Netbookist: Netbook Games, Tweaks, Challenges » hardware http://netbookist.com Netbook Games, Tweaks, Challenges Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:15:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.8.1 Skyrim on a netbook Part II: Removing textures, moving save games. http://netbookist.com/blog/2012/01/30/skyrim-on-a-netbook-part-ii-removing-textures-moving-save-games/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=skyrim-on-a-netbook-part-ii-removing-textures-moving-save-games http://netbookist.com/blog/2012/01/30/skyrim-on-a-netbook-part-ii-removing-textures-moving-save-games/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:48:29 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1406 Note: this applies to netbooks with a Nvidia ION/ATI Radeon discrete graphics. No luck here, Intel Integrated Graphics…

In the first Skyrim on a netbook post, I mentioned how the game is barely playable on a netbook even after all the tweaking. Well, apparently, that’s not the end of the [...]]]>

Are you willing to give it all up to play Skyrim on a netbook?

Note: this applies to netbooks with a Nvidia ION/ATI Radeon discrete graphics. No luck here, Intel Integrated Graphics…

In the first Skyrim on a netbook post, I mentioned how the game is barely playable on a netbook even after all the tweaking. Well, apparently, that’s not the end of the modding that would allow us to play Skyrim on a netbook.

This ain't no kids' game despite how cute that guard you're killing looks.

A commenter on the original post, LARZ, mentioned that it is possible to actually further mod Skyrim such that you can further reduce graphics quality beyond what is possible through the menus. In fact, in order to totally remove the textures from the game, you’ll have to go down and dirty. However, the corollary is that Skyrim is much more playable, at a high cost of losing a lot of graphics eye candy. By doing this, my FPS almost doubled – and doubling means going from a poor single-digit FPS to at least 15fps.

However, in my experience, even though it might seem that you have eased the load on the graphics processor by a lot, it turns out that I am still forced to play the game at the lowest res – 800×450 windowed, lowest draw distance, no special effects and low graphics quality.

HOW?

For people with ION cards, the hack is moderately easy, follow these steps:

1. Go to your Nvidia Control Panel
2. Click Manage 3D Settings on the left
3. Click the “Program Settings” tab, then add the path to your TESV.exe file, if it’s not already there. Make sure you don’t confuse the launcher “skyrimlauncher.exe” with the game TESV.exe as both use the same icons.
4. Click Apply.
5. Download the GeForce SLI Profile Editor here
6. Run it, click Export SLI profiles, save the text file on your desktop. You should get a file called “Nvidia Profiles.txt”
7. Make a backup of this file by copying and pasting it somewhere, in case you want to revert to texturized skyrim.
8. Open the text file in Notepad, do a search for “skyrim”. If there are two entries, search for the one where there is a line “ProfileType Application“. Now, you need to add the line Setting ID_0x00738e8f = 0×00000050 UserSpecified=true. Write it somewhere after the last Setting, but before EndProfile.

Note: if you see this line: Setting ID_0x00738e8f = 0×00000000 UserSpecified=true, delete it and replace it with the line above.

10. Import the text file you saved with the GeForce SLI Profile Editor

After this, your FPS should go up significantly, as long as you keep your graphics on lowest, the game should be playable, or at least, a bit better than it used to be. Unfortunately, we’re still on the edge when it comes to playing games such as Skyrim on a $300 device that was never meant to play it.

Lego Skyrim. Trololol.

If you happen to be one of the lucky/smart/prudent guys who got a AMD C/E-series netbook, and if the Radeons in it don’t have enough beef to play Skyrim, a YouTube video from AtomicGamer has these instructions for you in order to get rid of the textures.

1. Download and install ATI Tray Tools from http://www.guru3d.com/article/ati-tray-tools-/
2. Right click on ATI Tray Tools
3. Go to 3D, then to 3D Settings
4. Find the tab called Additional
5. Change “Texture LOD adjustment” to 10 and apply
6. Skyrim in 1995 mode!
7. To change it back, just change the same setting in ATI Tray Tools back to 0.

