Tesla’s New AMD Ryzen APU Vs Old Intel Atom GPU: How Do They Compare?
May 25, 2022 at 7:51am ET
By: EVANNEX
This article comes to us courtesy of EVANNEX, which makes and sells aftermarket Tesla accessories. The opinions expressed therein are not necessarily our own at InsideEVs, nor have we been paid by EVANNEX to publish these articles. We find the company’s perspective as an aftermarket supplier of Tesla accessories interesting and are happy to share its content free of charge. Enjoy!
Posted on EVANNEX on May 25, 2022, by Iqtidar Ali
Tesla is both an automotive and technology company all wrapped into one. That said, the hardware (and software) change and evolve over time. Just like computers or mobile phones, Tesla’s vehicles get constant hardware and software updates.
Above: Testing out a Tesla touchscreen (Photo: David von Diemar / Unsplash)
In December 2021, Tesla started installing an upgraded accelerated processing unit (APU) in the newly-built Tesla Model 3 and Model Y cars — the AMD RDNA 2-based Ryzen APU. Before this upgrade, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y used to have the basic low-level Intel Atom graphics processing unit (GPU).
The design-refresh Model S and Model X, however, had the new AMD RDNA 2-based GPU with 10 teraflops of gaming power since the start of their production as AMD CEO Lisa Su announced at Computex 2021 last year.
An APU in a Tesla vehicle is responsible for running the normal operations of the Media Control Unit (MCU/infotainment system) — like maps, vehicle display rendering, Autopilot screen rendering, camera displays, music, browser, video apps like YouTube, video games, and other touchscreen functions. The latest version with the AMD Ryzen processor in Tesla Model 3 and Model Y is also called MCU3 by the Tesla community.
Tesla influencer Bjorn Nyland from Norway was able to get his hands on two Tesla Model 3 cars — one old 2019 model year with Intel Atom GPU and a new 2022 model year car with the AMD Ryzen APU (video below).
NAVIGATION MAPS
He first tested the old Model 3 for the performance of navigation maps, it works smoothly when the user zooms in and out but when the same functionality was tested on the new Model 3 with the AMD APU, the performance was much better.
VIDEO
But the major performance difference was felt when Bjorn tested YouTube and the browser on both old and new Model 3s. YouTube app loading time was significantly better on the new Model 3 and the videos also ran smoothly, while on the old Model 3 with Intel Atom, the app loaded slowly and videos were jerky and frames were skipped.
BROWSER
Tesla’s in-car browser has often been a slower performing application on the center touchscreen and therefore the least used by Tesla car owners. But with the new AMD Ryzen processor (MCU3), the browser has become much faster and the scrolling has smoothed out.
Bjorn browsed a heavy news website with tons of articles to vertically scroll (www.dn.no), only to be astonished at the performance improvement with the new APU.
RANGE DECREASE
The new AMD Ryzen GPU is more power-hungry compared to the old Intel Atom GPU — the same phenomena that we face in computers.
This extra power consumption did slightly affect the driving range of Model 3/Y by about 13 miles (22 km). But Tesla overcame this problem with software tweaking, heat management in new vehicles, and constant innovation in battery technology.
Unfortunately, Tesla has not officially confirmed an AMD Ryzen retrofit option in the foreseeable future for old Model 3 and Model Y owners with the old Intel Atom graphics processor.
VIDEO COMPARISON
=====
Written by: Iqtidar Ali. An earlier version of this article was originally published by Tesla Oracle. Source: Bjorn Nyland / YouTube. Revised update edited by EVANNEX.
AMD E-350 vs Intel Atom x5-Z8350: What is the difference?
29points
AMD E-350
39points
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
Comparison winner
vs
67 facts in comparison
AMD E-350
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
Why is AMD E-350 better than Intel Atom x5-Z8350?
- 300MHz faster GPU clock speed?
500MHzvs200MHz - 15.
87% higher PassMark result (single)?
482vs416 - 6GB larger maximum memory amount?
8GBvs2GB - 1042MHz faster GPU turbo speed?
1542MHzvs500MHz
Why is Intel Atom x5-Z8350 better than AMD E-350?
