2. A Brief Run-Down: The Low Voltage Version Of The Athlon-XP-M

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The LV version of the Athlon XP-M is based on the Thoroughbred B core (CPU-ID 681), but, unlike the mainstream models (Vcc = 1.45 volts), it only needs 1.25 volts. Because its supply voltage is so low, the LV model's top thermal-loss rating is only 25 watts, which makes the processor an ideal thin and light candidate.

Key data: 133 MHz FSB and Thoroughbred B core.

A true mobile processor, the LV Athlon XP-M 1600+ uses AMD's power-saving technology Powernow . (Powernow automatically matches the CPU performance to the processor load.) Whereas Intel's power-saving technology for the Pentium M ("improved" Enhanced Speedstep ) fixes the level and number of CPU operating points for developers, AMD processors give notebook designers the freedom to select a subset of the possible value pairs (frequency and voltage). That's why you'll find the same Athlon XP-M processor model purring away in different notebooks with different operating points.

This chart shows the possible and actual operating points used in the LV Athlon XP-M CPU in the Averatec 3150P.