Where are the Save Games?

I would assume you play Skyrim on a more beefy computer, like I do, and only bother with Skyrim on your netbook when you are on-the-go, or when you accidentally destroy your laptop in rage (as I did… shhhh). In that case, you can transfer your save games to and fro each computer. The location of the save games are:

C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\My Games\Skyrim\Saves

Perhaps you could set up a sync so that your saves are placed in the cloud and you won’t need to do it manually. I generally use Sugarsync to do this. AWWWW YEAAA.

EDIT: Optimus Issues

I noticed a little problem with this game on my 1015PN, and I’d like to poll users if you experience the same problems. Here’s the deal: when I run the game in Optimus mode, while my game runs, it will not have the same frames per second as it would if I ran it in Nvidia ION-only mode. The game is pretty unplayable in Optimus, but runs a lot better in ION-only mode. Something to note if you have the same system as I do.

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2012/01/30/skyrim-on-a-netbook-part-ii-removing-textures-moving-save-games/feed/ 3 TreeSize Free: running out of hard drive space? http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/12/25/treesize-free-running-out-of-hard-drive-space/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=treesize-free-running-out-of-hard-drive-space http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/12/25/treesize-free-running-out-of-hard-drive-space/#comments Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:10:06 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1355 Netbooks are not known to have massive hard drives that you’ll automatically get when you buy a full-sized computer. No doubt, one of the biggest reasons for this is probably because when you buy a netbook, you’re buying something which is supposed to be as cheap as possible. My theory is that they use parts [...]]]>

123Gb taken by Users. What a revelation!

Netbooks are not known to have massive hard drives that you’ll automatically get when you buy a full-sized computer. No doubt, one of the biggest reasons for this is probably because when you buy a netbook, you’re buying something which is supposed to be as cheap as possible. My theory is that they use parts that can no longer go into their main-tier laptops, which is why most netbooks come with 1Gb RAM and lesser-than-standard hard drive sizes.

Now, that’s not exactly the point of this article. The problem with small hard drives are that sometimes we go on an installation rampage, such as what I did when I installed Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops. A complete waste of space, since these games are pretty much unplayable. However, the problem with some games are that they hide themselves well within some nook and cranny of your hard drive which is not immediately apparent to the default Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. You might have to open up Steam to realize how much space is being wasted on games that you cannot play.

Enter TreeSize Free. TreeSize Free is a free program that does a simple job very elegantly. By using bar graphs, it shows you how much space a certain folder is taking up, such that you will be able to determine what’s taking up space and it allows you to determine potential space-wasting software, unnecessary downloads and torrents that should be moved to an external hard drive.

TreeSize Free can be downloaded from here.

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/12/25/treesize-free-running-out-of-hard-drive-space/feed/ 0 Wind Infinite Laptop Plan with Windspeed Data Stick E1691 http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/10/18/wind-infinite-laptop-plan-with-windspeed-data-stick-e1691/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wind-infinite-laptop-plan-with-windspeed-data-stick-e1691 http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/10/18/wind-infinite-laptop-plan-with-windspeed-data-stick-e1691/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:29:24 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1285 If you’re like me, and have moved to Canada for a long stint, and need your own private internet connection, then you might want to consider Wind Mobile’s Infinite Laptop Plan, going for around $29 a month and “promising” speeds of 7.2Mbps on the Huawei-made E1691 data stick, and even more on the 4G-capable stick. [...]]]>

Rollercoaster graphs reflect unreliability

If you’re like me, and have moved to Canada for a long stint, and need your own private internet connection, then you might want to consider Wind Mobile’s Infinite Laptop Plan, going for around $29 a month and “promising” speeds of 7.2Mbps on the Huawei-made E1691 data stick, and even more on the 4G-capable stick. Of course, if the price difference is $70 (E1691 at $29, E366 at $99), then it would make more sense for you to try the cheap way out first – since reception can vary in different areas.

