AJP M575U-2 review

Following hot on the heels of AMD's 64-bit Turion X2 chip, this month saw the release of Intel's own brand new mobile chip, the Core 2 Duo.

The new chip has the same dual-core architecture as its predecessor, but with several improvements. Core 2 Duo has made the move to 64-bit processing, so that when the 64-bit edition of Windows Vista becomes available, you'll be able to eke even more performance out of your PC. And with its continuing focus on making high performance processors with ever lower power consumption, Intel claims that its mobile CPUs offer 20% more performance than their Core Duo counterparts, while using the same amount of power. This should mean faster applications, with no reduction in battery life or increase in fan noise.

The power of 2

The AJP M575U-2 is among the first laptops we've seen with the new Intel CPU and despite opting for a relatively low-end processor, the results are impressive. The T5500 is the slowest of Intel's new range, with each core running at just 1.66GHz, yet in our 2D benchmarks, the AJP scored 122%. To put this into context and demonstrate just how good Core 2 Duo is, last month's Asus A6T, which used AMD's fastest available Turion 64 X2 processor, scored just 5% higher.

We were interested to see if battery life suffered at all, but the AJP lasted 2 hours and 3 minutes under light use, and 1 hour and 51 minutes in our DVD test. That's not great compared to some laptops we've seen, but for a 3.8kg laptop with a large 17in widescreen TFT, they aren't bad times.

AJP certainly hasn't skimped on the graphics chipset and the nVidia GeForce Go 7900 GTX will handle today's top 3D games with aplomb. It absolutely roasted our Call of Duty test with a scorching result of 144%. With this kind of power, you'll be able to run even demanding games at the screen's native resolution of 1920 x 1200 and the only compromise made for such gaming prowess is the soft whirr of its cooling fans.

Entertainment credentials

It's easy to wax lyrical about the fabulous components hidden inside the AJP's case and to forget to mention its sleek styling. The lid is smaller than the base, allowing a strip to protrude down the front edge. AJP has filled this with media playback controls and wireless, battery and progress indicators. It's a little annoying that your wrists sit on it when you type and it's a magnet for fingerprints, but it really adds to the style. There's also an extra On button here that allows you to access the DVD drive without booting up the system, effectively turning it into a low-power jukebox for your travels.

There are lots of other useful features too: the DVI port will get the best picture from external monitors; the 4-in-1 media card reader lets you transfer your pictures and AJP will add an optional hybrid TV-tuner for an extra £116. This is a good way to take advantage of the superb glossy screen, which although not quite bright enough at times, is clear and vibrant.

At £1,585 the AJP M575U-2 isn't cheap, but it's packed with some great components, which is reflected in its top-notch 2D and 3D benchmark scores, and it comes with a superb three-year warranty. Considering this is the entry-level mobile Core 2 Duo, the performance is phenomenal and on this evidence, AMD faces an uphill struggle.