Atom 330 Dual Core capabilities?

pointy shadow

pointy shadow

pointy shadow

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Hi, thinking of getting an atom PC off a well known auction site and I have a couple of quick questions about the capabilities of the Atom 330 Dual Core chip.

1 - Would the processing power of the chip hinder network performance? I.E. would I be able to download at full pelt on the Virgin 20mb service? The system will have 2gb of ram.

2 - Would it be any use repairing and extracting rar files with the Atom chip or would I be better off doing this on my main rig and just use the Atom for downloading only?

3 - Will it be able to run XP SP3, NOD32 and Newsleecher without any problems?

4 - Slightly off topic but why doesnt OCUK sell Atom barebones systems?

Thanks for any help offered :)
 
Running an Atom 330 on XP SP3 with no problems. Should also be fine on your 20mb service too - seems very snappy with my Orange 8mb service as well as the internal network i have.

As for the repairing and extracting RAR's i'd try it but would probably advise you to use your main rig - atoms aren't massively powerful compared to C2D's... i'd class them as closer to A64's.

gt
 
the atom 330 looks great but i wish they didnt have to cripple it with an old chipset. when they bring the chipset in to line it will be a phenominal bit of kit. Right now its great value but something seems wrong about using a chipset that needs a fan when the cpu doesnt lol.
 
james.miller said:
Right now its great value but something seems wrong about using a chipset that needs a fan when the cpu doesnt lol.
Click to expand...
Ha ha! :D

I thought that too - pity since 'like you say' it uses such an old chipset.

Compared to via, intel laptop CPU compatible systems and amd solutions it's very affordable - that was ulltmately why i chose it. For the cost it's a very effactive bit of hardware.

Pretty much depends what you're gonna use it for. As a download machine or something that you use very simply (office, web browsing) it'll be perfect.

gt
 
ive been eyeing up the intel board for a while - i have a nas enclosure thats honestly completely useless and was looking for something small and pokey to replace that with the ability to do other tasks with it. it would work fine as it is, but i know they can half that power draw again if they moved to another chipset along with being able to do a lot more with it.

but yes, even as it is now, its great value really! but now imaging if they paired the 330 with something like a HD decoding onboard gpu...7.1 LPCM output over hdmi...50w power draw..... wouldn't that be nice ;)
 
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That would be awesome. The intel X4500HD chipset that i have in my HTPC is simply breathtaking. I'd imagine the Atom would be running at a higher percentage usage than the e7200 i use but the fact it would then be able to do 1080p would be worth it. Added to the fact the Atom 330 only draws an extra 4w between idle and load it would hardly matter anyway! :eek:

I agree - a sub 50w hi def HTPC would be great. :D

As it is i've got my fly creek + e7200 down to under 65w while playing hi def which will be fine for the time being.

gt
 
it can be done, thats for sure. my laptop will play a bluray pulling uder 40w with the lid down, so its only a matter of them pairing up the right hardware:) all that power in box the size of a few dvd cases lol.
 
1. Yes
2. Probably best to use your main rig
3. Yes
4. erm..pass

I have an Atom 330 system running windows home server, it works fine and will transfer files as fast as my network will go (just 100mbps until I get a gigabit switch). The netbooks with single cores cope with running XP so I'd guess that the dual will have no problems. As for manipulating rar files it'll do it but just not that fast, if you want it done in a hurry you're best off using your main rig.
 
Thanks for all your replies guys. :)

I think I will just use it for downloading and I will do the repairing/extracting of rar archives on my main rig after listening to your answers.
 
I just built one of these for my MD's boat. Intel board/dual core atom 330, 2gb, 60gb OCZ Core V2 SSD. Its superb. Plays divx, dvds, runs vista and office 2007 with no probs at all.
 
I've been using Atom 230's for some time now. I can easily saturate a Gibabit ethernet with it. (I use the Jetway board with Gigabit).
The CPU is surprisingly good, I use a 64 bits kernel on a 32 bits debian, and it's a lot snappier than I expected.

The fan on the chipset is silly, however it is possible to install a low-rpm 80mm fan over the board (chipset, cpu etc) and run it at about 900rpm to keep everything way cool, and whisper quiet.
 
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