Congo is an improved version of AMD's Yukon mobile platform, but unlike Yukon which is single-core, Congo will feature dual-core Coneseus CPUs. Thus far, only HP has used the Yukon platform, in its Pavilion DV2 notebook which launched a month ago.

Some folks are touting AMD’s Neo platform as a competitor to Intel’s Atom. I personally think they’re off base a little. With the ATI graphics in the dv2, the overall platform is generally more potent and responsive than in the Atom-based netbooks I’ve owned. Running Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP-1, the basic environment runs very snappy. The CPU cycles between 800MHz and 1.6GHz as needed, which offers power when required. The platform also supports up to 4GB of RAM, while the Atom tops out at 2GB. I wouldn’t call this device a netbook either, and not just because of the starting price of $749. There’s far more power here than in today’s netbooks; you’ll pay for it in the price and also in the battery life. HP even brands it as an HP Pavilion Entertainment PC. That’s no netbook.

The DV2 represents AMD first major set into the mobile space and it is as much a proof of concept as a new offering. They believe that the market can be better served by an inexpensive platform that better serves the graphics needs better then Intel does. You'll see AMD build on the foundation they have created with this bundle of GPU and CPU with future products that increasingly benefit from the work they are doing to improve the optimization between both parts. So this is designed to showcase that AMD can play in this space but, like all first attempts, expect strong improvement with future offerings. Think of this as one of an increasing number of products that will allow us to see the new AMD and what they are capable of.

In terms of design and performance, the HP Pavilion dv2-1030us represents a step up from most netbooks. Also, the LED display is sharp and the notebook handles high-definition content well both on the screen itself and when output via HDMI. You can even play some 3D games at a decent clip. However, while we can live with the somewhat cramped keyboard and above-average heat, the dv2’s short battery life will be a deal breaker for many potential buyers. Although it’s not nearly as stylish as the dv2 and its graphics performance isn’t as strong, some may prefer the Samsung NC20. That lighter 12.1-inch notebook lasts about 5 hours on a charge, offers a more comfortable keyboard, and costs only $549. Nevertheless, the dv2 is a well-performing ultraportable at a relatively affordable price of $749.

Processor & Cache AMD Turion™ X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor
Operating System Windows Vista® Home Premium
Chipsets AMD RX781+SB700
System Memory 2GB DDR2 667/800 up to 4GB
LCD Display 17" /WUXGA ACV(Amazing Crystal Vision) Display
Graphics & Video Module ATi Mobility Radeon HD4670 (Built-in DDR3 512MB)
Audio HD Audio, 4 Speakers + 1 Sub Woofer
HDD 160GB/250GB/320GB/ 500GB SATA
Optical Drive DVD Super Multi/ Blu-ray
Webcam 2.0M
Card Reader 4-in-1 Card Reader, SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro
Communication Port Built-in Gigabit Ethernet LAN and Modem Module
Built-in 802.11b/g/n WLAN Card / Bluetooth V2.0+EDR(Bluetooth is optional)
I/O Port Graphics Card Output (15-pin, D-Sub) X 1
USB2.0 Port X 3
Mic-in Port X 1
Headphone Output X 1
Modem Port X 1
LAN Port X 1
PCI Express Card X 1
eSATA (USB Combo) X 1
HDMI X 1
AC Adaptor 120W
Battery Pack & Life 6/9 cells
Dimension & Weight 395(L) X 278(D) X 26.5~35(H)mm
3.2KG