Introduction

In the end it took much longer than actually planned. But anyway, meanwhile AMD’s “Low Power” is platform Brazos in commercially available and it showing up more and more mainboards and complete systems of different manufacturers in the popular online stores.

But what exactly behind Brazos? Finally nothing other than a dual-core CPU, which is paired with a Radeon HD 6310 to Intel’s “Atom” life difficult to make. And this is such a combination not only very good for Netbooks, but also for use in HTPCs in your own living room, who are responsible for video playback. For this scenario because exactly Brazos comes with everything, what is needed: all Blu-rays can be speeded up perfectly, HDMI 1.4a for a 3D-Wiedergabe exists, HD audio can be transmitted by Bitstream process and allows all still with a very low power consumption.

We have caught us including mainboard from ASRock, ASUS, and MSI for the article, where there is everything from a rich facilities including passive cooling up to the design optimized purely on power consumption. In addition we look small at a complete system of shops memo.

For the test series we also only use components that are optimized for a low-power machines. It begins at the HTPC case and will stop at the Pico-ITX power supply with straight 75 watts of power.

Technical details

AMD’s “Zacate” or “Ontario” is the heart of the “Brazos”-platform. This behind in a chip manufactured in 40 nm, which combines the characteristics of a processor and a video card. AMD calls this design ultimately APU – accelerated processing unit.

What however sounds on the face of perhaps same distribution of processor and graphics, is very different under the hood. The actual part of the processor with the two nuclei together with L1 cache and the associated L2 cache makes only this, the bear share goes back a fraction of 75 mm² large alone to the DirectX 11-capable graphics portion and the necessary connections. The integrated memory controller for single-channel applications also occupies a larger portion that extends into the area about half of the two cores together with L2 cache approached.

On the basis of the distribution will be the priorities of the APUs directly clear which segment. There are offered no brute processor power, the whole package from CPU, GPU, and the energy necessary to be consistent. Out the dual-core model of “Ontario”, which has the almost exactly those shown and falling into a TDP classification of 9 Watts towers here. Because AMD out has gekitzelt but also somewhat more power for the cores as well as the graphics unit from the design, also versions with a TDP of 18 Watts are available with the “Zacate”.

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Processor

The “Bobcat” is based on the actual processor-architecture. These wandering since mid-2007 on AMD’s roadmap, has taken many years to reach the market. From its origins much has been preserved but this no longer, only the idea was carried further. Today, the Bobcat is a modern processor core in the out-of-order design, strictly optimized low energy consumption in the direction. For cutbacks had to be applied in some areas of course.

Really AMD is here but not in the cards see. One of the most important elements is like for each processor, a revised and optimized branch prediction (branch prediction), which can predict two jumps per clock cycle in the case of “Bobcat”. According to the caching in the L1 instruction cache can Befehlsholstufe per clock cycle get 32 bytes from L1I cache and these pass to the decode unit in the maximum of two x 86 commands per clock cycle are processed simultaneously. Here AMD’s bag of tricks is first used, because thanks to a micro-code memory, 89 percent of the commands can be translated directly.

Formerly each µOp (micro command) has filed a copy of peer to peer in the buffer (ROB). Thus, always space and at the same time transfer capacity were occupied (PRF) files with the “Bobcat” otherwise used register with the introduction of physical. Instead now carry a copy, is the micro command in the PRF filed and there specifically mentioned, which, in turn, energy saving one of the goals of this architecture.

The biggest constraints follow only in the next: in the integer and floating-point calculations. So the floating-point unit can raise only two execution units, of which each one multiplies and adds one. The further constraint States that these commands operand should contain even more than 64 bit large, which is another obstacle. Similarly, it goes to the integer calculation: two Scheduler speak two beer and two AGUs, without at last in turn divided into an AGU for storage and one for loading operations.

Finally, there are still one 32 KBytes large L1 data cache and the L2 cache of 512 KB per core, which supported the execution units. The L2 cache works but only with half clock frequency; again a departure to the optimization of architecture in terms of energy consumption and not the performance.

Graphic

In addition to the parts for the processor, the graphics unit is the second important outstanding element of the APUs if not.

