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Puma Platform for Notebooks |
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Written by Sasa Pantelic
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
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Page 2 of 4
| HD 3200 in Dual Channel |
| Few days ago we got another notebook based on PUMA platform. This time it is pre-sale sample that comes from ASUS. F5Z differs from MSI model in few details, and our attention was caught by the fact that it has two memory modules, so we got a chance to test performances of integrated graphics card in Dual Channel mode. As you can see from results performances are noticeable better, although F5Z has slightly slower CPU (Turion Ultra at 2.1 GHz). Impressive improvement can be seen in Doom3, where F5Z achieved increase of 45% in FPS compared to MSI model. |
First notebook based on AMD Puma platform, that we have tested, wears MSI signature which is no surprise considering the fact that world premiere was at CeBit08 with this exact model. Trust showed to MSI is just another proof of how much importance MSI attaches to this segment. Thanks to agility and good collaboration with AMD, MSI once more puts its products at focus, making good publicity along the way.
Notebook wears a mark MSI PR211 but this is still not a final version, there are constant fine adjustments and “dressing up” of platform. That’s why you should look upon test results with reserve, but in positive sense. Performances will only get better (probably), through drivers and BIOS optimization.
MSI PR211 brings to us only a part of Puma’s innovations. What misses are additional graphics card and flash memory. Quality made is quite descent and it looks to us that keyboard is better than on previous models. Display can be categorized as better one in middle class. Notebook is equipped with Blu-Ray reader and this fact reveals much more than it looks on first sight. This fact tells us that integrated GPU is able to deal with reproduction of very demanding video material, which is possibility that in near future will be important to users. As we said before, this is engineering sample of this notebook and we will focus more on interior than at exterior.
After long intensive work, we noticed a little bit more warming up, so it’s obvious that more corrections and optimizations of consumption are needed. Although autonomy test result were very good, we shouldn’t disregard big battery capacity. These two things are in conjunction, so in final version they will kill two birds with one stone – lower warming up and increased autonomy. How big this improvement will be, we will find out in a month or two.
AMD fulfilled entirely one of promises. GPU on new platform leaves competition far behind, when it comes to 3D performances. ATI Radeon HD 3200 performances of integrated graphics are in rank with ATI HD 2400 and nVIDIA 8400M G “discrete” graphics card. In any case, much faster than other integrated solutions. Finally less demanding gamers can play games without investment in expensive portable computers.
When it comes to test results you should have in mind that test sample had only one module of 2GB memory at 667MHz. With two modules of 1GB each (dual channel mode) at maximum supported 800MHz, results would be higher.
If we look only raw CPU power, AMD Turion X2 Ultra didn’t exceed Core2Duo on same clock, which is logical, because its architecture is very similar to older Turion models. Accent is put on power saving and one tested specimen isn’t enough for reliable conclusions.
One thing is for sure, AMD Puma already offers great deal and there is still room for improvements. With just a few innovative solutions, AMD will significantly expand its presence on notebook market. We just have to wait for final production models to get whole picture and hope that we will get real alternative to Intel models.
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