- 1.8x faster CPU speed?
4 x 1.44GHzvs2 x 1.6GHz - 267MHz higher ram speed?
1600MHzvs1333MHz - 2 more CPU threads?
4vs2 - 26nm smaller semiconductor size?
14nmvs40nm - 1MB bigger L2 cache?
2MBvs1MB - 16W lower TDP?
2Wvs18W - 3.21x higher PassMark result?
1289vs401 - 1 newer version of PCI Express (PCIe)?
2vs1
Which are the most popular comparisons?
AMD E-350
vs
Intel Core i3-2365M
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Celeron N3350
AMD E-350
vs
Intel Core i3-2375M
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Core i3-6320
AMD E-350
vs
Intel Core i3-3227U
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Celeron J4105
AMD E-350
vs
Intel Atom D2550
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Core i3-6100TE
AMD E-350
vs
Intel Core i3-3210
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Atom C3750
AMD E-350
vs
AMD E-300
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Core i5-4300U
AMD E-350
vs
AMD E-450
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Core i5-3570K
AMD E-350
vs
Intel Celeron N3060
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Core i5-2520M
AMD E-350
vs
AMD E1-2500
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Celeron J3160
AMD E-350
vs
Intel Core i3-2100
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
vs
Intel Core i3-4020Y
Price comparison
User reviews
Overall Rating
AMD E-350
0 User reviews
AMD E-350
0.
0/10
0 User reviews
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
1 User reviews
Intel Atom x5-Z8350
10.0/10
1 User reviews
Features
Value for money
No reviews yet
10.0/10
1 votes
Gaming
No reviews yet
10.0/10
1 votes
Performance
No reviews yet
10.0/10
1 votes
Reliability
No reviews yet
10.0/10
1 votes
Energy efficiency
No reviews yet
10.0/10
1 votes
Performance
CPU speed
2 x 1.6GHz
4 x 1.44GHz
The CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second can be executed by a CPU, considering all of its cores (processing units). It is calculated by adding the clock rates of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors employing different microarchitectures, of each group of cores.
CPU threads
More threads result in faster performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
1.92GHz
When the CPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
Has an unlocked multiplier
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom x5-Z8350
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier which makes them easy to overclock, allowing you to gain increased performance in games and other apps.
L2 cache
A larger L2 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L3 cache
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
A larger L3 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L1 cache
A larger L1 cache results in faster CPU and system-wide performance.
L2 core
0.5MB/core
0.5MB/core
More data can be stored in the L2 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
L3 core
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
More data can be stored in the L3 cache for access by each core of the CPU.
Benchmarks
PassMark result
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using multiple threads.
PassMark result (single)
This benchmark measures the performance of the CPU using a single thread.
Cinebench R20 (multi) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s multi-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 (single) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark tool that measures a CPU’s single-core performance by rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (multi)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Geekbench 5 result (single)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor’s single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Blender (bmw27) result
Unknown.
Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
The Blender (bmw27) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
Blender (classroom) result
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures the performance of a processor by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render the scene in less time.
performance per watt
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
This means the CPU is more efficient, giving a greater amount of performance for each watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
GPU clock speed
500MHz
200MHz
The graphics processing unit (GPU) has a higher clock speed.
GPU turbo
1542MHz
500MHz
When the GPU is running below its limitations, it can boost to a higher clock speed in order to give increased performance.
GPU execution units
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
A graphics processing unit (GPU) with a greater number of execution units can deliver better graphics.
supported displays
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Using multiple displays you can create a larger workspace, making it easier to work across multiple apps.
DirectX version
DirectX is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenGL version
OpenGL is used in games, with newer versions supporting better graphics.
OpenCL version
Some apps use OpenCL to apply the power of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing.
Newer versions introduce more functionality and better performance.
texture mapping units (TMUs)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
TMUs take textures and map them to the geometry of a 3D scene. More TMUs will typically mean that texture information is processed faster.
render output units (ROPs)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
The ROPs are responsible for some of the final steps of the rendering process, writing the final pixel data to memory and carrying out other tasks such as anti-aliasing to improve the look of graphics.