GPU architecture, AMD has broken any new ground, but relies on the traditional architecture of Evergreen, also on the Radeon HD 5000- and is used for the most part on the Radeon HD-6000-models. Thus, there are all the features including DirectX 11. As the name, AMD has opted for the “Radeon HD 6310″, is so files under the Radeon HD 6450, known from the desktop market.

There two SIMD units left on the Radeon HD 6310, that have been neutered but strong. So there are only two Shadercluster with four 5D-Shadereinheiten, which makes the number amount of beer to 80 units per SIMD. Pro SIMD overall there is additionally a texture cluster with four TMUs, so eight TMUs.

A ROP cluster with four ROPs are left on the graphics chip. Since there is no own memory interface, this was placed differently, but still just connected like on the desktop variants. On the remaining Division of the GPU including cache nothing has changed, which obviously lack the CrossFire-and Eyefinity support and for new Energiesparmechanismen to have come.

The Radeon HD 6310 on the AMD E-350 added 492 MHz. There is no an own store, because the normal memory replaces it. Accordingly added the memory used by the GPU with 533 MHz (DDR3-1066) or 667 MHz (DDR3-1333). In addition to the Radeon HD 6310, there is still a Radeon HD 6250, but only used in the Brazos processors with a TDP of nine Watts. This is identical to the larger brother, added but only with 280 MHz.

In addition to the CPU and GPU, the “fusion” chips have a unit to the video acceleration, which is according to AMD to the model UVD3, which even in the HD-6000-series discrete graphics cards (except HD 6750 and 6770) is found. Just the combination of these elements will allow an enjoy HD content. Play 1. 1080p videos to run smoothly, graphic-intensive Web pages load quickly and there is also a support for 3D content. The performance of the GPU can also be used for calculations off of graphics output, where, a GPU in some areas of a CPU is superior to landslide – the so-called GPU Computing.

Chip set

With a processor alone, we know that nothing is won, it needs a connection to the remaining system. Even if many parts such as the memory controller or the control of the display in the processor have migrated in recent years, some parts are provided in the year 2011 over an additional chipset.

However, as in the major competitors of Intel chip set, a solution with only a chip in addition to the processor is no longer simply but fusion Controller Hub (FCH) – Intel calls it the platform Controller Hub (PCH). At AMD, everything you need to communicate with the outside world behind this FCH code-named “Hudson”. This begins at USB & co. and ceases when the fan control and temperature control.

The FCH is still manufactured in 65 nm and is set on a 23 mm × 23 mm BGA package with 605 contacts, which trumps even the actual APU with 19 mm × 19 mm and 403 BGA contacts.

AMD estimated the TDP of the two variants of chipset with 2.7 to 4.7 watts. The differences of the two versions are small but fine details. The “AMD A50M FCH” relies completely on SATA 6 GBit / s, the UMI connection is also regulated by PCI Express 2.0. The “AMD A45 FCH” provides only SATA 3 GB / s, the UMI connection is fed only with PCI Express of the first generation. For the smaller of the two chipsets supported but everything on PCI Express is still a native PCI-slot, with the larger model.

The test candidates

ASRock E350M1 (“Brazos”)

The manufacturer ASRock known rather for cheap products must not be missed in a low-power chip and sends two to Brazos boards in the market. They hear both on the name “E350M1″, where it with a variant and returns without USB 3.0. We opted for the latter, because it is much better represented on the German market. Starting from 81 euro the Board is to have, and the availability is good.

The ASRock E350M1 comes in small ITX format and provides the buyer two DDR3 slots available, the memory with 800 MHz, 1,066 MHz or can drive with 1,333 MHz. For plug-in cards, there is a PCIe-x 16 slot, which is connected but with only four lanes.

&Lt; div > Photo Gallery “ASRock E350M1″ (11 pictures)

On four SATA-III ports all common drives have their place, SATA II does not exist. On the I/O-bracket have a PS / 2, six USB 2.0-, one eSATA, a 1-GBit network-, an optical digital and one analog 7.1 audio output found their place. USB 3.0 there is, as mentioned above, in the version. The integrated graphics unit can be addressed to 1.4a using D-SUB, DVI, or HDMI.

