CPU/Mobo Atom 330 + D945GCLF2 : good enough for most people ?

Status
Not open for further replies.
PoBoy

PoBoy

Juggernaut
Whenever someone asks me to recommend components for a typical 'home' PC I say "AMD X2 + 690G/780G". Is this a better choice now : Intel Atom 330 and D945GCLF2 ?

Intel D945GCLF2 Review - Harnessing the Dual Core Atom

Dual Core Atom: Intel D945GCLF2 & Atom 330 Review - Page 1 - Introduction


Motherboard ..D945GCLF .......D945GCLF2

Processor ......Intel Atom 230 Intel Atom 330
Chipset ........Intel 945GC ...Intel 945GC
IGP Graphics....Intel GMA950 ..Intel GMA950
Manuf Tech .....45 nm ............45 nm
Clock Speed ..1.6GHz ...........2x 1.6GHz
FSB Speed ....533 (133x4) ....533 (133x4)
No. of Cores ..1 (with HT) .....2 (with HT)
Threads .......2 (HT Enabled) .4 (HT Enabled)
TDP .............4w ................8w
Click to expand...
The D945GCLF2 costs about $90. Add a 2GB memory stick for about $33. A small mini-ITX case with power supply for about $40. Add $50 for a hard drive - these days you will get at least 250GB for that, 500GB if you are lucky. Add a $25 DVD burner, and $25 for a cheap keyboard and mouse. Download and install Ubuntu. You don't even need a monitor, you can use the S-Video output to display 800x600 (almost) to your TV.
Guess what?
You have just built a nice little general purpose computer for $263, and its only the size of a shoe box.
Click to expand...

Here is the specifications for the D945GCLF2, taken from its manual on the supplied CD:

Mini-ITX form factor 6.75"x6.75"
Dual Core Intel Atom processor
one 240 pin DIMM socket supporting 533/667MHz single channel DDR2 up to 2GB in size
Intel 945GC chipset: 82945GC Northbridge with integrated graphics, 82801GB ICH7 Southbridge
GMA 950 integrated graphics
S-Video output via Chrontel CH7021A SDTV/HDTV encoder
RealTek ALC662 codec with HDA and 6 channel audio
SPDIFF header on motherboard
one PCI slot
8 USB2.0 ports (4 on back panel, 4 on two headers)
one IDE interface
two SATA2 interfaces
one VGA connector
one S-Video port
one parallel port
one serial port
PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports
Intel BIOS with SMBIOS support, Rapid BIOS boot, Express BIOS Update
Gigabit Ethernet
ACPI support, Wake on USB, PCI, PS/2, Lan
supports Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows XP Home and Pro, 32 bit and 64 bit
For a small board, it is certainly not short of features!
Click to expand...

note : "isn't it amazing that the processor is passively cooled, yet the chipset requires a fan ?" !

Any mini-ITX cabinets available here ?
 
^^..... ATOM cannot work as HTPC... The problem is with chipset.. Its an aged 945 based chipset which consumes more power than the cpu itself. The processing power of ATOM is quite low compared to what is needed...

Yes it can be a good download rig but if you consider the whole investment & power savings then X2 4850e + 780G is the better choice... It has enough juice for an HTPC setup while consuming lesser power than most systems... If you calculate the cost difference & running costs than this combo makes more sense than ATOM....
 
mini-ITX case are hardly available here and the few ones available cost a bomb for a budget pc so I think AMD X2 +780g is a better combo
 
TDP does not equal power used, its heatoutput from the chip itself, TDP increase is not linear with power used.

atom can work as a HTPC.... the 1.6ghz clock speed equals a 1.4ghz banis core. if atom was at 1.8ghz clock speed even with HT it would be able to handle 720p playback. atom at 1.6ghz can barly handle 720p the audio is slightly ahead of the video. 480P content is no problem, now if you have the option of buying one. i highly suggest getting a ATI 2400pro pci card, as you can get USB sound cards with DD/DTS passthru on the digital connections.

im using atom 230 setup for my media box with the 2400pro pci card. then later adding in a usb sound card for the DD/DTS passthru.

Seems everyone keeps looking at atom in the wrong way... its work per watts is higher then a lot of cpus. atom is only paired up with 945 right now cause it is the cheapest chipset intel has.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
yep,intel TDP != AMD TDP .

Intel TDP is more or less a conservative figure about max consumption under worse conditions.AMD,although a bit vague in definition its,more closer towards average power consumption.

And with such low power consuming platform,its very important to pair with the correct PSU.If we end up using a normal 400-500W SMPS for these small loads,the efficiency of SMPS falls big time as pointed by AT in a recent article.

eff-comp-s2.PNG


JJ of XS has tested it and see the results for yourself.