Memory
RAM speed
1333MHz
1600MHz
It can support faster memory, which will give quicker system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
Unknown.
Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
12.8GB/s
This is the maximum rate that data can be read from or stored into memory.
DDR memory version
DDR (Double Data Rate) memory is the most common type of RAM. Newer versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy-efficient.
memory channels
More memory channels increases the speed of data transfer between the memory and the CPU.
maximum memory amount
The maximum amount of memory (RAM) supported.
bus transfer rate
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Supports ECC memory
✖AMD E-350
✔Intel Atom x5-Z8350
Error-correcting code memory can detect and correct data corruption.
It is used when is it essential to avoid corruption, such as scientific computing or when running a server.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
A higher version of eMMC allows faster memory interfaces, having a positive effect on the performance of a device. For example, when transferring files from your computer to the internal storage over USB.
bus speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
The bus is responsible for transferring data between different components of a computer or device.
Features
uses multithreading
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom x5-Z8350
Multithreading technology (such as Intel’s Hyperthreading or AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading) provides increased performance by splitting each of the processor’s physical cores into virtual cores, also known as threads.
This way, each core can run two instruction streams at once.
Has AES
✖AMD E-350
✔Intel Atom x5-Z8350
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom x5-Z8350
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial apps, as well as improving Linux RAID software performance.
SSE version
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing an image or adjusting audio volume. Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
Has F16C
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom x5-Z8350
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
bits executed at a time
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
(Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
NEON provides acceleration for media processing, such as listening to MP3s.
Has MMX
✔AMD E-350
✔Intel Atom x5-Z8350
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting the contrast of an image or adjusting volume.
Has TrustZone
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom x5-Z8350
A technology integrated into the processor to secure the device for use with features such as mobile payments and streaming video using digital rights management (DRM).
front-end width
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (Intel Atom x5-Z8350)
The CPU can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), meaning that the CPU performs better
Miscellaneous
OpenGL ES version
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value. (AMD E-350)
OpenGL ES is used for games on mobile devices such as smartphones.
Newer versions support better graphics.
Price comparison
Which are the best CPUs?
AMD E-350 vs Intel Atom D2550: What is the difference?
29 BALLLA
AMD E-350
23 Ballla
Intel ATOM D2550
Winner when comparing
VS
66 facts compared to
AMD E-350
Intel Atom D2550 9000
AMD E-350 than Intel Atom D2550?
- 267MHz higher RAM speed?
1333MHz vs 1066MHz - 16KB more L1 cache?
128KB vs 112KB - 1.6x higher PassMark score (single)?
482 vs 302 - 2 newer version of DirectX?
11 vs 9 - 4GB more max memory?
8GB vs 4GB - 1 newer version of SSE?
4 vs 3
Why is Intel Atom D2550 better than AMD E-350?
- 16.
25% faster CPU speed?
2 x 1.86GHz vs 2 x 1.6GHz - 2 more CPU threads?
4 vs 2 - 10°C higher than maximum operating temperature?
100°C vs 90°C - Is 8nm smaller?
32nm vs 40nm - GPU frequency 140MHz more?
640MHz vs 500MHz - 8W below TDP?
10W vs 18W - 1.71x higher PassMark score?
685 vs 401 - Uses multithreading?
What are the most popular comparisons?
AMD E-350
VS
Intel Core i3-2365m
Intel Atom D2550
Intel Atom N2600
AMD E-350 9000 VS
Intel Cores
vs
Intel Celeron 1037U
AMD E-350
VS
Intel Core i3-3227U
Intel Atom D2550
Intel ATOM N2800
AMD E-350 9000 VS
INTEL I3210 9000 Ittel Intel Intel Coretel I3210 9000 3
VS
Intel Core i3-2130
AMD E-350
VS
AMD E-300
Intel ATOM D2550
VS
AMD E-350 AMD E-350 AMD E-450
Intel Atom D2550
VS
Intel Core i3-2348M
AMD E-350
VS
Intel Celeron N3060
Intel Atom D2550
9000 -2500
Intel Atom D2550
VS
Intel ATOM N570
AMD E-350
Intel Core i3-2100
Intel ATOM D2550 9000 9000 9,0000021
User reviews
Performance
CPU speed
2 x 1.