ASRock has decided both chipsets on the E350M1, pronounced the E-350 processor including Radeon HD 6310, as well as the fusion Controller Hub (FCH), which provides the necessary connections as “Southbridge”, to keep up with each a separate heat sinks to low temperatures. The radiators are made of aluminium and are quite simple. Optionally, there is a large diameter 45 mm axial fan box if passive cooling is not sufficient. This can be regulated by then a fan controller.

&Lt; div > “ASRock E350M1 – UEFI” Photo Gallery (19 images)

On the E350M1, ASRock shall enter a UEFI, which only has the basic functions. There is no much choice, so for example the complete overclocking is omitted. The manufacturer puts in the box two SATA cables and a driver CD.

ASUS E35M1-M Pro (“Brazos”)

The ASUS E35M1-M Pro reminded of all test candidates still most likely to a normal motherboard, because it is made not in the small ITX, but in the micro-ATX form factor for the desktop market is quite common. The Board is there starting from 100 euro in trade, with sufficient copies are available.

The ASUS E35M1-M Pro offers the buyer two DDR3 slots, which can work with up to 1,333 MHz. Slot found on a PCIe-x 16-(x 4 connected), a PCIe-x 1-as well as two veteran PCI slots their place. Disks can be connected by means of five SATA-III ports. ASUS completely abandoned the old SATA-II standard.

&Lt; div > “Asus E35M1-M Pro” Photo Gallery (12 images)

The USB 3.0 standard is represented by two connection options to the I/O-Panel, the USB 2.0 predecessor twelve times, and there are four ports on the Panel and eight more on the mainboard itself. In addition, there is still a PS / 2, a SPDIF-, a FireWire, a 1000-Mbps network-as well as a 7.1-OnBoard-Sound-Anschluss – the latter but only via digital transmission, otherwise there just 2.1.

The integrated Radeon HD 6310 can be controlled via D-SUB, via single-link DVI or HDMI, where the latter is the 1.4a standard. As a special feature the ASUS E35M1-M Pro with a combined passive cooling for both chips is because who renounced a fan and consists exclusively of aluminium. If it should be but too warm, the buyer is in the packaging before a large in diameter 60 mm axial fan, which can be regulated by a fine-grained fan controller.

&Lt; div > “Asus E35M1-M Pro – UEFI” Photo Gallery (27 images)

In addition, the motherboard, as one of the few Brazos products admits that the CPU of the reference clock is Overclocked. Which has the effect that the storage at the same time and also the GPU clock with increase.

The ASUS E35M1-M Pro relies on the BIOS successor UEFI which is different on the Board in nothing great desktop colleagues. The overclocking precipitates much simpler product, what should disturb but few. As facilities there are still a driver CD the ASUS’s own tools in addition to two SATA-III cable, as well as the optional fans included.

MSI E350IA-E45 (“Brazos”)

MSI sends the “E350IA E45″ in the race, a small ITX board, which currently represents the “most economical Brazos mainboard” on the market according to AMD for this test. Starting from 94 euro, the product is to have.

As in the other two DDR3 bars can be on the MSI Board with maximum 1,333 MHz incorporate, where eight gigabytes are the maximum. A PCIe-x 16 slot, with four lanes connected, is available for plug-in cards.

&Lt; div > “MSI E350IA-E45 (2)” Photo Gallery (10 pictures)

Disk of any kind can be connected to four SATA-III ports; MSI also dispense with SATA II. The USB 3.0 standard is represented twice, USB 2.0 eight times (6 x to the I/O-Panel). In addition, there is still a PS / 2, a 1-GBit network- a analog 7.1-audio, a SPDIF-and optical digital audio output.

The Radeon HD 6310 can be controlled on the MSI E350IA E45 via D-SUB or HDMI 1.3. Unfortunately, does not exist the usual DVI connector. The cooler provides an aluminum heat sink, in which a large 40 mm in diameter axial fan is integrated. The fan control knows only two States: on or off. The former is very noisy and the latter is too hot – more on this in the other measurements.