Atom_pwr.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
I am waiting for the new Intel chipset designed for the Atom. :ohyeah: If they can get a good one in there and price it right, that will be a really good low power download rig. Here the antiquated 945 itself eats >30W :P
 
techie_007 said:
I am waiting for the new Intel chipset designed for the Atom.
Click to expand...

Bingo!!

Plus, Atom boards from other manufacturers are starting to show up slowly on review sites. Take this one for instance, one froms ECS. Comes with two DIMM slots and PCI + PCI-e x1 slot (unlike lone PCI on intel board).

t-break - ECS 945GCT-D (Atom)

So better chipset + third party board with more feature should make Atom a bit more lucrative option that it is right now. Even now, it's pretty good for Download/Home Server rig setups.
 
There is already poulsbo SCH,unfortunately only for MID's.

Far more efficient,much better gfx (yep with 1080 h264,vc1 at 120mW),thanks to PowerVR.

Maybe we just have to wait until moorestown.
 
here are other chipsets formly known as Poulsbo
Chipsets (Formerly Poulsbo)

it is sad though when the US15W's GMA500 video chipset can do H264 decoding. even with a 1gig of ram limitation it would have been better to use that on the Atom 230/330 setups.
 
@evilsizer Work done per watt is more by atom?Could you describe more regrading it?
Is atom based on core arch?
 
sri_k said:
@evilsizer Work done per watt is more by atom?Could you describe more regrading it?
Is atom based on core arch?
Click to expand...
sorry im not quite sure what your asking... Atom cpu for the work it does per the heat it puts out. is higher then just about any other cpu intel has right now, even the LV and ULV core 2 based single core cpus at the same TDP. Atom is not based on any current arch but does pull a little from Core/Core2. not that much from what was talked about Atom's design though. Since current Arch intel uses for desktop/mobile is out of order instruction processing, atom is in-order. I could says its a throw back to the older Pentuim arch then anything.

If I miss understood what you were asking please let me know.
 
H@cKer said:
mini-ITX case are hardly available here and the few ones available cost a bomb for a budget pc so I think AMD X2 +780g is a better combo
Click to expand...

you kidding :O

Nehru Place here is flooded with beautiful led lit generic miniITX cases which would even put to shame uber cases from thermaltake on the bling factor. And they are cheap too.
 
..:: Free Radical ::.. said:
you kidding :O

Nehru Place here is flooded with beautiful led lit generic miniITX cases which would even put to shame uber cases from thermaltake on the bling factor. And they are cheap too.
Click to expand...

Any chance of some pics? :D
 
..:: Free Radical ::.. said:
you kidding :O
Nehru Place here is flooded with beautiful led lit generic miniITX cases which would even put to shame uber cases from thermaltake on the bling factor. And they are cheap too.
Click to expand...

lol... but their build quality comes nowhere close!! :P

anyways, me thinks the 945 is passe.... eagerly waiting for the ATOM exclusive chipsets :)... will make a decent download pc and office rig...
 
nothing wrong with 945 its cheap for intel to make and sell. the atom MITX boards are ment for just that. the US15 chipset would be nice to have but is limited to only 1GB of ram. has a PowerVR video chip that can handle H264 vs the GMA950. im not sure what the big deal is... if you cant find a case you like build one? wood always looks nice when done right...
 
Evilsizer said:
sorry im not quite sure what your asking... Atom cpu for the work it does per the heat it puts out. is higher then just about any other cpu intel has right now, even the LV and ULV core 2 based single core cpus at the same TDP. Atom is not based on any current arch but does pull a little from Core/Core2. not that much from what was talked about Atom's design though. Since current Arch intel uses for desktop/mobile is out of order instruction processing, atom is in-order. I could says its a throw back to the older Pentuim arch then anything.

If I miss understood what you were asking please let me know.
Click to expand...

i meant since u had mentioned that work done by atom per watt is more how does it justify?i have seen reviews of AMD 2000+v/s atom&athlon outperforms atom with lower power consumption...
 
Evilsizer said:
nothing wrong with 945 its cheap for intel to make and sell. the atom MITX boards are ment for just that. the US15 chipset would be nice to have but is limited to only 1GB of ram. has a PowerVR video chip that can handle H264 vs the GMA950. im not sure what the big deal is... if you cant find a case you like build one? wood always looks nice when done right...
Click to expand...

Atom 330 + D945GCLF2 @3k in India seems good option for casual Multimedia/Internet/MS office users/Downloading Rig.Its nice replacement for many Pentium based systems in offices and homes.

Further Atom 330 @ 1.6GHz on Intel D945GCLF2 41W idle, 45W loaded, Atom 330 based system would save lots of power resulting reduction in electricity bill.

But still there are some limitations in case of faulty CPU/MB only we have to change whole setup.

I am going to get above setup soon to save electricity bill :) Is there any other power saver alternate like Atom 330 + D945GCLF2 available?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom