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MSI C847IS-P33 Mainboard - Intel Celeron 847 For Atom (Part 5)

6/25/2013 10:41:00 AM

Energy consumption

E-series processors from AMD and Intel Atom were originally designed for energy-efficient computers, so low power consumption is one of their main functions. A Celeron, especially based on a 32nm Sandy Bridge core, doesn’t seem fit for energy-efficient computing, but Celeron 847 has a specified TDP of 17W, which can be compared with AMD processors with Bobcat architecture. Is it really so? Can a slowed-down Sandy Bridge really ensure high performance while being comparable to specialized products optimized for low power consumption?

To answer all these questions, we made a couple of power consumption tests. We use a new digital Corsair AX760i PSU which allows measuring the full consumption of each system (exlc. screen) as measured at the output of the PSU. It is the sum total of the power draw of each system component. The efficiency of the PSU is not included. CPU running a 32-bit version of the Linx 0.6.4 utility. We use FurMark 1.10.4 utilitiy to load the graphics core.

Power consumption, idle

Power consumption, idle

When not working, any modern CPU switch to a special power-saving states that only consume a few watts. In this case, the other system's components and the efficiency of the mainboard’s voltage regulator mask the CPU’s consumption, which is why the Celeron 847-based platform turns out to be the most economical when idle. However, it is not much different than the system with Atom D2700 and E-350. LGA1155 Mainboard with Celeron G1610 need more energy since mini-ITX LGA1155 products feature a versatile voltage regulator, supporting different CPU and even allows overclocking them. Its performance is low at low loads, so the Celeron G1610 based configuration is inferior to the mainboards with simpler and more economical voltage regulators in this test.

At full computing load the Celeron 847 based platform needs much power

At full computing load the Celeron 847 based platform needs much power

At full computing load the Celeron 847 based platform needs as much power as the AMD E-350 based one. Atom platform is expectedly more economical because Atom D2700 has a specified TDP of only 10 watts. Celeron G1610 platform, which is not energy efficient at all, need one third more power.

Atom D2700 is the most economical again when it comes to 3D gaming

Atom D2700 is the most economical again when it comes to 3D gaming

Atom D2700 is the most economical again when it comes to 3D gaming, but its speed is far from brilliant. Celeron 847 is leading among CPUs with more or less acceptable 3D performance.  It's almost as economical as Atom D2700, unlike the AMD E-350.

At high load combination, platform based on the Brazos and Celeron 847 again can be compared with each other

At high load combination, platform based on the Brazos and Celeron 847 again can be compared with each other

At high load combination, platform based on the Brazos and Celeron 847 again can be compared with each other in terms of power consumption. Thus, we see the Core microarchitecture becomes really becomes economical if its voltage is reduced.  Although it does not match the atom, it equals AMD’s Brazos-based solutions in this respect.

Conclusion

Intel’s economical, nettop-oriented variation of the old Sandy Bridge design looks very good, although there is nothing new about the Celeron 847 which was previously available. But seeing the good sales of Brazos-based mini-ITX mainboards and the lackluster demand for Atom-based mini-ITX solutions, Intel has the right decisions to cut the price of junior mobile energy-efficient Celeron CPUs with Sandy Bridge design and re-target them into compact desktop systems, where they have every opportunity to succeed, according to our tests.

Featuring Intel’s Celeron 847 processor and NM70 chipset, the mini-ITX mainboards that we have tested is at least as good as its co-Brazos. Compared to the latter in terms of heat dissipation, power consumption and price, it delivers much higher performance - not only in computing tasks but also at HD video playback and even 3D gaming applications. As a result, the Celeron 847-based configuration can match nettops as well as other classes of small form-factor PCs, including multi-media centers. Of course, the Celeron 847 is only half as fast as the slowest Ivy Bridge's desktop CPU, but its speed is high enough for everyday applications that we use to run on a home or office computer.

The celeron 847 + NM70 pair does not put an end to the Atom-based mainboard which has no rival in terms of low power consumption and can still be used, for example, for small server at home. However, the Celeron 847, becoming a fully functional Core processor, is a better choice for compact and economical general-purpose computers.

For MSI C847IS-P33 mainboard that we used in this review, it is a well-made implementation of the Celeron 847 + NM70 platform. It is very inexpensive, which is its key advantage. Its functionality is quite limited due to the lack of additional controllers, but nonetheless it has everything you need and looks attractive in terms of its functionality/price ratio.

Specifications

·         Processor socket: Intel Celeron 847

·         Chip: Intel NM70 Express

·         Memory slots: 2x DDR3 DIMM

·         supportive memory: dual channel DDR3 - 1067/1333

·         PCle 2.0 slot: 1x1 slot

·         Audio codec: Realtek ALC887

·         Gigabit ethernet controller: Realtek RTL8111E

·         Form factor: Mini-ITX

·         Internal ports: 4 USB 2.0; 1 Serial Port; 1 SATA 3.0; 1 SATA 6.0

·         External ports: 4 USB 2.0; 1 mạng Gigabit; 3 Analogue audio; 2 PS/2; Video: VGA, DVI-D

 

 

 

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