As it is right now, Wind has provided highly satisfactory service. If you searched the web, you’ll see various claims such as,

  • Throttling after 5Gb
  • Frequent drops (defined as moments of no internet access)
  • Higher speed than Mobilicity

I cannot confirm the last two points as I have only been on Wind for a few weeks but what I can say is that while throttling might be happening to me, it has not been as obvious as some have claimed it to be – 256kbps up/down. So far, I have downloaded around 10Gbs of data – including a game off Origin and I am still getting 250Kb/s download speed. Others claim that Wind might throttle depending on how hard the cell tower is worked – guess it’s a good thing of living far away from the crowds, while still being near a Wind cell tower.

Some tips that I would share is that you’ll get higher reliability if you attempt to get 5-bars worth of signal quality. This can be achieved by using an extension USB cable and leaving the modem out of your room. Wrap it in a plastic bag if you are afraid of rain. Also, forget the $129 hotspot that Wind sells – you don’t have to spend extra money to buy a router that can share your connection at home - just follow this guide.

One month’s of experience has shown that the connection varies from time to time, however, it seems to have degraded over the course of the month – perhaps that is throttling in action? Either way, towards the end of the month, I have not been able to get 300kb/s download rate, and I have gotten a few (less than 10) 10-minute drops which are times where the modem cannot connect to the internet. This is highly frustrating, especially since it spoils your momentum when doing work. The connection is terrible when it rains. I would say uptime is 90% of the time, though I would expect 99%.

However, I wouldn’t stress too much about it because the Huawei modem can be easily unlocked. At this website, you simply need to enter your device’s serial/data and it will spit out an unlock code. This unlock code will be needed when you are using another SIM card that is not from Wind. The next best alternative is, without doubt, Mobilicity.

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/10/18/wind-infinite-laptop-plan-with-windspeed-data-stick-e1691/feed/ 0 Netbook processor performance, an overview http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/23/netbook-processor-performance-an-overview/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=netbook-processor-performance-an-overview http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/23/netbook-processor-performance-an-overview/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:52:01 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1276 In the realm of netbook processors, the more GHz does not imply more power. Just think of it this way: a dual-core AMD E-350 running at 1.6GHz can beat the top-of-the-line (as of now) Intel Atom N570, which is also dual-core, and on the surface, faster than the E-350 because of an extra 0.06GHz. Not [...]]]>

Fusion: the anathema of an Atom

In the realm of netbook processors, the more GHz does not imply more power. Just think of it this way: a dual-core AMD E-350 running at 1.6GHz can beat the top-of-the-line (as of now) Intel Atom N570, which is also dual-core, and on the surface, faster than the E-350 because of an extra 0.06GHz. Not at all – in fact, the performance of the E-350 outstrips the N570 by a long shot.

Below will list various processors and their processing power. The following list ranks from the most powerful to the weakest,

