Intel Atom vs. SU2300 vs. SU3500 ULV Processors

Chance Stevens 24 December 2009 25,897 views View Comments

When looking at all of the netbooks and ultra thin portable computers out there you notice that there are predominantly three processors being used. The Intel Atom processor leads the way with an overwhelming majority of share in the segment. Atom was created as a way to provide a step below it’s Celeron line. It provides limited capabilities past web browsing but when paired with a higher end video chipset such as Nvidia’s ION, computers are able to stream, encode and transcode video quickly and smoothly. In hopes of grabbing more marketshare Intel created processors they call Ultra Low Voltage (ULV). These processors aren’t the multimedia powerhouses like the Core2 Duo/Quad/Extreme family of processor but they offer improved performance for an investment of a few hundred dollars extras. The question then arises of which kind of processor should I be looking at for my next mini-computer purchase. My answer would be that it all depends.

The issue is that to date, there is no solution where you get a more advanced video chipset along with the higher end ULV processors. The SU2300 and SU3500 processor come with the X4500MD video card which is better than the 950 being used with Atom processors but not by much. This leads people to have to weigh the benefits of a faster processor or better graphics.

The SU3500 is a 1.4Ghz processor with 3MB of L2 cache and a 800MHz front side bus. It is part of the Core2 Solo family of processors. It’s bigger brother the Core2 Duo has been around for years and is one of the best processors you can get in a portable computer of any kind (mobile versions of the i7 and i5 will soon be available in high end notebooks). It’s a single core processor which puts some limitations on it when it comes to using certain programs but it is multiple times better than the Intel Atom processor.

The SU2300 is 1.2Ghz dual core processor in the Celeron line of products. Even though Celeron was the name given to Intel’s low end product line the SU2300 performs remarkably well since it’s dual core. Having two cores is great when you’re running programs which take advantage of them. Several photo and video editing software titles have such optimizations.

When compared in synthetic lab experiments the SU2300 appears to be more powerful than the SU3500. Both these processors blow the Intel Atom away. In real word usage you will find that there is little to no difference at all between the two more advanced chips. The biggest trade off when you get more processing horsepower is battery life and that’s why there is still room for the Intel Atom.

If you don’t a lot of CPU intense things such as web browsing or email, and Atom based netbook would likely suit you. It would provide you 8+ hours of battery life in many instances and by upgrading to 2GB of RAM everything will run even smoother. When paired with Nvidia ION graphics Atom based netbooks are even more useful and proficient at stream web content for people interested in watching TV online. Dual core Atom processors such as the N330 are emerging in netbooks like the 1201N which help give a little more boost to the sluggish processors without inflating prices too greatly.

Getting 5 or 6 hours is still a great feat for a portable computer and people with more professional needs will look towards the SU2300 or SU3500 with glee. There is a premium for getting a computer with these processor but on some occasions you can find one whose price rivals that of a Atom based netbook with ION graphics (ex. Acer Aspire 1410). There are many reports where people are able to stream video without any issues with a ULV based netbook which makes it the best compromise for those who don’t mind spending $400 and above on their machine.

No matter where you fall, all of this is going to change in 2010 when Nvidia starts putting their new ION 2 platform in netbooks. A benefit of the new platform will be the ability to work with even more processors which could create a scenario where a SU3500 processor and Nvidia ION graphics live together lessening both the amount of money in our bank accounts and points for frustration. This is a logical progression as netbooks go from cheap long lasting machines to computers with prices and looks closer to the Macbook Air.

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Stephen Ingraham

Interesting again...but I have to point out that the Acer Aspire 1810s with dual core CULV processers are getting 8 hours of battery life out of a 6 cell battery on Windows 7. Easy. The Atom/ION paring manages 5. The Aspire One 1410, with a dual core Centrino (SU2300, which I am pretty sure is in fact a Centrino not a Celeron), gets 7. We won't see that kind of performance in an Atom based machine. Pine Trail, of course, should equal or better it. But you can't make battery life the issue in an Atom/CULV comparison.
Chance Stevens

I'm arguing the major difference is price, performance, battery life and usability. I've worked at computer stores and see people spend $800 knowing that they were only going to use it to surf and email. Netbooks with the N270/280 processor become the perfect product for these people who can now spend $300 to get the same basic functionality. People who have more demanding needs but want something more compact can take advantage of the SU2300/3500 processors. Otherwise it would be overkill which takes the usefulness out of having a new category of products to choose from.

As I mention in the last paragraph, we'll see CULV processors with ION graphics which will probably take the price to $649+. They will provide better battery life and be lighter than full sized notebooks for the same price but if you want more horse power you keep climbing up the product ladder until you end up in a place where you'll use 80 - 90% of what the netbook can do on a daily basis.