Netbook platforms: VIA Nano v. Intel Atom
Published: 10 Feb 2009
Power consumption
Next to performance, the issue that most preoccupies netbook manufacturers is power consumption. For power economy, Intel's Atom has a clear advantage. The 1.8GHz VIA Nano needs a hefty 20W more under full load than the Atom. Here, the Atom's 45nm feature size pays off. But VIA can compete in this area with its power-efficient 1.3GHz variant, which is used in Samsung's new NC20 netbook. Despite this chip's lower clock speed, it should still be able to beat the higher-clocked Atom in important benchmarks, such as the internet tests.
Windows Vista 32-bit: Watts (shorter bars are better)
Conclusion
Two clear facts emerge from our benchmarks of the Intel Atom and VIA Nano netbook processors. First, the Nano not only matches the Atom in many performance areas, it's significantly ahead in key tests. The Nano loads HTML, XML and JavaScript pages faster than the Atom. Second, when it comes to graphics, netbook users have to accept performance compromises. At about €60, the attractively priced dual-core Pentium E5200 is far faster than the netbook processors. In popular application areas — such as image handling — netbooks suffer from weak performance. Indeed, at times, the netbook chips performed so sluggishly that our testers felt as though they had slipped back to the IT Stone Age.
Translation by Toby Wolpe
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15 comments
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This review is incompetent GeorgeOu -
For reference... Charles McLellan 
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The incompetence is that you used 1.8 Na... GeorgeOu -
Certainly Not Incompetent J.A. Watson
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The realworld performance is 1.3 GHz for... GeorgeOu -
The article is clear about what it&... Rupert Goodwins
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The article CLAIMS it is testi... GeorgeOu
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Look up the MSI Wind, it officially oper... GeorgeOu
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MSI Wind? Uses 1,9 GHz processor? lyovushka
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Official Capable darkjeric
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It's a turbo button GeorgeOu
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More details needed Gerilart
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Wrong comparison darkjeric
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Bananas, Apples and Oranges Xwindowsjunkie
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Biased or inept, you be the judge tcsenter
