ASUS hops on the AMD train with Geode-based Eee PC 1201K
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 12th 2010 8:59AM
posted June 12th 2010 8:59AM
posted June 12th 2010 8:59AM
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XP O_o
we're 6 months away from the year 2011 and.... nevermind.
@buoy Lol, seriously.
It's OK to let go, ASUS, It's OK.
Seriously, ASUS, XP had its time. Say goodbye.
@buoy ASUS, Windows XP is soon a 9 year old OS. I think it deserves some peace.
@HikaKao Want!
@aubreyq
It's all about price. I'm gussing the reason this model has xp is because it's super cheap .
From a quick Googling, the Geode NX is what used to be known as Athlon XP. I wonder how it compares to Atom?
@dingus yeah looks promising. found an older article... says that the Athlon really is on another level when compared to an Atom. Gotta get some more updated reviews however... but here's the link
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Atom-Athlon-Efficient,1997.html
@buoy
There's Atom and Atom, Archos just started to put dual core Atoms in its 13" netbooks
@buoy that's comparing the wrong proc. The Geode NX (according to wikipedia) is based on Athlon XP-M (K-7) architecture. It differs in integrating a memory controller. It should be quite overclockable, and will definitely outdo an atom single core. I don't know about a dual core. Interesting! They must have gotten a bargain on those chipsets.
@onecallednick I remember shortly after the Atom cpus finally hit the market and Intel was touting thier unbelieveable 2W TDP, someone did a comparison between an Atom cpu and an old Athlon 64 similarly clocked. The AMD used less power, generated less heat (it didn't need a fan), and performed BETTER than the Atom, with the minor problem of being physically gi-freakin-huge in comparison.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/17/athlon-64-2000-at-8-watts-outperforms-draws-less-energy-than-a/
I remember wishing then that AMD would just repackage/remake those chips with a 45nm fabbing process and give us some real choice in the netbook market. Nice to see that happening (without having to wait for the possibly mythical creature known as Bobcat). The Geode line was always a bit lackluster in the past, but with the bar for netbook cpus set where it is by Intel/Atom, AMD has a chance to shine (for once)...
I still wish more manus would give Via's Nano platform a chance. A three way netbook knife fight would be great for us consumers...
@onecallednick
Dual core Atoms are pretty weak, they don't give much higher benchmarks than single core Atoms.
It's all down to them being based on almost Pentium 1 roots, it's an in-order CPU. This makes it useless at any kind of multi-threading so the 2nd core is pretty underused.
I still remember overclocking my Athlon XP 2500M, great little chip, should have enough power to humble an Atom.
@onecallednick Atom needs two cores and/or hyperthreading to even be competitive with out-of-order architectures with its weak in-order design.
Clock for clock, pretty much anything right down to the pentium 3 is at least as fast but usually faster than a atom. They may sometimes feel a bit snappier with two cores but they dont get "the job" done faster.
Only 2 hour battery life?! Judging by that and the rest of the mostly unimpressive specs, I wonder if this is targeted for Walmart. That or Asus is positioning itself to have least expensive 12 incher in the market.
Here's the ASUS spec page for it:
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=DXretj33CC7MoAHh
@ItsTheOMGShow
What really? Why to make this kind of garbage. I'd imagine it only pisses of customers, so it's like shooting yourself in the leg.
@ItsTheOMGShow
There must be something wrong, I have a Turion X2 based 13" laptop which lasts 2.5 hrs on a 6 cell battery. Considering that the Turion is a huge energy muncher (if I forget to air spray the colling fan, I get to 95 degrees celsius), this should get at least 4-5 hours on a single charge.
@Sunweb This is essentially a rebranded Athlon XP-M, based on the Thoroughbred core, which came out in 2002.
Same exact chip as a 2003 Athlon XP-M 1600+, just with the process being more mature, so it can run at lower voltages and still is stable. Still can't hold a candle to modern chips on that front, though.
