System setup and notes
| System name | Novatech Allspark VHP64 | Scan 3XS ION | Acer Timeline 5810T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Quad 9550S (2.83GHz, 12MB L2 cache, 1,333MHz FSB, quad-core) | Intel Atom N330 (1.6GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 533MHz FSB, dual-core) | Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 (1.4GHz, 3MB L2 cache, dual-core) |
| Motherboard | ZOTAC GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi (MCP7A) mini-ITX | ZOTAC ION Mini-ITX | Acer GS45 |
| Memory | 4GB DDR2 | 4GB DDR2 | 4GB DDR3 |
| Memory timings and speed | 5-5-5-15-2T @ 800MHz | 5-5-5-15-2T @ 800MHz | 6-6-6-15-2T @ 800MHz |
| Graphics card(s) | ASUS GeForce GTS 250 512MB | NVIDIA GeForce 9400M (ION) | Intel X4500 MHD |
| Screen size and native res | N/A | N/A | 15.6in - 1,366x768 |
| WiFi | VIA 802.11b/g | AzureWave 802.11b/g/n | Intel WiFi 5100 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Disk drive(s) | Hitachi 320GB, 7,200rpm, 16MB cache | Samsung 1TB Eco Green, 5,400rpm, 32MB cache | Hitachi 500GB, 5,400rpm, 8MB cache |
| Optical drive(s) | Samsung SN-S083 DVD ReWriter | Sony Optiarc BC-5500S Blu-ray combo drive | 8x DVD ReWriter |
| Operating System | Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, 64-bit | Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, 64-bit | Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, 32-bit |
| Current price (as tested) | £677.35 |
£722 (as tested) | £649 (as tested) |
| Benchmarks | 7-zip (7z4.65,
32/64-bit) compression of 205MB worth of
photos CINBENCH R10 64-bit VLC 0.9.9 playback of Terminator Salvation 720p and 1080p PowerDVD 9 Blu-ray of Die Hard 4.0 Enemy Territory: Quake Wars v1.5 - 1,024x768 - medium detail and 1,920x1,200 high detail Power-consumption tests |
|---|
Notes
We're comparing the Novatech Allspark VHP64 against an eclectic range of systems. Contender number one is an NVIDIA ION-based system from Scan. Taking in the dual-core variant and relying on the GeForce 9400M graphics, it's a SFF box aimed for the lounge. Kind of in-between the two, Acer's Timeline laptops feature Intel's CULV platform, here manifested by a Core 2 Duo SU9400 chip and integrated X4500 MHD graphics.