Duo processor, new Intel Intel Express Express Chipset (Mobile Intel 45 Express Chipset), and fast, power-saving 802.11n Wifi connection (Intel Wifi Link 5000 series).
On Centrino 2 platform, there are 7 Intel Core 2 Duo processors divided into 3 product lines, P series include P8400, P8600, P9500, T series including T9400 and T9600, and X9100 Core 2 Extreme series. The P series processors use more energy-efficient than the T series but have poorer performance. It should be known that all Centrino 2 processors have 1066 MHz FSB bus (connecting the processor to other key components such as memory), allowing more data to be processed. This is useful for handling graphics and video applications.
Mobile Intel Express 45 Chipset, codenamed Cantiga consists of two versions, PM and GM. The PM version will support single graphics cards from graphics card manufacturers such as ATI and Nvidia, while GM supports integrated graphics. According to Intel, the new chipset can improve graphics processing speeds nearly twice as much as Intel's old chipset, Mobile Intel 965 Express. The new chipset will support up to 8GB of DDR3 SDRAM memory, compared to the maximum DDR2 memory support of 4GB of the old chipset. DDR3 memory has twice the processing speed of today's popular DDR2 memory, while using 25% less electricity.
Besides, the Deep Power Down technology included in the Centrino 2 laptop helps the processor save more power. When in Deep Power Down mode, the processor is in a power-saving state near the computer shutdown level.
Wifi wireless connectivity in Centrino laptops also improved significantly. Intel currently has two Wifi Link 5100 and Wifi Link 5300 cards for computers that use Centrino 2 technology, providing throughput of up to 300 Mbps and data transfer rate of up to 450 Mbps. According to Intel, Centrino 2 computers released between now and the end of 2008 will not support WiMax connectivity.