VIA Nano L2100 vs. Intel Atom 230: Head to Head

Name: VIA Nano L2100 vs. Intel Atom 230: Head to Head - Page 5
Brand: VIA

by Marco Chiappetta — Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 11:00 AM EDT

In our custom LAME MT MP3 encoding test, we convert a large WAV file to the MP3 format, which is a popular scenario that many end users work with on a day-to-day basis to provide portability and storage of their digital audio content. LAME is an open-source mid to high bit-rate and VBR (variable bit rate) MP3 audio encoder that is used widely around the world in a multitude of third party applications.

LAME MT MP3 Encoding Test

Converting a Large WAV To MP3

In this test, we created our own 223MB WAV file (a hallucinogenically-induced Grateful Dead jam) and converted it to the MP3 format using the multi-thread capable LAME MT application in single and multi-thread modes. Processing times are recorded below, listed in seconds. Once again, shorter times equate to better performance.

Once again, please note that the Intel Atom has HyperThreading enabled and can process two threads at once, which accounts for the multi-threaded result above. Although the Atom has the ability to use HT to increase performance with some workloads, the Nano still completed the test much faster than the Atom. According to the two audio encoding tests we've run, it's clear the Nano's out-of-order design is much better suited for this type of task.

Futuremark 3DMark06 - CPU Test

Simulated DirectX Gaming Performance

3DMark06's built-in CPU test is a multi-threaded DirectX gaming metric that's useful for comparing relative performance between similarly equipped systems. This test consists of two different 3D scenes that are processed with a software renderer that is dependent on the host CPU's performance. Calculations that are normally reserved for your 3D accelerator are instead sent to the CPU for processing and rendering. The frame-rate generated in each test is used to determine the final score.

3DMark06's CPU benchmark also had the VIA Nano finishing well out in front of the Intel Atom, to the tune of about 20%.

Tags: Intel, Atom, VIA, Nano, Intel Atom, Via Nano, Atom 230, Tom, EA

Marco Chiappetta

Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com