Samsung has opted for the Atom N550 (2 x 1.5 GHz) Dual Core processor, which sits on the NM10-Netbook chipset from Intel. As already with the single core CPUs N450/N455, the GMA 3150 graphics is integrated into the processor. This is therefore contained in the TDP value of 8.5 Watts. The single cores N450/N455 (5.5 Watts) have an approximately three Watts lower TDP.Dell Vostro 1200 Battery

The N550 has a DDR3 memory controller (as standard from N455), which is why one GByte PC3-8500F-RAM (a Samsung module) is used. This slot is accessible via a small panel on the bottom, and the module can be replaced by a two or four GByte version. Dell Inspiron 1320 Battery

The graphics unit GMA 3150 (clock speed 200 MHz, DirectX-9c) is not suitable for current games (often loading is not possible), and can also not help the processor with certain processing tasks (no hardware support). Whether movies do indeed stutter, or whether games do not run, is ascertained by us below under Videos and Games.Dell Inspiron 1320n Battery

Further components include a 2.5 inch hard drive from Hitachi, with 250 GBytes of storage capacity (HTS543225A7A384). Dell Inspiron 11z Battery

System information Samsung NF310-A01DE

Atom N550 2 x 1.5 GHzThe Atom N550 supports Hyper Threading as standard. Due to this the Dual Core can process up to four threads. Can this expedite multi-tasking operations that the Intel Atom in-order-architecture could not shine with previously? We compared the single core Atom N455/N450, that was previously included in almost all Netbooks up until now.Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Battery

We called on the multi-core benchmark Cinebench R10 32-bit for advice. The N550 reached 1322 points. The N455 only 840 (@1.66 GHz, Acer One 533-13Drr), or 888 points (@1.7 GHz, Asus Eee PC 1016P). An N450 reaches 938 points (@1.66 GHz, Asus Eee PC 1008P).Dell Inspiron Mini 1011 Battery

Verdict multi-core: Using all four threads (Hyper Threading) the Dual Core Atom processes 57 percent faster than a N455@1.66 GHz. The higher clock speed of the single core cannot prevent this.Compaq Presario CQ40 Battery

If only a single thread is processed (single core) the performance balances out again. The Cinebench R10 single 32-bit ends with 517 points. A N455 reaches 568 (@1.66 GHz), and 581 points (@1.7 GHz). The 1.5 GHz clock speed therefore doesn't pose a significant disadvantage. Compaq Presario CQ41 Battery

From a synthetic vantage point the Dual Core N550 therefore overtakes its single core colleagues without difficulties. The Dual Core Atom is nevertheless still not the Ultima Ratio of the fastest Netbook. There is the AMD V105 (Eee PC 1015T), or even better the Athlon K125 (Acer Aspire One 521). These systems process faster (single core test 1491 points, K125), and achieve the same system performance score (1686 points) as our tested Samsung device in PCMark Vantage. Compaq Presario CQ45 Battery

2.8Windows 7 Experience IndexProcessorCalculations per second3.1Memory (RAM)Memory operations per second4.5GraphicsDesktop performance for Windows Aero2.8Gaming graphics3D business and gaming graphics3Primary hard diskDisk data transfer rate5.5 CB10 Rendering Single 32Bit 517 pointsCompaq Presario CQ50 Battery

The perceived working speed of the Samsung NF310 is smoother and therefore more pleasant than compared to all the Atom single core Netbooks that we have tested so far. The system benchmark PCMark Vantage ended with 1671 points, whereby the HDD sub-score of 3070 also plays a part. Compaq Presario CQ60 Battery

Netbooks with the N450 (e.g. Samsung N230-JA01DE/SEG Storm) lie at 1266 points. If faster DDR3 RAM comes in to the picture through the N455, this has also not led to more points in our previously tested devices: 1160 points (Aspire One 533-13Drr). Summary: Our N550 system is 31 percent faster than the best single core system.Compaq Presario CQ61 Battery

The AMD Netbooks can keep up, as long as a Athlon K125 (Aspire One 521) is included: 1686 points in PCMark Vantage. The V105 (Eee PC 1015T) is slower with its 1360 points though. The advantage of the AMD solution is the HD graphics card ATI HD 4225, and a HDMI output. Compaq Presario CQ70 Battery

Compaq Presario CQ71 Battery The Hitachi hard drive (type HTS543225A7A384) with 250 GBytes works with a rotational speed of 5400 RPM. HD Tune determined an average transfer rate of 52.6 MBytes per second (sequential read). This data rate is clearly below the mid-range of comparable 2.5 inch hard drives in Netbooks and also Notebooks (approx. 65 MB/s). The access time of 19.1 milliseconds also has to stand at the back of the line of other rotating hard drives. Fast 5400 RPM HDDs can reach 16.9 ms (Dell Mini 1012).HP G50 Battery

Those that wish to increase the 250 GB will not have a panel available for access. Due to the fact that the bottom of the chassis forms a single item, it is likely that the keyboard and the cover plate will also have to be removed. We were not confident enough to carry out this procedure though, due to the lack of clear instructions. HP G60 Battery

The HD Ready display (1366 x 768) allows for perfect movie watching. Unfortunately the hardware decoding of current HD videos is not supported by the GMA 3150. The ultimate for movie fans? Only partially, since the N550 with its four processed threads helps out, and allows for H.264 coded HD videos with 720p (1280 x 720 pixels) to be played smoothly.HP G61 Battery

The playback is not completely judder free (approx. 85% CPU load) and the best results are achieved when playing back from the hard drive. YouTube videos (720p), played on the website, run smoothly. The performance is about identical to the Aspire One D255 (N550), which only has a WSVGA resolution though. HP G70 Battery

A comprehensive gaming test of the N550 + GMA 3150 combination has already been completed for the Asus Eee PC 1015PEM. Older as well as current games already proved to be unplayable (9 games from Doom 3 to StarCraft 2). A better performance as a result of the two cores only turned out to be the case for Trackmania Nations Forever, which was still not playable though. HP G71 Battery

Samsung doesn't give up on the gaming theme so easily though, and installed two 2XL games (demos): Supercross (2009) and Trophylite Rally (2010). Using the highest settings both run smoothly, which is no surprise though, considering that they are iPhone suited games. The graphics look correspondingly modest. HP Pavilion dv4 Battery

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