6GHz
2 x 1.86GHz
CPU speed indicates how many processing cycles per second a processor can perform, considering all its cores (processors). It is calculated by adding the clock speeds of each core or, in the case of multi-core processors, each group of cores.
processor thread
More threads result in better performance and better multitasking.
turbo clock speed
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
When the processor is running below its limits, it can jump to a higher clock speed to increase performance.
Unlocked
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom D2550
Some processors come with an unlocked multiplier and can be easily overclocked for better performance in games and other applications.
L2 Cache
More L2 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
L3 cache
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
More L3 scratchpad memory results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
L1 cache
More L1 cache results in faster results in CPU and system performance tuning.
L2 core
0.5MB/core
0.5MB/core
More data can be stored in L2 scratchpad for access by each processor core.
L3 core
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
More data can be stored in L3 scratchpad for access by each processor core.
Geotagging
PassMark result
This benchmark measures CPU performance using multithreading.
PassMark result (single)
This benchmark measures processor performance using a thread of execution.
Cinebench R20 result (multi-core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
Cinebench R20 is a benchmark that measures the performance of a multi-core processor by rendering a 3D scene.
Cinebench R20 result (single core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
Cinebench R20 is a test to evaluate the performance of a single core processor when rendering a 3D scene.
Geekbench 5 result (multi-core)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures multi-core processor performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Geekbench 5 result (single core)
Unknown.
Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures the single-core performance of a processor. (Source: Primate Labs, 2023)
Blender test result (bmw27)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
The Blender benchmark (bmw27) measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
Blender result (classroom)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
The Blender (classroom) benchmark measures CPU performance by rendering a 3D scene. More powerful processors can render a scene in a shorter time.
performance per watt
Unknown. Help us offer a price.
(AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
This means that the processor is more efficient, giving more performance per watt of power used.
Integrated graphics
GPU clock speed
500MHz
640MHz
The graphics processing unit (GPU) has a higher clock speed.
Turbo GPU
1542MHz
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
When the GPU is running below its limits, it may jump to a higher clock speed to increase performance.
GPU Executors
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
A graphics processing unit (GPU) with more execution units can provide better graphics.
monitor support
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
By using multiple displays, you can expand your workspace, making it easier to work across multiple applications.
version of DirectX
DirectX is used in games with a new version that supports better graphics.
OpenGL version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
The newer version of OpenGL, the better graphics quality in games.
OpenCL version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
Some applications use OpenCL to take advantage of the graphics processing unit (GPU) for non-graphical computing. Newer versions are more functional and better quality.
texture units (TMUs)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
TMUs take texture units and map them to the geometric layout of the 3D scene. More TMUs generally means texture information is processed faster.
imaging units ROPs
Unknown.
Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
ROPs are responsible for some of the final steps of the rendering process, such as writing the final pixel data to memory and for performing other tasks such as anti-aliasing to improve the appearance of graphics.
Memory
RAM speed
1333MHz
1066MHz
Can support faster memory which speeds up system performance.
maximum memory bandwidth
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
6.4GB/s
This is the maximum rate at which data can be read from or stored in memory.
DDR memory version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
DDR (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) is the most common type of RAM. New versions of DDR memory support higher maximum speeds and are more energy efficient.
memory channels
More memory channels increase the speed of data transfer between memory and processor.
maximum memory
Maximum memory (RAM).
bus baud rate
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
2.5GT/s
The bus is responsible for transferring data between various components of a computer or device.
Supports memory debug code
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom D2550
Memory debug code can detect and repair data corruption. It is used when necessary to avoid distortion, such as in scientific computing or when starting a server.
eMMC version
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
A newer version of eMMC — built-in flash memory card — speeds up the memory interface, has a positive effect on device performance, for example, when transferring files from a computer to internal memory via USB.
bus frequency
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
1867GHZ
The bus is responsible for the data transfer between different components of the computer or device
Functions
Uses a multi-setness of
✖AMD E-350
✔Intel ATOM D2550
9000 by AMD) delivers faster performance by dividing each physical processor core into logical cores, also known as threads. Thus, each core can run two instruction streams at the same time.
