Intel Atom Dual Core capable of playing Counter Strike Source?

Mad Professor · 15 Feb 2011 at 19:21

Good day all.

I am looking to replace the computer in the front room with a low powered system, something like the Intel Atom Dual Core PCs.

This computer is mostly used for Internet, E-Mails, MSN, Facebook, ect.
The only real game that is ever played on it is Counter Strike Source.

Looking at the Counter Strike Source specs on steam gives me this.

Minimum: 1.7 GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, DirectX® 8.1 level Graphics Card (Requires support for SSE), Windows® 7 (32/64-bit)/Vista/XP/2000, Mouse, Keyboard, Internet Connection

Recommended: Pentium 4 processor (3.0GHz, or better), 1GB RAM, DirectX® 9 level Graphics Card, Windows® 7 (32/64-bit)/Vista/XP/2000, Mouse, Keyboard, Internet Connection

I am not looking for super high frame rate game play, but as long as it is playable.

I am not clued up at all with regards to the Intel Atom systems.

What do you think?

Thanks for your time.

Best Regards.

Mad Professor · 15 Feb 2011 at 21:27

The current system in the front room is a Dell Optiplex GX280, 1GB Memory, 80GB Seagate SATA HDD, GeForce Somthing.

And my current gaming system is a Intel Q6600, 2GB Memory, 500GB Seagate SATA HDD, GeForce 9600GSO.

I would be looking at one of the Intel Atom Dual Cores, with ION or ION2.

Just looking at Wiki regarding the ION and it looks to be based on a GeForce 9400M G GPU.

I would not be looking at running the game in any high resolution, 1024x768 max.

Mad Professor · 16 Feb 2011 at 07:26

Marvin: Just seen your edited post with the link to the AMD E-350 review.

I have not followed anything to do with AMD since 2004, as I converted to Intel.

But by the looks of it AMD are pulling out some grate little tricks.

Mad Professor · 19 Feb 2011 at 12:15

Well it looks like the more I read about the amd system the better it looks.
As you say it does indeed look like it would be better to go with the AMD system over the Intel one.
That MSI E350IA-E45 board has eveything I think I will need, all bar WiFi.
But I am sure that there are versions out there with built in WiFi, I just need to find them.
So I guess I better go hunting, lol.