  1. AMD E-series processors (dual-core)
  2. AMD C-series processors (dual-core)
  3. Intel Dxx processors (dual-core)
  4. Intel N5xx processors (dual-core)
  5. Intel N4xx processors (except N-435)
  6. Intel N2xx processors
  7. Intel N435 processor
However, the major difference between the Atoms and the AMD processors is that the latter has discrete graphics by default. All AMD processors come with a HD-capable Radeon graphics processor, which guarantees you smoothness when playing HD-videos on a 1920×1080 external monitor.
On the other hand, Intel N-series processors, for now, are still plagued with the extremely weak Intel GMA integrated graphics which is pretty decent for sub-HD videos, but once you try 720p and above, it is tested to its limit. While the N570 can render 720p quite well, the single-core N4xx or N2xx struggle to play HD movies well.
If you want powerful graphics while on a N-series processor, you’ll need to get a netbook with Nvidia ION on it. Nvidia ION is a discrete graphics processor supplanted on the integrated Intel GMA which will allow you to switch between power-saving internal graphics and the 1080p-capable Nvidia ION. Do note that Nvidia ION 2 has an eight-core version that comes in netbooks while 16-core versions are only available on nettops or other, larger (generally =>11.6″) netbooks.
The best processors are generally the E-series netbook, which generally are borderline notebooks. In fact, in North America, certain manufacturers make full-size notebooks with these processors which you can get for around $350. The latest AMD E-450 promises to be better and still be energy efficient while being capable of playing hardcore games such as Battlefield Bad Company 2 on low settings.
Battery life is generally best on the Atom.
]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/23/netbook-processor-performance-an-overview/feed/ 1 FREE: Share internet over WiFi; make your computer a wireless access point http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/23/free-share-internet-over-wifi-make-your-computer-a-wireless-access-point/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-share-internet-over-wifi-make-your-computer-a-wireless-access-point http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/23/free-share-internet-over-wifi-make-your-computer-a-wireless-access-point/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 17:05:26 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1280 In the past, if you wanted to connect computer-to-computer for internet sharing purposes, you could use Windows’ Internet Connection Sharing, which would create an adhoc connection between two computers. However, adhoc connections do have limitations – chief of which, certain devices cannot connect to it, and adhoc connections limit the number of connections you can [...]]]> In the past, if you wanted to connect computer-to-computer for internet sharing purposes, you could use Windows’ Internet Connection Sharing, which would create an adhoc connection between two computers. However, adhoc connections do have limitations – chief of which, certain devices cannot connect to it, and adhoc connections limit the number of connections you can have to a single computer.

Recently, I have gotten a new internet connection – a wireless, 3G-based data stick that cost me $29/month and promises HSPDA speeds of up to 7.2Mbps… in ideal conditions. However, one critical issue is that I couldn’t share the connection unless I bought a wireless router that supported USB devices. Being the poor back-to-university student that I am, I decided to stinge and save. But this is Netbookist.com, and all I can say is challenge accepted!

This tip will come in really handy if you have a new printer that has WiFi as one of its connection options and doesn’t come with a USB cable as standard, or if you are finding a frugal method to share the internet with other devices, or have a LAN party without a router.

In order to create a wireless access point using your computer, you need these programs:

Congratulations. Your $300 netbook is now a wireless access point.

Connectify

Once you have Connectify, install it and follow the instructions. Most likely, you will have to manually select the connection you want to use under Internet as the Lite version does not support automatic selection of the connection. Otherwise, the Lite version works very well – just make sure that your wireless adapter doesn’t try to connect automatically to other networks while Connectify is enabled as it will cause you to lose your connection with other devices.

Once this is done, you need to configure your other devices to access this network, and then, you’re done!

Also, if you’ve noticed, I’m on Wind Mobile, here in Canada. It’s a new telecommunications provider, which also has an awesome data plan for $29/month. In total, I paid $66 (including taxes) for the data stick and one month’s connection. So far, it has been moderately reliable – works most of the time and speeds are acceptable.

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/23/free-share-internet-over-wifi-make-your-computer-a-wireless-access-point/feed/ 1 Netbook-tablet and Acer’s Ultrabooks: bling on the horizon http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/01/netbook-tablet-and-acers-ultrabooks-bling-on-the-horizon/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=netbook-tablet-and-acers-ultrabooks-bling-on-the-horizon http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/01/netbook-tablet-and-acers-ultrabooks-bling-on-the-horizon/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:45:00 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1271 Liliputing reports that there will be two new systems that will be released this year.

Acer’s Ultrabook

Acer will release at least two Ultrabooks this year, going by the name Ultrabook S3 for the 13″ version and a 11″ version as part of its Aspire S series.

The Acer Ultrabook S3 will come [...]]]> Liliputing reports that there will be two new systems that will be released this year.

Acer’s Ultrabook

Acer will release at least two Ultrabooks this year, going by the name Ultrabook S3 for the 13″ version and a 11″ version as part of its Aspire S series.