@bhtooefr
I know it is, but the rebranded chip is consumes much less battery than the Turion, just check the tomshardware.com article a few posts above. This thing should be a power-sipper... Maybe the VIA GPU is to blame.
@Sunweb The Geode NX 1750 has a 14 watt typical consumption, 25 watt maximum: http://www.amd.com/us-en/ConnectivitySolutions/ProductInformation/0,,50_2330_9863_10837,00.html
There are Turion Neo X2s down all the way to 18 watt maximum.
Why don't we add a "k" to the brand, eeek? ;)
Geode NX? Isn't that what they use in the OLPC? This notebook better be absurdly cheap lol
@Luffy No, this is a different architecture than that used in the OLPC.
I've tried to find some information about this CPU, but all I found was information from "the old times"(2006-2008) Is this CPU really that old?
Wow, 8 1/2 hours between posts?
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget That's rather unusual, but I guess I prefer that instead of filler posts.
@aubreyq night time?
so close (amd) and yet so far (sis chipset)
Since Intel isn't doing anything with atom anymore, that's a good thing. Seriously since when do we have those 1.6 ghz cpus?
Wait, wait, wait . . Am I completely wrong or is this built on a 130nm process?
"133 MHz Front Side Bus (FSB)
0.13 µm (130 nm) fabrication process"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geode_(processor)
I mean come on that is just so old!
@GetInMyBelly
Hopefully that means this will cost around $200 or something and is that a catfrog?
@sphbking
It's a crog. I mean, it couldn't possibly be a frat.
@GetInMyBelly
They are exactly the same chips as the XP-M just rebadged Geode, they even still require socket A.
It makes them VERY cheap.
CPU is REALLY old, just like the chipset (like 2003!?).
seriously, wtf Asus?
2h akku, but i'll be really cheap (below 300$).
I'm not setting my balls on fire by putting an AMD-brand space heater on my legs, thank you very much.
Quit playing with my head Asus and just release the 1218 already!
This is for developing countries.
Developing my balls...
Umpc used to use amd geode cpu. It was great on power consumption and they dont need heatsink at all. Im not really sure about the one asus chossed...
meh, Pass!
Guys, ... the Geode NX is just a K7. Remember? Athlon XP?
This one uses the Thoroughbred core.
Performance wise it should beat the single core Atom in pure raw performance. Problem is though that it misses SSE2/3 and bandwidth. So forget about anything that requires that ... like HD Flash.
A month ago I build a system for my mom. I used an AthlonXP 2500+ (a bit faster than the NX 1750), well it can do non-HD flash just fine and feels quite snappy in XP.
If the price is right, then this isn't so bad at all.
About the FSB, it's double pumped so that becomes like 266Mhz.
And as far as I know, they always combine the Geode NX with the SIS 741CX (not GX) but they're basically the same thing anyway.
The biggest fail is the DirectX 7 IGP though.
Engadget, this is definitely not the first ASUS AMD netbook. The 1201T has been out for quite a while now (and is quite awesome).
SiS Chipset
0.3 MP
Windows XP
(No Pricing Yet)
-
I'm guessing the price is $100 dollars at the most. Wouldnt want to bother w/ this if it's more.
Can someone please kill ATOM once and for all? It's a piece of shit. No need to keep it around when we have i3 / i5 / i7 processors.
You got to hand to Asus they really know their stuff, but they have a tendency to do stupid things , I wonder if the head of research is am alcoholic or just freaked out on LSD?? Why oh why did they use a SIS chip set??? Yes its cheap, but SIS chip sets are well know for them incomparability problems. I guess thats why they went with windows XP and not 7 cause it takes SIS about five years to work out all their kinks! Believe me I have purchased several SIS chipsets and each and everyone had compatibility problems. Every time I feel brave I buy another one and then regret it and have to argue with the store to give it back.Happened at least three times in the last six years. Don't go near this machine!! You have been forewarned , it will make you grey early. And if Asus is listening, Shame on you , you do know better than to sell junk to your loyal clients!!!