&Lt; div > “MSI E350IA-E45 – BIOS” Photo Gallery (23 pictures)

MSI onboard a traditional BIOS is used, which has no major surprises. The most popular options are available, overclock cannot it be but. As an accessory, there are two SATA cables and a driver CD including some MSI tools at the E350IA E45.

memo-PC (“Brazos”)

Who his Brazos machines don’t compose would like to, is back to grab the opportunity on a pre-configured system, which are available from numerous manufacturers. The shop memo offers also the possibility to make the configuration itself.

memo offers at the Zacate systems both one with ASRock E350M1 and with the MSI E350IA-E45 to, that we both have invited in our test lab. The ASRock variant is to have in the base configuration starting from 240 euro and offers a two GB memory, a 320 GB hard drive in the 2, 5-inch, and a DVD burner. The whole is in the “LC-1320mi”-housing of LC power packed and a 75 watt powered Pico-ATX power supply (also by LC power).

&Lt; div > Photo Gallery “LC power LC-1320mi of memo” (12 images)

Who would like the can with the computer at an additional cost up to eight gigabytes of main memory, two terabyte increase hard drive, a Blu-ray drive, WiFi and an operating system one.

The system with the MSI E350IA E45 is configured differently, for this is because-housing, as well as a 65-Watt AC adapter with a “Antec ISK 300-65″. The purchase price goes up to 295 euros. The basic configuration is very similar to, but you can, if desired, a maximum 120 GB large SSD and a second hard drive use.

&Lt; div > “LC Power LC-HT-1001B of memo” Photo Gallery (8 images)

Newly added to the range of shops is a Brazos system with the “LC Power LC-HT 1001B” package, which we have used in the test system (only the color is silver instead of black). The basic configuration is the case with 369 euros slightly more expensive, but just also larger. memo applied the E35M1 M or E350M1-M Pro (with USB 3.0) from ASUS as main Board, where the former is used in the base configuration. Apart from the other configuration options differ from the other housing.

Intel atom and NVIDIA ion

Intel’s Atom processor is the current competition with AMD’s Brazos platform from which we have invited us two representatives of its kind. The “D525MW” by Intel itself, which is the easiest way ever makes the beginning. Starting from 56 euro, the Board is to have.

The D525MW is because with the current fastest Atom processor, the D525, who performed his duties with 1.8 GHz. The Board provides two SO-DIMM slots, which can be controlled with maximum 1,066 MHz. There is a PCI slot for cards and for volume two SATA II connections. Four USB 2.0 ports ensure communication with the outside world. The integrated graphics unit may disclose data only via D-SUB to the monitor. The cooling is completely passive.

The alternative to such a product is an atom processor, combined with NVIDIA ion graphics. Among other things, ASUS offers such a product with the “AT5IONT I” (Intel D525 processor) which changes hands for 130 euro.

There are two SO-DIMM slots, which can drive with maximum 1,066 MHz memory. A PCIe-x 4 connector provides support for plug-in cards and two SATA II connections can handle hard disks and drives. Two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports have found their refuge on the I/O-Panel.

The ion graphics unit can supply the monitor with images via DVI or HDMI. The cooling solution falls on relatively expensive, ASUS renounced a fan.

Video playback

One of the great strengths of AMD’s Brazos platform should be video playback. But we have still never too impress us by words and all three test candidates on the basis of two Blu-ray look at why. As a representative for the H. being the new Star Trek film used in h.264 codec, while the Dark Knight to the VC-1 codec test takes. In addition, we use the DVD to Star Trek X to test an ordinary MPEG-2 codec in PAL resolution. In addition, we can convert them to a began and on the 1. upscale 1080p resolution.

In all three movies let us look at the discharge of the CPU by the graphics chips. We want to not only the CPU-relieving the graphics chips look, but also its image quality. We use the proven HQV benchmark version 2.0 from Silicon Optix and in the HD version also. Valid while the former for DVDs is that adheres the latter to HD media such as a Blu-ray. As a player we use the latest version of PowerDVD CyberLinks 11 and total media theatre 5 from ArcSoft to high scale to 1. 1080p.

Image quality SD material

Little wonder the Intel graphics must be satisfied with a severed last place. The lean yield is only 18 points in the HQV benchmark 2.0 – the image is subjective considers but (one sees that within seconds with a normal movie playback) is just plain bad.

