x120e/dm1z Fusion Radeon 6310 vs 1215n Atom D525/Ion 2

Which has a faster cpu/gpu? Which will be better in all around everyday task/performance?


Thanks

According to Engadget, the x120e is slightly weaker in graphics than the 1215N. This is in 3DMark06, with the DM1Z and the x120e scoring 2213 and 2080 respectively. The 1215N hits 2480. See here.

For everyday tasks, it seems to be the consensus that they're all really similar with the Zacate based machines doing slightly better day to day stuff than the D525. According to some forum posters at notebook review and a few videos of the machines gaming, the Zacate APU machines do slightly edge out the 1215N in some games, while in others they do worse.

What I'm pretty sure it comes down to is that the ION 2 is a stronger GPU than the 6310M, but the Atom processor of the 1215N really holds it back. The Zacate APU balances a bit better with the 6310M being better able to handle and communicate with the CPU. This is most likely due to the fact that Intel limits nvidia's ION 2 to a 1x pci-e lane, while the 6310 doesn't have to deal with that limitation.

It depends on what you're trying to do with the machine. For light gaming (like WoW, source engine games and most games from before 2007), they're both adequate at low settings/native resolution. Here's a video of the DM1Z playing WoW at low settings and native resolution. Here's someone on the weaker 1201N playing WoW as well.

If you're looking for a small internet browser/video watching device, they're all pretty comparable. If I were to buy one now, however, I'd go for the x120e. The E-350 seems like a stronger CPU than the Atom D525.

Edit:
Videos of each playing Oblivion: DM1Z and the 1215N

Edit 2:
I forgot to mention that I owned the 1215N for about 4 months. It was a great little laptop. It played HD video very well and I was able to play WoW on the go when I needed to. That said, I will not buy another Asus eee PC again. The Asus "seashell" design of the entire line of netbooks is very cheap. The plastic is pretty bad and there's a noticeable amount of keyboard flex in the 1215N. The entire computer is essentially not user serviceable. Any upgrades require you to pry the plastic apart in a way that is almost guaranteed to break at least one of the eight or so plastic clips that keep it together. If you don't plan on making an user upgrades, then it isn't that bad. But the build quality of the x120e is miles above any of the Asus netbook lines (with the slight exception of the 1018PB, which has a nice metal touch to the netbook). I think it's the "seashell" build that Asus seems to really like, but hardware nerds seem to really hate (myself included).

This always really baffled me, since I love my G73 and the UL30VT and other ultra portable Asus computers have much better build quality and are available at prices that aren't significantly more than the 1215N (the UL30VT frequently dips to $599 on Amazon).

Edit 3:
>.< I keep remembering points with the 1215N. Something that I'm not sure was fixed (or could ever be fixed), is that the 1215N is limited to using 2.7GB of ram. So upgrading that really isn't in your best interest, since it's a marginal upgrade at best. The DM1Z and x120e have no problem going up to 8GB though. Just more food for thought.

also the AMD platform can run x64 software and that is a HUGE bonus in my book

Bomo said:

It depends on what you're trying to do with the machine. For light gaming (like WoW, source engine games and most games from before 2007), they're both adequate at low settings/native resolution.

Click to expand...

As for source engine games I can tell you that it can do better than Low.

PORTAL Gameplay on the AMD C-50 powered Netbook, NB550D...
Half Life² Gameplay on the AMD C-50 powered Netbook, NB550D...

And that is the 'C-50'. It is also a 'Brazos' APU like the E-350 but with the CPU-Part @ 1Ghz and a GPU-Part @ 280Mhz.
The E-350 is clocked @ 1,6Ghz and 500Mhz so it should be able to do even better, although it seems to hit the Single-Channel limit.

<orangensaft said:

As for source engine games I can tell you that it can do better than Low.

PORTAL Gameplay on the AMD C-50 powered Netbook, NB550D...
Half Life² Gameplay on the AMD C-50 powered Netbook, NB550D...

And that is the 'C-50'. It is also a 'Brazos' APU like the E-350 but with the CPU-Part @ 1Ghz and a GPU-Part @ 280Mhz.
The E-350 is clocked @ 1,6Ghz and 500Mhz so it should be able to do even better, although it seems to hit the Single-Channel limit.

Click to expand...

Didn't edit that part of my post. Clearly the Oblivion vids show that they're decent to strong at native res with older games.