I'd rather an N280, the Z series is the slower silverthorne variant of Atom originally meant for umpc/mid use. The N series is a good deal more capable, though it uses a little more power.
The issue with your receiver is unfortunate, but you should be relieved to know that since pcm is a digital signal, your receiver is doing the digital/analogue conversion in either case and there will be absolutely zero difference in what you hear, despite what some idiots argue. If your receiver has some sort of 'listening profile' mode then you could use that to save your lfe settings and such for your ps3.
Wrong, look at that graph you posted. Z series (silverthorne) has lower performance than N series (diamondville) at the same clock. If you buy anything with a Z series processor you are sacrificing price and performance for power efficiency.
I for one wish that Engadget would make an effort to better inform people of the differences between the 2 families of atom processors. It seems that public knowledge is generally that there is just 'Atom' or like you, that the Z series is better, usually assuming the same performance per clock for Silverthorn when this is not the case at all. Silverthorn was originally meant for superportable premium devices such as umpcs, hence the lower power consumption and higher price tag.
Why wait? It works fine now, and if everyone waits then everyone has to keep waiting. x64 is not the support nightmare it was a few years ago. I've been on Vista 64 for more than a year now and everything works. Performance in games is even comparable to xp32, and my 4gb of ddr2 all gets used. I would suggest waiting until near the end of the year though for ddr3, it's a lot cheaper than it was but it still has a long way to fall and the nehalem release is sure to give it a good kick down the hill.
Oh great, more deliberate ambiguity from Intel. First, everyone forgets that there are two very different Atoms, Silverthorne and Diamondville, and continually assume one is the other. Now there is a third one?
Engadget, on behalf of your entire readership, I implore you to start referring to actual chip code names rather than a broad product class when discussing cpus.
Liquid crystal lasers will light up next-gen HDTVs, your life
Apr 21st 2009 9:11PM (Engadget)Intel debuts 2GHz Atom Z550 processor, demos Moorestown platform
Apr 8th 2009 1:55AM (Engadget)GDC09: Takahashi says Noby Noby Boy was developed on 360
Mar 26th 2009 10:41PM (Joystiq)Intel's Z5xx series of Atom processors hits 2GHz
Mar 20th 2009 7:32PM (Engadget)If you buy anything with a Z series processor you are sacrificing price and performance for power efficiency.
I for one wish that Engadget would make an effort to better inform people of the differences between the 2 families of atom processors.
It seems that public knowledge is generally that there is just 'Atom' or like you, that the Z series is better, usually assuming the same performance per clock for Silverthorn when this is not the case at all. Silverthorn was originally meant for superportable premium devices such as umpcs, hence the lower power consumption and higher price tag.
Engadget's recession antidote: win a pair of Audioengine A2 speakers!
Feb 18th 2009 1:59PM (Engadget)NVIDIA Ion platform gets demonstrated at CES
Jan 13th 2009 7:51AM (Engadget)Gigabyte shows off robust Core i7 prototype motherboard
Aug 27th 2008 8:45PM (Engadget)I would suggest waiting until near the end of the year though for ddr3, it's a lot cheaper than it was but it still has a long way to fall and the nehalem release is sure to give it a good kick down the hill.
Intel Centrino Atom becomes Atom, Atom still Atom, you're confused
Aug 14th 2008 7:29AM (Engadget)First, everyone forgets that there are two very different Atoms, Silverthorne and Diamondville, and continually assume one is the other. Now there is a third one?
Engadget, on behalf of your entire readership, I implore you to start referring to actual chip code names rather than a broad product class when discussing cpus.
Thankyou.
Impressions: Afro Samurai, and a slew of dead bodies
Jul 17th 2008 1:35PM (Joystiq)Here's hoping this game is a whole lot better.
Impressions: Afro Samurai, and a slew of dead bodies
Jul 17th 2008 12:21PM (Joystiq)