Processor Atom N450: specifications, photos and reviews. Test results and comparison with analogues

Any modern device capable of performing various calculations is equipped with a processor. Their assortment on the market is so great that an unprepared user is very easy to get lost among a variety of performance characteristics, sockets and additional instructions. How can one choose a reliable processor that can quickly cope with the tasks and at the same time guarantee a long and stable operation? This article is devoted to the processor Intel Atom CPU N450.

Processors

In the English IT segment, there is a definition of the CPU, which means the central processing unit. It is responsible for the execution of machine instructions and is the most important part of the personal computer. The performance of the processor depends on the power of the system as a whole.

The main characteristics of the processors include:

• Clock speed;
• performance;
• Energy consumption;
• Type of technical process;
• Architecture.

• The clock frequency characterizes the number of operations that a processor can perform per clock cycle. This parameter is used most often when describing this type of computing devices.
• The performance parameter is quite controversial and can sometimes reflect the totality of all product features, and sometimes show a specific value expressed in the flop / s.
• Energy consumption is one of the key parameters. It is he who, like no one else, influences the autonomy of the work. The less a laptop or netbook will consume energy, the longer it can work. And it directly depends on the processor's performance.
• Technical process. In no way directly affects the characteristics. However, it reflects how the processor was made. Already on the basis of this we can judge how long it was manufactured. In fact, it shows that a larger number of electronic components can be placed on a smaller area.
• The architecture of the processor. For personal computers, basically two types are used - 32 and 64-bit. A large increase in the transition from a lower value to a larger one should not be expected. Indeed, something can be noticed only when working with databases or modeling tools.

Atom processor family

The family of Atom processors, manufactured by Intel, is created taking into account effective energy consumption. These models are oriented to portable devices, for which energy costs are very critical. A vivid example is the newfangled netbooks. They are convenient to carry, they have a small screen size and an optimized energy efficiency system. On them, you can make simple work, such as typing or surfing the Internet.

Since 2012, Intel has begun production of "Atoms" on a single-chip system. That is, now the memory controllers and graphics adapters are placed on a single chip. This has significantly reduced the cost of installing individual components. As a result, the final product has become cheaper.

Atom N450 Processor: At a Glance

This CPU was the continuation of the Atom series. Intel Atom N450 was released in 2010. On one chip are the DDR2 controller and built-in video card GMA 3150. Its capacity is quite enough to conduct optimal computing activity on nettops and netbooks. The existing graphics processor does a good job of viewing video in the usual format, visiting web pages and office work. But with HD, editing graphics and the simultaneous launch of several programs can be difficult. One of the great advantages of the N450 is its very low power consumption.

Atom N450 Specifications

The internal code name for the processor is PineView. Its technology involves the use of a single core with a frequency of 1.66 GHz. But this happens with the distribution of tasks on two threads. Atom N450 has a second level cache in the amount of 512 KB. And the design power of energy consumption does not exceed 5.5 watts.

The processor can not boast of the availability of Turbo Boost technology, although it is not so necessary on portable devices. Also, there is no ability to work with virtualization as VT-x. Hyper-Threading technology, as mentioned above, supports the work of a dual-threaded kernel. This will be relevant in applications optimized for multithreading, the number of which is growing every year. It is possible to support memory more than 4 GB due to the implementation of 64-bit architecture. Used in the production process is 45 Nm.

Tests and comparison with the closest analogues

The closest relative and characteristics can be considered the predecessor - Atom N270. At the same frequency, the Atom N450 shows itself more profitable, but it is more expensive and consumes twice as much power. But, as the tests say, this device has a much higher watt-to-performance ratio.

Interestingly, comparing performance with the N2600, which has two cores for work, showed a significant loss in the Atom N450. The N2600 is manufactured using 32 Nm of technology, which means that a lot more transistors can be placed on the chip. At the same time, the number of threads is generally 4, and the cache of the second level is twice as large as the Atom CPU N450. But tests are tests, and they reflect the actual state of things, in isolation from the declared characteristics.

Comparison with products from AMD

AMD and Intel are constantly engaged in an invisible war for the loyalty of users. This is expressed in the competition for the production of productive products. The closest in the spirit are the processors from AMD C60, C50 and A4 1200.

AMD C60

The C60 has two cores, in contrast to the Intel Atom N450 processor. Its memory controller is able to operate at a frequency of 1066 and has the type DDR3. The level of the second level cache is two times higher. The frequency is slightly lower - from 1000 to 1333 MHz in the "Turbo" mode. In this case, the Atom N450 - 1.66.

As a result, the potential frequency obtained when overclocking the Atom N450 is higher than that of the C60, and can be 1.9 GHz. In the same speed of reading the data, Atom is inferior to the analog from AMD - 38550 against 25700 MB / s. The N450 is also unable to support virtualization, while the competitor copes well with it. The technological process of C60 is less by 5 Nm and is more advanced. As a result - in most tests the Atom N450 shows the worst result.

AMD C50

The C50 is also a dual-core processor that has the same memory controller as its counterpart. The frequency at 0.6 GHz is less than for the N450. At the same time, overall performance per watt is higher. The C50 has 2 MB of the second level cache, while 450 have only 512 KB of cache. This greatly speeds up access to frequently used data. By the way, in the speed of their transfer, 450 also loses - 32500 instead of 25700 MB / s. Again, virtualization is also available on this model. In general, here again the Atom N450 loses a bit.

AMD A4 1200

This processor does not represent a particular interest for overclocking, since its nominal frequency of 1 GHz will remain so. The Atom N450 has the same potential for this. However, the advantages of 450 in front of A4 end here.

It starts with the fact that there are two cores in A4 1200. Each is capable of working in a dual-threaded mode. The size of the cache in the second level is higher and is 1 MB. The maximum power consumption is 4W, while 450 is 5.5. The memory controller is of type DDR3, which means that this model is more technologically efficient and capable of operating at a frequency of 1066 MHz. Also, the production process in 1200 is 1.5 times smaller. In this comparison AMD A4 1200 is the clear favorite, which is confirmed by tests for popular computing.

Reviews about N450

The presence of models of laptops with a processor set. And the opinions of users are divided relative to one or another implementation of the processor in each device. Many of them note the inexpensive characteristics of the Intel Atom N450, which together affects the price of the entire laptop.

There is a surprise about his performance. For example, users express their joy because they bought a laptop with this processor. They assure that they bought it only for study, but they were pleasantly surprised when the Atom N450 and the integrated graphics adapter coped well with old and unpretentious games.

From the general background of the reviews it is clear that users in most cases purchase models of devices with the Atom N450 for the Internet and work with documents. And the device we are considering is doing the very best with such tasks.

A special line worth noting is the positive feedback on the duration of battery life. After all, the Atom N450 is not picky about this parameter. Therefore, manufacturers do not need to install large capacity batteries on their devices, which results in a lower cost of the product.

Owners note that laptops with this processor are able to work for 3-4 hours without recharging, even after a few years of use. And if the manufacturer installed a high-capacity battery, then all 8. The low price of the processor is also a key factor when choosing a device for work and simple entertainment.

conclusions

After a detailed review of the Atom N450 processor, we can conclude that this product is targeted at the budget segment of the market. Low power consumption allows the introduction of cheaper batteries, which reduces the final price of the product. The same factor makes it possible to use the laptop on the road and long trips, without worrying that he will sit down at the most inopportune moment.

Comparison with the closest competitors makes it clear that the processor is slightly behind AMD's products, and at the same time outperforms its predecessors and fellow producers. This is also confirmed by tests conducted by several users. However, with all this, fans of Intel will be able to see first-hand the reliability of the processor and its low power consumption.