Hewlett-Packard revealed it will not use Intel Turbo Memory technology – based on embedded flash memory module – in any of its Centrino Pro notebooks, ZDNet UK reports.
The Turbo Memory, code-named “Robson”, is one of the most highlighted features of the latest Intel Centrino Pro notebook technology and “Santa Rosa” platform. It is designed to improve a laptops’ start-up time and performance under Windows Vista operating system by utilizing its ReadyBoost and ReadyDrive technologies. But, HP’s internal tests show that Turbo Memory “doesn’t give you a lot” reportedly.
“Using Intel’s benchmark test for evaluating the performance of Turbo Memory, HP’s team did see the improvements in performance that Intel had predicted. However, because 1GB of Turbo Memory is effectively split into two – with one half serving ReadyBoost and the other ReadyDrive – adding a 512MB SD card or a 512MB USB stick to the baseline system resulted in the same improvements,” according to the report.
The PC maker’s decision not to offer Turbo Memory option was also based on the fact that ReadyBoost can only use one memory source at a time.
“This means that having Turbo Memory – which comes at a maximum size of 1GB – integrated into a notebook stops the customer from using, for example, a 2GB USB stick to boost the computer’s memory,” ZD Net reports.
Hewlett-Packard’s representatives also pointed out that inclusion of a 1GB Turbo Memory option in a laptop costs about $50, which is five times more expensive than a $10 512MB SD card offering more or less the same memory boost.