The Acer Ultrabook S3 will come with these specs:

  • 13.3 inch display
  • Intel Core i5-2467M processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • 320GB hard drive
  • 20GB SSD
  • 13mm (0.5 inches) thick
  • € 786.19 price tag

Liliputing states that while prices will be US$1134, but he expects that the prices will fall once it moves stateside.

An Ultrabook is a ultra-thin, ultra-portable and ultra-light notebook that aims to be, at the same, time, powerful and costing less than $1,000. So far, the two main proponents of Ultrabooks, Acer and Asus are making headway to achieving that $1,000 price point without compromising on performance. However, I suspect that if prices are above $999, manufacturers might have a problem. The Macbook Air is still the king of the hill in the Ultrabook arena, not less because it is an Apple product.

 

Netbook-Tablet from Netbook Navigator

Netbook Navigator is producing a new slate PC capable of running Windows called the Nav 10i. It will pose as a serious competitor to the other netbook-tablet from Acer, the Iconia W500. The Nav 10i will have the following specs:

• 10.1″ Multi-Touch Capacitive LCD Display
• 16GB SSD
• 1GB DDR2 RAM
• Intel 1.66GHz ATOM N455 Proceesor
• Front-side 1.3MegaPixel Webcam
• Integrated WIFI, Bluetooth and optional 3G*
• 2 USB Ports, 1 MicroSD, 1 MiniHDMI Slot, and more

Interestingly, for the $549 you pay, you’ll get a blank slate. The Nav 10i will not come with a Windows 7 operating system nor will it come with a wireless keyboard.

I was at the store and I saw a Iconia W500 going for around $599. It seemed to be a better choice because, even if it were a blank slate (i.e. no OS, nor keyboard), it would be a better performing netbook-tablet by simple virtue of it having a AMD C-50 processor, and discrete graphics.

Source: Liliputing

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/09/01/netbook-tablet-and-acers-ultrabooks-bling-on-the-horizon/feed/ 0 Netbooks dying? Not in the Hong Kong International Airport http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/30/netbooks-dying-not-in-the-hong-kong-international-airport/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=netbooks-dying-not-in-the-hong-kong-international-airport http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/30/netbooks-dying-not-in-the-hong-kong-international-airport/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:29:27 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1262 There has been some talk that netbooks are going to die. I’m not too sure about that because I am happily using a netbook and I have no intention of changing my de facto travel computer. It seems to be true in the dining area in the Hong Kong airport.

Walking around, not everyone has a [...]]]>

Let's see... how many netbooks do I see here?

There has been some talk that netbooks are going to die. I’m not too sure about that because I am happily using a netbook and I have no intention of changing my de facto travel computer. It seems to be true in the dining area in the Hong Kong airport.

Walking around, not everyone has a computer with them, but when I do see a computer, it will, in order of popularity be: a tablet, a netbook, a regular-sized notebook, a Mac, a large 15″+ notebook.

Nom and watch a video

What I noticed was really writing on the wall. Tablets are really outstripping the netbook as the travel… entertainment device? One thing that is certain is that I won’t trade the convenience of a netbook for the portability and ease of use of a tablet, but it seems that for casual surfing and time-wasting on long transits to somewhere, people really love their tablets. For every netbook I see out there, there’s probably 2.5-times the amount of tablets out there. And when I talk about tablets, I refer solely to the iPad. Not one Android tablet was seen, even though you can legally buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab here.

On the other hand, the margin between regular-sized notebooks and netbooks is one that is a close match. I’d say it’s near 1:1 ratio. However, netbooks really are used by people here – I saw Samsungs, Acers, the HP Mini 110 (that I had and broke), and a Reddit Alien-branded… oh wait, that’s my Asus. Everything that people on tablets are doing, people who have netbooks are doing too. They’re time-wasting on Youtube, entertaining themselves on Farmville, or WordPressing this article out while looking at a Hong Kong girl with a University of Toronto shirt.

