It's been a long time since we've previewed a VIA chipset. And yet, here we are with an S3-based DX10 GPU that VIA claims is ready for gaming. How does the VN1000 compare to Intel's Atom and Nvidia's ION? Is it strong enough to ward off Core i3?
Test Settings
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Test System Configuration
Via Nano DC CPU
VIA Nano DC Dual Core 1.80 GHz, QDR-800 FSB, 2 x 1 MB L2 Cache
Via Nano DC Motherboard
VIA VT8591B, DDR3-800/1066/1333 VN1000 Northbridge, VT8261 Southbridge, BIOS 080014 (8-27-2010)
Via Nano Graphics
Integrated S3 Chrome 520 IGP, 512 MB System RAM Driver Version 8.16.12.0019
ION 2 CPU
Intel Atom D525 Dual Core with Hyper-Threading 1.80 GHz, QDR-800 FSB, 2 x 512 KB L2 Cache
4 GB (2 x 2 GB) Crucial DDR3-1333 at DDR3-1333 CAS 7-7-7-20, (Ion at DDR3-1066 CAS 6-6-6-12)
DDR2 SDRAM
4 GB (2 x 2 GB) Crucial DDR2-800 at CAS 4-4-4-9
Software
OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
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As with Nvidia’s competing parts, VIA’s latest integrated GPU is designed only to support entry-level gaming. Yet there are few “World of Warcraft” addicts among our staff, and we’ve never found a good way to benchmark that game. Instead, we simply cranked the detail levels of our popular 3D titles down to the minimum settings, with the exception of DX10, which we left enabled.
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Benchmark Configuration
3D Games
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Campaign, Act III, Second Sun (45 sec. FRAPS) Lowest DX10 Settings (No AA)