Has AES
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom D2550
AES is used to speed up encryption and decryption.
Has AVX
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom D2550
AVX is used to help speed up calculations in multimedia, scientific and financial applications, and to improve the performance of the Linux RAID program.
version of SSE
SSE is used to speed up multimedia tasks such as editing images or adjusting audio volume.
Each new version contains new instructions and improvements.
Has F16C
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom D2550
F16C is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting image contrast or adjusting volume.
bits transmitted at the same time
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
NEON provides faster media processing such as MP3 listening.
Has MMX
✔AMD E-350
✔Intel Atom D2550
MMX is used to speed up tasks such as adjusting image contrast or adjusting volume.
Has TrustZone
✖AMD E-350
✖Intel Atom D2550
Technology is integrated into the processor to ensure device security when using features such as mobile payments and digital rights management (DRM) video streaming.
interface width
Unknown.
Help us offer a price. (AMD E-350)
Unknown. Help us offer a price. (Intel Atom D2550)
The processor can decode more instructions per clock (IPC), which means the processor performs better
Price comparison
Which CPUs are better?
Processor comparison: Intel Atom D2700 vs AMD E-450 — part 1
Intel has released a new generation of Atom processors using the 32 nm process technology. The new Atom D2500 and D2700 are designed primarily for inexpensive all-in-one PC systems. Processor models starting with N are used in netbooks, which are rapidly losing market share due to the invasion of tablets. Therefore, it would be logical to use them in upcoming tablets with the Windows 8 x86 operating system.
Previously released Atom processors did not particularly surprise the public, because in order to save energy they had to sacrifice a decent share of performance, and if we compare them with the ARM architecture, they are, in general, not very energy efficient. The analogue from AMD, which is part of the Fusion series, has a powerful integrated graphics processor and looks much more attractive in terms of use in portable technology. Let’s evaluate the capabilities of the older model of the new Atom D2700 line from Intel and compare it with a competitor from AMD.
New GPU Atom D2700 and AMD E-450
In principle, apart from the transition to a thinner 32 nm manufacturing process, little has changed in the Atom architecture compared to its predecessors. The processor is based on the good old Pentium, which was quite simple compared to modern designs. This means that when it is transferred to a new process technology, a very economical system should be obtained. The new Atom D2500 and D2700 models have two cores, and the D2700 also supports HyperThreading technology. Atom D2700 operates at 2.13 GHz, the L2 cache size has not changed compared to the previous generation and is equal to 512 KB. In other words, we do not expect a strong performance boost from the new Atom, but only low power consumption, mainly due to the use of the 32 nm process technology.
The main innovation is the new type of GPU integrated into the processor, which Intel calls HD Graphics 3600, although in fact it is PowerVR SGX545 — a quad-core graphics processor with DirectX 9 support. Of course, in the era of DirectX 11, this is hardly surprising. , but we note a significantly improved video decoder, it should cope with the processing of HD content. The previous generation often stumbled even playing regular-sized Youtube videos in H.264 format, not to mention high-definition video, which was simply impossible to watch.
The D2700 has an extremely low TDP of just 10 watts. The mobile version of the chip represented by the N2800 and N2600 is even more efficient — 6.5 and 2.5 watts, respectively. The surface area of the new processor is 56 square meters. mm, that is, this is only a small part in comparison with a modern desktop processor.
Intel competitor AMD is represented in this segment by the E-series processors, which are also designed for mini-systems and all-in-one computers. The E-450 processor is positioned as the successor to the E-350 and has a slightly higher frequency of 1.65 MHz, two cores, an integrated Radeon HD6320 card with DirectX 11 support and is codenamed Zacate. The TPD value is 18 watts.
Test
Neither the Intel Atom nor AMD’s E-Series are sold separately. So you won’t be able to purchase them and insert them into the socket yourself, since they are securely soldered on the motherboard. Intel Atom was tested in the form of a Foxconn D270S mini-ATX form factor, and a mini-PC from Sapphire was chosen as the representative of AMD.
