Alternatives To the Intel Atom - Part 1
For some people the Intel Atom is not going to provide a powerful enough platform for their computing needs. As I write this you can't actually go and buy a NVIDIA ION, so what alternatives are there if you wish to have a low power computer on your desktop.
There are several companies selling desktop PCs which appear to have very low power consumption. The Advent Eco PC being one and the Dell Studio Hybrid being another. How do they do it? Have a look at the CPUs these machines are running, you'll notice that they are mobile processors, not the power hungry desktop versions. Mobile processors are designed from the outset to use less power. Less power is very important for a laptop, it means longer between charges or a smaller/lighter battery is needed.
These machines are known as Mobile on the Desktop solutions, or Motd. Compromises have to be made to achieve low power, often this is at the expense of graphic performance, so they probably don't make good games machines. It should however be possible to buy or build a Motd machine that is quite capable of running Vista and even the Aero interface, this is not something that is really possible with Intel Atom solutions . They do attract a price premium over an equivalent power machine made with traditional desktop components.
Unfortunately you cannot simply buy a mobile processor and insert it in your motherboard. Most motherboards cannot operate at the extra low voltages required and the CPUs themselves have different sockets. There are specialist motherboards available that will allow you to use mobile CPUs, although you may struggle to find a reseller that stocks them and as specialist items, expect a price premium. You will find that many of these motherboards are in the mini ITX format, i.e. 17cm x 17cm, this often means limited expansion options are available.
If you do decide to build a low power PC using mobile processors you'll need to consider the following.
There are several companies selling desktop PCs which appear to have very low power consumption. The Advent Eco PC being one and the Dell Studio Hybrid being another. How do they do it? Have a look at the CPUs these machines are running, you'll notice that they are mobile processors, not the power hungry desktop versions. Mobile processors are designed from the outset to use less power. Less power is very important for a laptop, it means longer between charges or a smaller/lighter battery is needed.
These machines are known as Mobile on the Desktop solutions, or Motd. Compromises have to be made to achieve low power, often this is at the expense of graphic performance, so they probably don't make good games machines. It should however be possible to buy or build a Motd machine that is quite capable of running Vista and even the Aero interface, this is not something that is really possible with Intel Atom solutions . They do attract a price premium over an equivalent power machine made with traditional desktop components.
Unfortunately you cannot simply buy a mobile processor and insert it in your motherboard. Most motherboards cannot operate at the extra low voltages required and the CPUs themselves have different sockets. There are specialist motherboards available that will allow you to use mobile CPUs, although you may struggle to find a reseller that stocks them and as specialist items, expect a price premium. You will find that many of these motherboards are in the mini ITX format, i.e. 17cm x 17cm, this often means limited expansion options are available.
If you do decide to build a low power PC using mobile processors you'll need to consider the following.
- What power is consumed by the the processor?
- Can I find a motherboard that supports it?
- Is the chipset/processor combination suitable for my needs?
Over the next few posts I'll be looking at the components available for you to build your own MOTD system.
Labels: Mobile processors, MODT
posted by Andy Tyrrell at
19:49
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