Om nom nom and read email

Another notable thing is the users of Macs. I saw an Asian girl who had an American accent with her MacBook Air as she was sending her luggage through the X-Ray, as well as a middle-aged, Australian-accented, Susan Boyle-lookalike that is on the standard size Macbook. Don’t know much about Macs, but are Macs a feminine thing?

Over time, I realised that netbooks are particularly useful for backpacking travellers, or even travellers in general, as netbooks offer computers that are fully functional, albeit a bit slower than normal laptops, but they are really extremely portable, extremely cheap and quite light. When baggage space is a luxury and weight is costly, netbooks make a lot of sense. Whether netbooks will die or not, I’m not sure, but as far as I understand, the death of netbooks have always been predicated on technological grounds, and that’s just not relevant for people travelling.

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/30/netbooks-dying-not-in-the-hong-kong-international-airport/feed/ 2 ASUS to launch $899 Ultrabook; up to 6 models in the pipeline http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/30/asus-to-launch-899-ultrabook-up-to-6-models-in-the-pipeline/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=asus-to-launch-899-ultrabook-up-to-6-models-in-the-pipeline http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/30/asus-to-launch-899-ultrabook-up-to-6-models-in-the-pipeline/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:47:13 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1258 Asus reports that it will be launching five to six Ultrabooks in October in New York, when it will display its full range of Ultrabooks that will be priced from $899 – $1,999. The Ultrabooks will have screen sizes of 11.6″ to 13.3″ and will be ultra-thin and ultra-portable. Publicly-known models are the 11.6″ UX21 [...]]]>

Up to 6 of these will be coming out in October

Asus reports that it will be launching five to six Ultrabooks in October in New York, when it will display its full range of Ultrabooks that will be priced from $899 – $1,999. The Ultrabooks will have screen sizes of 11.6″ to 13.3″ and will be ultra-thin and ultra-portable. Publicly-known models are the 11.6″ UX21 which was displayed at Computex 2011 and the UX31, which will be the 13.3″ model. It’s unfortunate that I find the Asus logo so ugly.

While Intel has envisioned that an Ultrabook should be powerful and ultraportable, they have also demanded that the Ultrabook be under a thousand dollars, which was rather impossible up until now. The first few prototypes by Acer and Asus both had mid-$1,000 price tags. However, Intel has been willing to help manufacturers to design Ultrabooks that are below $1,000, and also have invested money via they investment corporation to find innovative technology and cost-efficient methods of productions.

However, the Ultrabook has its critics. To me, an ultrabook is a very expensive laptop, and unless it were as slick and ‘cool’ as the MacBook Air, I don’t really see too much point to buying one, especially if I had to pay a premium and not get a significant performance bump. On the other hand, manufacturers have also been wary of the Ultrabook. While HP was supposed to unveil an Ultrabook, it decided to pull out of the PC market completely. The only people left in the market is Asus and Acer, and their move will be closely watched by their competitors

Source: Digitimes

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/30/asus-to-launch-899-ultrabook-up-to-6-models-in-the-pipeline/feed/ 0 E-450, Atom N2800, N570 benchmarked. http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/25/e-450-atom-n2800-n570-benchmarked/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=e-450-atom-n2800-n570-benchmarked http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/25/e-450-atom-n2800-n570-benchmarked/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:20:57 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1207 The latest benchmark shows what’s to come in the future. Both the Atom and Fusion line are being upgraded and just like all upgrades, both will feature improvements in processing power

AMD’s next-gen Fusion line will feature the C-60, E-300 and E-450 processors while the [...]]]> The latest benchmark shows what’s to come in the future. Both the Atom and Fusion line are being upgraded and just like all upgrades, both will feature improvements in processing power

AMD’s next-gen Fusion line will feature the C-60, E-300 and E-450 processors while the next line of Atoms will be codenamed Cedar Trail, with the fastest of them being the N2800, clocking in speeds of 1.86GHz, dual-core, 1MB cache, hyperthreading and with a better graphics chip that is now DirectX 10.1 compatible and HD-output ready – a critical difference if you compared today’s Pine Trail Atoms to the upcoming Cedar Trail Atoms.

