“... laptop processors have much less power
to work with and as a result run slower, but they support more mobile
features.”
Manufacturers of All-In-One desktops
use mobile processors to minimize the device footprint.
What’s the difference between desktop and laptop
processors?
Although desktop and laptop processors are
designed for their respective devices, compact desktop PCs and AIO (AU-In-One)
PCs often use laptop processors, and some large desktop replacement laptops use
desktop processors. The biggest difference between the two is that laptop
processors have much less power to work with and as a result run slower, but
they support more mobile features. For example, the Intel Core i7-2760QM laptop
processor and the Intel Core i7-2600K desktop processor are both quad-core
chips, but the former has a 2.4GHz clock speed compared to the latter’s 3.4GHz
core clock. The laptop variant also operates with a 45-watt TDP (thermal design
power; the maximum amount of power the device will need to be able to support
the processor). The desktop variant has a 95-watt TDP.
What features do laptop processors have that desktop
processors don’t?
In the case of the desktop and laptop
processors we contrasted above, the laptop variant supports Intel's (WiDi)
Wireless Display technology, which lets you wirelessly transmit photos, videos,
and Web to your TV for viewing (requires Intel WiDi TV adapter). Some other
technologies exclusive to mobile processors include anti-theft features that
enable you to remotely disable your notebook if it is stolen and support for 4G
WiMAX, which lets your laptop connect to a citywide wireless network for Web
access. Laptop processors also tend to have much more aggressive power-saving
technologies.
What can desktop processors do that laptop processors
can’t?
Because they have much higher thermal
tolerances, desktop processors can support higher clock speeds and more
discrete cores. Six- and even eight-core processors are available on desktops,
whereas quad-core processors are still the peak in laptop performance. Desktop
processors are also much more tolerant of overclocking, or raising the core
clock of the processor so that it crunches numbers that much faster. That said,
overclocking a processor entails completely disregarding the rated TDP, so
extra attention must be paid to keeping the processor cool.
WiDi, Intel’s Wireless Display
technology, lets you display your laptop content on your TV
Desktop and laptop processors both have integrated
graphics, right?
True, graphics processors have begun
appearing in processors in recent years. Laptops in particular benefit from
this configuration because separate graphics chips of older laptops require
dedicated cooling and power, which adds to the battery burden and tends to
contribute to the laptop's overall bulk. Ultrabooks, the new wave of super-thin
and portable laptops, can still be used for light gaming thanks to graphics integrated
into the processor.
Desktop processors with integrated graphics
processors can also run without discrete graphics cards or chips on the
motherboard. One of the biggest advantages for desktops, at least with regard
to Intel's latest desktop processors, is their support for Quick Sync, which
harnesses the power of the processor's integrated graphics processor to
transcode video. This can make a huge difference in the amount of time it takes
to prep videos for You Tube, Facebook, or your smartphone, tablet, and home
network. Incidentally, many of Intel's latest notebook processors also support
Quick Sync.
Can I upgrade my desktop or laptop processors?
The short answer is yes, for both, but
laptops are much more difficult to upgrade. On desktops, as long as the
processor fits into the motherboard's CPU socket, and the motherboard supports
the processor, then you can upgrade with little fuss and virtually no
Windows-related tweaks. The same CPU socket and laptop motherboard requirements
exist for mobile processors, but just getting access to the processor will
often void your warranty and require detailed instructions for your particular
laptop. It's generally not advisable to upgrade your laptop processor unless
you're very comfortable working with the hardware.
In this map of a recent Intel
processor, the rectangle on the left is the integrated graphics processor.
