Mac mini processor

Question

has ever anyone ever saw a centrino processor(1.73 ghz) on a mac mini with DVD writer and 512 ddr2 memory and geforce ddr2 and 60 gb of hard drive, bluetooth, wireless.
a guy just bought a mac mini with a centrino processor, thats what he says, and he said that centrino is faster than Intel core duo. I dont know about this stuff, so can you please tell me if he is right?
thank you very much

Answer 1

Centrino is the name given by Intel to a technology that includes a Pentium M processor and other devices (chipset and wireless) from Intel. When coupled with similar hardware, a Core Duo processor can be considered a Centrino Duo system (the name's for the newer generation of the Intel Centrino technology). Actually, a Core Solo processor and Intel chipset & wireless technology could still be considered a Centrino system.
Interestingly, the new Intel-based Macs (iMac, MacBook/MacBook Pro, Mac mini) carry an Intel processor, an Intel chipset and wireless technology from Intel. That's probably enough to make them Centrino or Centrino Duo systems, but as Ned pointed out, Apple does not participate in Intel's marketing campaigns, so you'll probably never see any Centrino-based Mac.
There have bee successful attempts at putting a Core2 Duo (Merom) processor in a Mac mini; your friend could be referring to that. Or, he may have bought a small form factor PC with a 1.73 Ghz Pentium M processor. Such computers have been available for some time, and although they mimic the Mini's design, they aren't "Mac minis" and don't run Mac OS X.
As for a 1.73 Ghz Pentium M being faster than a 1.66 Ghz Core Duo, well, if you (i.e. your friend) believe(s) a faster clock speed means a faster processor, then yes it is "faster". But the Core Duo has more cache memory than most Pentium M processors (as much as the last gen of Pentium Ms) and a faster Front side bus, and, last but not least, a second processor core. In most cases, even when only one core is effectively used, a Core Duo will be faster.