Many of us have been reading the news about the HP 2133 and wondering how it might perform with the VIA Isaiah processor instead of the C7. VIA have been talking about 2-4 times performance which, if applied to the 2133, could yield a device that could span low-cost netbook to mobile powerbook. I have been sent an Isaiah test result that indicates a significant processing power boost. Obviously this isn’t the full story, but it’s one of the first test results I’ve seen for Isaiah and gives a good indicator. [more after the break]
Firstly, lets remind ourselves how a 1.2Ghz C7-M and VX700M performs on the CrystalMark tests. These results are from a current WiBrain UMPC.
CrystalMark Score: 14382
[ ALU ] 1987
[ FPU ] 1850
[ MEM ] 1228
[ HDD ] 4516
[ GDI ] 1811
[ D2D ] 2710
[ OGL ] 280
The first two tests are CPU-intensive tests. The second, memory speed, the third is disk-specific and the last three, graphics tests.
Here’s the result with a 1.0Ghz Isaiah (ULV) and VN896 Update: VX800 chipset.
CrystalMark Score: 25927
[ ALU ] 4762 (280%)
[ FPU ] 2976 (190%)
[ MEM ] 6067
[ HDD ] 7178
[ GDI ] 2684
[ D2D ] 2260
[OGL] test not done.
(Memory and disk results not comparable.)
If you focus on the first two test results there, you can see the difference in the CPU-centric tests. Figures in brackets are normalised (clock-for-clock) % increases. The integer result is particularly impressive. The figures bring the Isaiah up to something similar, in a clock-for-clock comparison, as an Intel Pentium 4 ULV but for much less power drain. Where a 1.2Ghz Pentium would have had a 5W TDP, the Isaiah has a 3.5W TDP which is a 30% improvement. Add-in the VX800 advantages and, assuming the price isn’t going to be sky-high, you’ve got a very capable, power-efficient little platform that could easily handle low-end desktop duties in a handheld package.
It’s starting to look like VIA will have a platform upgrade (remember that the Isaiah slots right in where C7’s lived before) that will set them up nicely in the mobile computing market. We’re not talking about pocketability here, the Mobile-ITX platform is coming for that, but for netbooks and nettops the VIA approach of one motherboard, many target markets will save OEMs a stack of cash. Imagine the HP2133 eventually scaling the $350 to $1350 price bracket and offering a combination of specifications that would satisfy 4 or 5 target markets. That’s something that Intel can’t do with any of their processors.
I’m looking forward to seeing more tests on the Isaiah to confirm these tests but these first results certainly point in the right direction for VIA.
