Test Systems And Benchmarks
First, let’s talk about the games we’re testing: 15 games in total. Ten of them are contemporary, and the rest are older titles. We want to include some obsolete games that might not be cutting-edge anymore, but have a high replayability factor to offer someone whose system can’t handle the latest and greatest software. These titles represent a wide variety of genres: racing, flight, real-time strategy, role-playing games, and first-person shooters.
We compare the new Zotac Zbox AD03BR-PLUS to Jetway's Mini-TOP to judge how they perform in a number of gaming scenarios. Both machines are outfit with the same 5200 RPM 250 GB Samsung Spinpoint in order to keep hard drive performance out of the equation.
Both systems have 2 GB of RAM installed. While the Intel Atom D525/Nvidia Ion 2-equipped Mini-TOP uses older DDR2 RAM, it has the advantage of 512 MB of DDR3 exclusively dedicated to its graphics chipset, while the 2 GB of DDR3 in the AMD E-350/Radeon 6310-equipped Zbox has to share RAM between the system and graphics.
Here are the test-system particulars:
| Jetway Mini-TOP | Zotac ZBOX AD03BR-PLUS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Atom D525 1.8 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 1 MB L3 Cache | AMD E-350 1.6 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 1 MB L2 Cache | ||||
| Networking | Realtek RTL8111DL Gigabit Network Adapter (LAN) Atheros 802.11 b/g/n PCIe card (WiFi) | Realtek RTL8111DL Gigabit Network Adapter (LAN) Atheros AR9285 (WiFi) | ||||
| Memory | Hyundai PC2-6400 1 x 2048 MB, 332 MHz, CL 5-5-5-15-1T (single-channel) | Samsung PC3-10700 1 x 2048 MB, 1066 MHz, CL 9-9-9-24-1T (single-channel) | ||||
| Graphics | Nvidia Ion 2 (Integrated) | Radeon HD 6310 492 MHz (Integrated) | ||||
| Sound | Analog: C-Media CM108AH HDMI: Nvidia LPCM digital audio | Analog & Optical: Realtek ALC888 HDMI: AMD High Definition Audio Device | ||||
| Hard Drive | 250 GB Samsung Spinpoint 5400 250 GB, 5400 RPM, 8 MB cache, SATA 3Gb/s | 250 GB Samsung Spinpoint 5400 250 GB, 5400 RPM, 8 MB cache, SATA 3Gb/s | ||||
| Power | Channel Well Tech KPA-060F 12 V, 5 A, External AC adapter | Delta Electronics ADP-90CD 19 V, 4.74 A, External AC adapter | ||||
| Software and Drivers | ||||||
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit | |||||
| DirectX version | DirectX 11 | |||||
| Benchmark Configuration | |
|---|---|
| StarCraft 2 | Version: 2.1.2.2105, Low Settings, Medium Textures, Tom's Hardware Guide Benchmark v2 |
| H.A.W.X. 2 | DirectX 9, lowest Settings, in-game benchmark |
| F1 2010 | Version 1.1.1.129, DirectX 11, in-game benchmark Ultra-Low Detail Settings, 4x AA |
| Bulletstorm | Lowest Settings, Medium Textures, FRAPS benchmark tool |
| Aliens vs. Predator | Version 1.0.0.0, Aliens vs. Predator DirectX 11 benchmark Default Settings, No AA, 16x AF |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | Lowest settings, model/texture level to medium, multicore rendering enabled |
| Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Lowest Settings, Fraps benchmark tool |
| Just Cause 2 | Version 1.0.0.2, DirectX 10, Concrete Jungle Benchmark Lowest Details |
| Metro 2033 | Version 1.0.0.1, DirectX 11, benchmark tool, High Quality, Lowest Settings |
| Lord of the Rings Online | low settings, medium draw distance, medium animation smoothness, and distant impostors enabled. |
| Star Trek: Armada 2 | Highest Settings, Fraps benchmark tool |
| H.A.W.X. | DirectX 9, lowest Settings, in-game benchmark |
| Burnout Paradise | Lowest Settings, Fraps benchmark tool |
| Unreal Tournament 3 | Post processing: Vivid, texture detail 3, frame rate smoothing, dynamic lights, bloom and depth of field, distortion, tree leaves, and tree fronds enabled character model level of detail: Highest Effects level of detail: 1/3, in-game benchmark |
| Fallout 3 | Low Settings, Fraps benchmark tool |
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so the gpu's in modern consoles are around the same as the e-350? since these gpus are mainly cpu bound? Also should have put counterstrike fun and not demanding.
Can they make a video game that features a Monopolistic Chip Company who threatens and bribes computer manufacturers to be zombies?
Aamusing...
OOPS It's not "Aamusing"
It's Pointless To Compare Them...
Why are you guys not testing some good quality freeware first person shooters, that could run smoothly on those low end PCs? For example:
Urban Terror (my favorite one), Open Arena, Alien Arena? Or at least Quake live?
Cause it's ridiculous to test all those latest shooters on such low end machines...
I was just thinking about reinstalling either of the Star Trek: Armada titles now I've moved to Windows 7, just to see if it removes the stuttering I experienced in XP. Good to see one of those titles here.