The ion graphics done the job much better and comes to 142 points. But in the end, the nose front has the AMD Radeon HD 6310 E350 processor, which we can certify 172 points. And the difference is quite in a film see if one’s exactly sure.

Picture quality HD material

Since the Intel Board can deal with the HDCP copy protection, the evaluation of the Intel graphics HD playback is not necessary. NVIDIA’s ion graphics comes with a Blu-ray to 115 points making it closer to the AMD product off that manages to 124 points here. In addition, the only theoretical differences are, because with a film we can see no deviations. Apart from both graphic units have much air in the top, because the maximum score is only reached by 210 points.

CPU load

Falls primarily on the measurements that the atom processor generated, logical four cores benefited Threading technology by the via hyper, as PowerDVD 11 is heavily optimized for multi-threading. Accordingly, the Brazos platform from AMD is consistently a little to far behind its competitors.

However, this has the effect that a normal DVD or Blu-ray only ruckelnd can be played, all movies run without a problem in all test countries. The only exception is the 3D-Aufwertung of a DVD, that are not smooth playing on the atom (with and without ion) as well as on the E-350. The 1080p upscaling works, however, perfectly fine. The ion chipset has the nose usually before the Intel calculation core, primarily through the more GPU acceleration.

Power consumption

With regard to the power consumption in the movie, AMD’s E-350-CPU most efficiently does the job (on the MSI E350IA-E45) by far. Although the team during the DVD playback with 34 Watts only slightly ahead of Intel’s atom and the 3D-Aufwertung is located behind it even two Watts, but the Intel Board just allows for no Blu-ray playback.

Against NVIDIA’s ion product, the atom, the Brazos platform is the clear winner. With a DVD of the ion required whopping 16 Watt more, which is a proud value at a low-power platform. In the 3D-Aufwertung, there are still nine Watts and Blu-ray operating eleven (H. 264) or ten Watts (VC-1). For a Blu-ray need a Brazos system i.e. less than 40 watts and dominated however all modern features.

Audio-Bitstreaming

There is not much to say about the audio bitstream – either it is or not. In the case of AMD’s Brazos platform with the integrated Radeon HD 6310, Bitstream play using PowerDVD 11 on an external multi channel receiver, Onkyo’s was not a problem. Both the old sound formats (Dolby Digital and DTS) as well as the newer variants (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD high resolution audio and DTS-HD Master Audio) are correctly detected by the receiver and processed accordingly.

If HDMI is used, it is however necessary to manually declare the interface in the control panel as primary audio output. Is not autodetected unfortunately, that the sound to be released by the digital interface and instead, there is only silence.

Transcoding

Modern GPUs can conjure up much more than just the graphics on the screen. An area of application is the transcoding of videos, whether in other resolutions or other codecs. To test the speed on AMD’s new Fusion platform, we convert a 1. 1080p trailer by means of H. h.264 codecs in the resolution to 1280 x 720.

Case of the transcoding via CPU, Intel’s Atom D525 has the nose clear front. In less than 27 minutes, the work on the ASUS Board is done with ion graphics, while the Intel’s own Board needs a little more than half a minute longer. AMD’s Brazos CPU is clearly behind with 36 minutes. The main reason it is in the “Media Show Espresso” software from CyberLink, as strongly on multi-threading is optimized the program and can therefore benefit from the four virtual cores of atoms.

In the transcoding via GPU, we must mention that the end result of calculating engine for calculating engine looks slightly different. Not while there are major differences, but the AMD result different from the from NVIDIA. Therefore, you can not fully compare the values. Intel’s GPU integrated in the chipset supports no transcoding.

In the scenario the ion GPU has the nose clear front. The work is done, while AMD’s Radeon HD 6310 for more than 23 minutes in only 13 minutes. In return, the AMD quality of the video knows something better to please, as the “noise” terms is minimal lower.

WebGL-performance

The biggest new feature of Firefox 4, and IE 9 is a new GPU acceleration, which can support the 3D graphics of the browser by means of the WebGL API. WebGL was primarily developed by the Khronos Group, and were also AMD and NVIDIA with the part of. However WebGL must be supported by the graphics card which is not generally the case.

