Hi
I was looking through the AMD Processor Comparison
The details given was insufficient to know the difference
Only CPU Cache, Frequency and Wattage was displayed
Can someone enlighten me on the architectural difference to
justify the class and the cost?

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Acer Aspire 4530
AMD Turion X2 2.1GHZ RM-72 1MB L2 Cache
4GB DDR2 667MHZ
NVIDIA 9100M G
320GB WD BEKT
http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/

Architecturally, the chips are all the same as they are all dual-core K8 processors.

The QL series chips are the previous generation Turion 64 X2 TL series that now work with the new 780-series chipsets. They clock down to 800 MHz or so at idle and have an 800 MHz HyperTransport link and 2x512 KB L2 cache.

The RM and ZM series are the new generation Turion chips with a much faster (1800 MHz or so) HyperTransport link and a minimum clock speed of between 500 and 600 MHz rather than 800 MHz like the QL series. The RMs have 2x512 KB L2 cache while the ZM series have 2x1 MB L2 cache. Otherwise the RM and ZM chips are identical.

So you will see identical performance out of equally-clocked QL and RM chips as they are architecturally the same and have the same amount of cache. (HyperTransport speed does not affect performance in desktops and laptops.) You will see a little better performance out of the ZM chips as they have more L2 cache. The battery life on the RM and ZM chips will be better than that of the QL series as the RMs and ZMs can run at a lower clock speed at idle and thus draw less power.

I have not seen the SI series- are those Semprons by chance?

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Yep the Semprons are the SI ones
but how come they stated the wattage of QL is lower than RM doesn't that mean they consume less power?

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Acer Aspire 4530
AMD Turion X2 2.1GHZ RM-72 1MB L2 Cache
4GB DDR2 667MHZ
NVIDIA 9100M G
320GB WD BEKT
http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/

The power quoted is maximum draw at full load, not idle power. The higher-clocked RM and ZM models will throw off more heat at full roar but less at idle than the lower-clocked QL models.

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Adding to what MU_Enginner mentioned the Athlon QL's are based on the griffin platform so get the same HT link as the Turion RM & ZM's along with some of the other power saving features(independent core control, voltage, independent memory controller etc). As far as the TDP difference I kinda think that might be a typo...if you look at the power spec PDF they are all rated at 35W not 25W.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/asset...nd_tech_docs/43373.pdf

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HP Pavilion TX2500..AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-86, 3GB DDR2 800, 320GB 5400rpm SATA, ATi Radeon HD3200/M780G.

Also I'm pretty sure RM and ZM are 65nm, whereas earlier ones are 90nm. Correct me if I'm wrong.

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ASRock M3A785GMH/128M
Phenom II X4 925c2 @ 2.80GHz (95W)
OCZ Platinum PC3-1333 2x2GB 7-7-7-21
WD5000AADS
Raidmax RX-500AF
Check it out.

The QLs and SIs are 65 nm too. Some of the non-lettered Mobile Semprons are 90 nm and some are 65 nm, and some of the TL series are 90 nm and some are 65 nm. But anything based on the Griffin platform with an HT link speed > 800 MHz is 65 nm.

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Thanks for the input =)

-------------------------
Acer Aspire 4530
AMD Turion X2 2.1GHZ RM-72 1MB L2 Cache
4GB DDR2 667MHZ
NVIDIA 9100M G
320GB WD BEKT
http://aspiregemstone.blogspot.com/