Good review; was kinda wishing for the HL2:LC or some previous-gen UT titles though.
You could've tried overclocking them
But seriously, the ION seems to be bottlenecked by the cpu.
Low end graphics! How about testing them with popular MMOG for addicts that travel, but like the portability of netbooks!
Diablo 2? and Warcraft 3?
Thank you for including older titles in your comparison ! I hope you'll be able to include even more of them in any future tests to give each major game engine of the era a fair chance
so the gpu's in modern consoles are around the same as the e-350? since these gpus are mainly cpu bound? Also should have put counterstrike fun and not demanding.
PS3 has a kind of nVidia 5700, not sure how it compares/
Pretty soon I'll be running these on my phone outputting to the HDTV at 720p. The iPhone and Android game markets are gaining ground, and look good too.
PS3 actually has a NVidia 7900GT which has been adapted to communicate better with the CELL BE. This should be considerably better than the Ion and the E-350. The XBOX 360's GPU is faster than the PS3's also. Now both the Ion and the E-350 beat the crap out of the Wii however
"PS3 actually has a NVidia 7900GT which has been adapted to communicate better with the CELL BE. This should be considerably better than the Ion and the E-350. The XBOX 360's GPU is faster than the PS3's also. Now both the Ion and the E-350 beat the crap out of the Wii however"
The PS3 also uses 10-15x more power from the wall, in comparison. That is, the original PS3's I believe used around 300W, where one that a friend of mine purchased used 190(ish)W. Not to mention, thats just the system, not including "monitor" power.
Looks like my original post got hosed somehow, and if not, sorry in advance.
But to sum it up. Reviewer. You blew it. Where are the power consumption results ? Then, 3 readings wont cut it. 3 reading PER test, minimum. Since all games use different amounts of power. Depending on how hard they tax the hardware.
Also, these tests are not necessarily a waste of effort. The waste of effort, comes when purchasing such systems. Laptops, can be had cheaper, that use comparable power, while far outperforming, anything atom like in nature. Need something computer wise thats tiny, and lightweight ? Get a cell phone, or maybe a tablet. Something based on ARM technology.
What do you expect. Atom was designed with set top devices / cell phones in mind. Even in that capacity it fails as ARM is far superior to x86 where power efficiency is concerned.
The only good point, is that since Atom, and similar technology is x86 based, developers who are not familiar with various (non Microsoft ) software technologies, have something to use with windows embedded. Do not get me wrong, personally I would love to write software for windows embedded using the .NET framework. It is certainly awesome for R.A.D.( rapid application development ). But at what cost to me, and my consumers ? In the end, it is just not worth it, when the costs can be 10x as much to me, and my customers. So once again, atom (namely x86) falls short again.
Now, when will Intel, and AMD finally figure all this out I wonder.
Looooooove the new fusion tech. So much potential. screw bulldozer and ivy bridge.
Nvidia isn't making anymore chipsets for Intel; but we knew that. Are they getting love from nvidia for the GPU component for future atoms? I haven't heard anything in that regard.
The power consumption is on par with the atom/ion combo. Iirc it actually consumes a bit less power in general and significantly less power while in idle.
This is the perfect netbook solution for me and many others. can't wait to see the new llano's
Hmmm, it looks like the E350 could handle Guild Wars...
(and battery life would beat the snot out of 880G/HD4250)
AMD looked to be CPU limited in fallout 3 and the speed in which it fell away after 720p would suggest possibly a memory limit or GPU being maxed out. Im surprised the ion didn't display the same characteristics.
Looks like my original post got hosed somehow, and if not, sorry in advance.But to sum it up. Reviewer. You blew it. Where are the power consumption results ? Then, 3 readings wont cut it. 3 reading PER test, minimum. Since all games use different amounts of power. Depending on how hard they tax the hardware.Also, these tests are not necessarily a waste of effort. The waste of effort, comes when purchasing such systems. Laptops, can be had cheaper, that use comparable power, while far outperforming, anything atom like in nature. Need something computer wise thats tiny, and lightweight ? Get a cell phone, or maybe a tablet. Something based on ARM technology.What do you expect. Atom was designed with set top devices / cell phones in mind. Even in that capacity it fails as ARM is far superior to x86 where power efficiency is concerned. The only good point, is that since Atom, and similar technology is x86 based, developers who are not familiar with various (non Microsoft ) software technologies, have something to use with windows embedded. Do not get me wrong, personally I would love to write software for windows embedded using the .NET framework. It is certainly awesome for R.A.D.( rapid application development ). But at what cost to me, and my consumers ? In the end, it is just not worth it, when the costs can be 10x as much to me, and my customers. So once again, atom (namely x86) falls short again. Now, when will Intel, and AMD finally figure all this out I wonder.
If you're SUCH a visonary, why aren't you working for a huge company like Intel or AMD already? Atom and Brazon and fantastic for some needs, you cannot say that everyone's needs will be satisfied with the devices you suggest. Grow up a bit before starting to talk like that.
The XBOX 360's GPU is faster than the PS3's also. Now both the Ion and the E-350 beat the crap out of the Wii however
Source?