We test the performance of the WebGL based on the well-known “Aquarium”-demo. We use the presets, say 50 represented fish. Furthermore, let us look at even the “WebGL benchmark” in the “low” setting, which is a synthetic test and iterate through several scenarios can be. The result is displayed in points, while the Aquarium demo provides the usual FPS values.

In the Aquarium demo is quickly obvious, who has the nose in front: for pure CPU rendering comes AMD’s E-350 at five frames per second, while Intel’s D525 must settle on the ion platform with three frames per second. The D525 on the Intel Board is used only on two FPS.

Because the latter WebGL using GPU does not support, the D525MW in the test suffers a total loss. The ion platform, which is already more than three times as fast as the fastest CPU solution with 16 frames per second, is, however, reflected much better. The Radeon HD 6310 on the Brazos platform is then but still 50 percent faster and comes to 24 FPS.

Synthetic WebGL-test, the results looks somewhat different, because the CPU version has the nose of the atom processor minimal front and renders faster as the Brazos platform to five (D525MW) or six percent (ion).

In the GPU variant the image of the Aquarium benchmark confirmation, however, also with a lower section. There is the E-350 eight percent faster than the D525 with the ion. The performance increase over the CPU version turns out much lower than at the Aquarium test with around 70 percent.

Everyday use

In the day-to-day operation, one quickly notices not Intel’s Atom or AMD’s Brazos close range to the performance of a normal desktop PC approached. That starts when Windows is loaded, goes further in starting and running applications and even the pure interaction with the operating system takes longer.

However, we believe that much of it is pure habituation. Who knows fast systems, must be set only once to the much lower processing power and just accept that everything takes somewhat longer. If the hearing aid is but over, which represents only a small hurdle.

Because the actual work on a low-power PC is not great other than on a brisk quad-core processor. The applications remain the same, whether it is for the use of the Internet, a Messenger program, Word, or the playback software for a Blu-ray. No program is noticed us, really has problems with the low computing power.

Performance

We separately test the pure CPU performance of the GPU speed, where we use both synthetic tests and real benchmarks. The individual results are reflected as now usual in the annex. If a test for technical reasons cannot be provided, it enters with the result “0″ in the standings.

CPU

The winner in the race for the fastest CPU is AMD E-350, where the atom competition from Intel is not far away. The processor on the Brazos platform carries out his work in an average of five percent faster than the atom D525 on the ion Board. The D525 onboard Intel’s own once again is two percent slower.

As always, there are some outliers. So the D525 on the ion Board is reflected in SiSoft Sandra at the cache speed six percent faster than the E-350. But again, on the pure Atom platform, the advantage is history. In addition, which is in the H atom D525. 264 benchmark seven (test 1) up to nine percent (test 2) there are even 33 percent faster than the AMD solution and WinRAR-test.

On the credit side, AMD has with a narrow victory by five percent for themselves to E-350, however, Cinebench, and paint-NET with a 18 (ion) and 21 (Intel) percent better performance. Finally, we measure the best result in TrueCrypt, what the AMD processor up to 42 percent faster to process.

GPU

Intel’s own graphics on the atom providing the feat in the 3D-Titeln, only to be able to start left 4 dead 2 at all. That the game as compensation for it has violent graphical errors and miserably poor performance, is thus equal to the absolute minor matter – or also said: who would like to start a 3D engine in any way, should be put on an other graphics unit.

Because the atom D525 with NVIDIA’s ion graphics all games run as usual. This does change nothing, the Radeon HD 6310 on the AMD is faster E-350 on average under 1024 x 768 and reduced details by 25 percent.

In call of duty, modern warfare 2 is the AMD solution even more than three times as fast as the ion there unexpectedly slow. In battlefield bad company 2 the ion has the nose by nine percent, however, front and in Street Fighter IV, there are also nine percent.

Frame diagrams

Although still the most appropriate representation of a benchmark is the average FPS values, as long as one simple number would have only one, this method is far from ideal. So, it is quite possible that for example the second half of a test sequence actually far worse than the first thing but not to see is on pure averages.