According to Blogeee.com, they made three benchmarks as follows,

Test results

For a person seeking performance, the answer is clear. AMD still triumphs as the king of the netbook processors, although its most likely that the E-450 chip will end up in larger netbooks (11″ and above), as per historical trends. It is unfortunate that the C-60 chip was not benchmarked, as this chip will likely be the one which ends up in smaller netbooks.

One critical flaw with the Atoms is that they cannot match up with AMD’s chips in terms of performance. While the N2800 might put up a good fight with the C-50/C-60, it still lacks the graphics processing power that all AMD chips have, and the only way to beef up the graphics processing power of an Intel chip is to buy one with ION in it. That said, ION 3 is in the works and might prove to be something even more powerful.

The key attraction to having an Atom processor has to lie in the fact that you can get extremely long battery life. With a TDP of 6.5W, it promises to be one of the most energy efficient processors out there, as compared to the 9.0W C-50/C-60s or the 18W E-350/E-450.

]]> http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/25/e-450-atom-n2800-n570-benchmarked/feed/ 1 AMD officially launches C-60, E-300 and E-450 chips, take heed! http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/22/amd-officially-launches-c-60-e-300-and-e-450-chips-take-heed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=amd-officially-launches-c-60-e-300-and-e-450-chips-take-heed http://netbookist.com/blog/2011/08/22/amd-officially-launches-c-60-e-300-and-e-450-chips-take-heed/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:05:11 +0000 http://netbookist.com/?p=1155 If you didn’t know already, the Dell Inspiron m102z is the first netbook to have the newest Fusion chips by AMD, but only today did AMD officially launch the new C-60, E-300 and E-450 chips, all designed to be the highest-end netbook [...]]]>

Fusion: the anathema of an Atom

If you didn’t know already, the Dell Inspiron m102z is the first netbook to have the newest Fusion chips by AMD, but only today did AMD officially launch the new C-60, E-300 and E-450 chips, all designed to be the highest-end netbook chips.

These high-performance chips will all be dual-core and have a discrete graphics processor from the Radeon family. It promises enhanced performance and better battery life when compared to the older generation.

According to Liliputing, the specs of each chip is as such,

AMD C-60

  • Clock speed: 1 Ghz to 1.33 GHz
  • GPU clock speed: 276 MHz to 400 MHz
  • TDP: 9W

AMD E-300

  • Clock Speed: 1.3 GHz
  • GPU clock speed: 488 MHz
  • TDP: 18W

AMD E-450

  • Clock Speed: 1.65 GHz
  • GPU clock speed: 508 MHz to 600 MHz
  • TDP: 18W
The chief benefit of getting a later-gen C-class or E-class AMD CPU lies in having more power, Turbo Core, DirectX 11 support and a bit more processing power while retaining the same TDP. AMD promises greater battery life and guarantees that this is a good choice for people seeking mobility as the E-series will give a user up to 10.5-hours of unplugged rest-state battery life, while the C-60 will provide up to 12-hours of unplugged rest-state battery life.
 In addition, the update will provide certain new advances such as the ability to use DDR3 1333 RAM, as well as an updated HDMI 1.4a output on the E-series. DisplayPort is also something new that will be supported by the new Fusion chips.
Thinking about AMD and the netbook category of portable computers reminds me of the days when AMD used to dominate the desktop market. Indeed, that was a time when Intel was not favoured by gamers. To be exact, I would point to the year when AMD decided to leave the “more megahertz” race. Back then, if you were a serious gamer, you would have an AMD. What is happening here is exactly reminiscent of the days when AMD was dominating high-performance computers, only this time, it applies to netbooks. Perhaps this is because Intel is pursuing an alternative strategy, after all, a netbook sells well because it is cheap, but for anyone who requires HD-capability and moderate gaming abilities on a netbook, the way to go is the AMD way.
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