We apologize for the slight spoiler regarding the test results, but it should be noted that both processors are quite weak — they are not designed for something more resource-intensive than web surfing. They are also not suitable for computing or data processing, with one exception — they will work great in a media center.
We ran as many different tests as we could on both processors and compared the Atom and E-450 to a set of conventional, less powerful desktop processors from both Intel and AMD. Moreover, Celeron/Pentium will act on the Intel side, and A4/A6 series instances on the AMD side.
In the graphs shown, AMD products are marked in green, Intel in blue, Intel D2700 in black, and AMD E-450 in red.
Foxconn D270S
The Foxconn D270S board used for the Atom D2700 test is considered very affordable in terms of price, but the exact price is not known at the moment. Its capabilities are quite moderate, it has an Intel NM10 chipset, two slots for DDR3 RAM and another one for a PCI card.
Having only two SATA ports will not allow you to create an energy efficient home server on this board. On the rear panel there are VGA and HDMI connectors for the integrated graphics card, gigabit network, 5.1 sound on the Realtek ALC662 chip, two USB 2.0 ports and 2 more USB 3.0 ports.
As expected, the board has a simple BIOS, as well as a passive cooling system, which again indicates low CPU consumption. Even without forced air supply, the radiator barely heats up.
Performance in 3DMark Vantage CPU
The well-known 3DMark Vantage CPU benchmark that measures CPU performance in games. You can easily run this package for yourself and compare the results with the numbers we got. Since 3DMark Vantage requires DirectX 10 support (even for the CPU test), we were unable to measure the Atom D2700. Result E-450 — 2090 points, which is about half of the corresponding figure for AMD A4.
Performance in Adobe Photoshop CS4
The benchmark in Photoshop CS4 measures the execution time of a large number of image processing operations performed using a script with a 14-megapixel photo. Fast PCs do this in less than 30 seconds. An AMD A4 runtime of one minute is considered fairly long. The D2700 completed this operation in about 2 minutes, while the E-450 took only 5 minutes. In other words, neither processor is suitable for serious image editing.
Performance in Panorama Factory v5
In another photo editing application, Panorama Factory v5, we measured how long it would take eight 12-megapixel images to be converted into a high-resolution horizontal panorama. Here, the test subjects have even worse results than in the previous test — they are much slower than traditional processors.
Encoding 720p MPEG video stream to x264
The Tech Arp x264 HD benchmark shows how many frames per second (FPS) are processed when compressed using the x264 H.264 codec. Coding takes place in two passes, the first is analysis, the second is coding itself, which is more laborious, and therefore slightly different results are shown.
4 fps encoding — practically useless. Of course, we did not expect a breakthrough, but what was shown was very disappointing.
Performance in Cyberlink MediaShow Espresso 6.0
Another video encoding benchmark is Cyberlink MediaShow Espresso 6.0, which converted a 22 minute TV show episode to the portable format of the iPod/iPhone. The result of the E-450 is simply depressing, it is several times worse than that of a competitor.
Performance in Cyberlink PowerDirector 8 — 1 minute HD video with effects
The graph shows how long it took the subjects to export 60 seconds of 1080p HD video when using the effects set. Neither the Intel Atom nor the AMD E-450 really showed themselves, they are much worse than conventional processors.
60 minutes audio encoding to FLAC (fpFLAC)
The graph shows the time taken to convert a 60 minute wav audio to FLAC with fpFLAC using a multithreaded FLAC encoder. When using economical processors, I had to wait more than 5.5 minutes, while conventional models did it in less than 30 seconds. Moreover, the AMD product could not pass this test.
Encoding 60 minutes of audio to MP3 format (fpMP3)
The image shows how long it takes to convert a minute wav audio to MP3 using the fpMP3 multithreaded encoder. Everything is as bad here as in the previous benchmark.
Cinebench 11.5 performance
Cinebench is a fully multi-threaded 3D rendering benchmark. It is based on Maxon Cinema 3D software. The results for the Intel Atom D2700 and AMD E-450 are 0.71 and 0.64, respectively, which are significantly lower than conventional processors.