For this reason, we have the games battlefield: bad company 2, call of duty: modern warfare 2 and left 4 dead 2 so-called frame Chronicles made – the we believe best way reflect a temporary benchmark for the reader. If a frame we try a more consistent, 60 seconds long sequence (with some titles only 25 seconds) adjust in a game and measure the FPS values of every single second. With this information, we then feed the frame history where very precisely can be seen, how well a graphics card can represent the game over time.

In battlefield bad company 2, the Radeon HD 6310 on the Brazos platform has difficulties to keep the performance continuously, because from time to time, the performance breaks an inexplicably. So renders the system usually at about 30 frames per second, breaks all of a sudden a on about 10 FPS but in second 45 – the ion platform does not have the problem.

In other games, the course of the frame is then again succession without shocks. Left 4 dead 2 is the only game that runs on the Intel graphics solution, and takes part for this reason only there. And even despite immense graphical errors, the speed is far below that of AMD and NVIDIA.

Other tests

Cooling

For the last measurements is battlefield: bad company 2 used and quoted the volume after thirty minutes. Both measurements at a distance of 15 cm to the mainboard. Similarly, also the temperature measurements are carried out the measurements for the volume. The core temperature is at rest in the Windows desktop and under load after thirty minutes battlefield: bad company 2 or prime95 read. In addition, we measure the temperature on the heatsink using an infrared thermometer.

The ASUS E35M1-M Pro is the only Brazos Board, which allows a passive holding. Although in theory also includes the ASRock Board, but get there the temperatures quickly about the 90-degree mark, which is why we have broken the tests. The ASUS Board handles this task in the GPU load with still acceptable 89 degrees Celsius, where the chipset cooler while 68 degrees is warm.

However, the use of the supplied fan makes sense, because the fan control has been implemented very well from ASUS. Because this can be not only in numerous stages, but can be also very low rotate the fan, what is rather a rarity. So the fan on Windows with 700 turns only works in our scenario, then 1,500 revolutions under load. Even lower values are possible without further ADO, but the air flow is too low. The fan can lower the temperature under load to 67 degrees Celsius (sensor) or 46 degrees (sensor).

ASRock E350M1 could we access unfortunately back not the normally supplied fan and familiar a 120 mm case fan from Scythe, where we again use the fan control of the Board for this reason. This is not nearly as fine stage as on the ASUS counterpart, but still quite useful. Because the fan on Windows only with 550 revolutions and under load with 580 turns working. The GPU temperature goes up to 77 degrees Fahrenheit (sensor) and 50 degrees (infrared, chip temperature) maximum.

The MSI E350IA E45 although has a configurable fan controller, but is this more theoretical and knows only the State on or off. Out is although logically pleasantly quiet, lets the Brazos-chip under load, but Cook – only on Windows possible and even there the temperatures rise to 70 degrees. With the lowest setting turns the fan in 2D mode already 4,450 rpm, then 5.580 turns under load. The GPU temperature is 75 degrees (sensor) or 40 degrees (infrared) in 3D.

Only the MSI E35M1-M Pro falls on so uncomfortable in volume measurements, because the fan is on 42 decibels increase the noise level on Windows on 40 decibels and under load. In contrast, the fanless participants produce a volume of low 33 decibels (basic volume of the space including test system). Thus, the Board is consistently good to hear. This is despite the immense speeds while not disruptive, but an HTPC should be always as quiet as possible – and that does not allow unfortunately the fan control.

The supplied fan on the ASUS E35M1-M Pro does its job well. On Windows this is although minimal louder than the passive variants with 34 decibels, but must you listen very exactly, to filter out the noise. From already one meter distance we could hear the fan no longer. And even under load, this is not uncomfortable with 36 decibels. Audible Yes, but still pleasant.

The 120 mm fan from Scythe which is mounted in the housing, works in conjunction with the VR of the mainboards beautifully quiet. This is barely louder than a fanless cooling with 34 decibels in all situations.

Power consumption

A commercial consumption monitor, you can rent in the local electricity provider, is used for the measurements of power consumption.The total power consumption of the test system is measured. Also here is the division between idle and load operation. The latter is through the use of battlefield: bad company 2 see the resolution 1024 x 768 simulates.