Eee PC 1215n Performance

yep, any combination of chips up to 8gb should work.

 

Hello there, Im new in these forums but lately I've been coming here alot to check for info on netbooks.
So I can get my hands on a 1215N for 350 euros
or
1215B with the C60 cpu for 300 euros
or
1215B with the E450 cpu for 400 euros

400 euros is way too much for me, only with a bit of luck Ill be hable to purchase it, I wanted to know whats the better choice the 1215N(Ion/Atom) or the 1215B(C60/6290)
Im counting on playing HD through its HDMI port, programming in college, travelling, some light gaming(oblivion/league of legends).
Should I choose the C60 or the Ion gives me a better performance?

 

Going by raw performance the 1215n ion/atom combo is still by far the most powerful when overclocked and tweaked (see the guide on page 1) however the E450 for me would be the preferred solution so you don't have to deal with the igp/optimus drivers which can sometimes be a little glitchy (slight hassle - nothing major).

In order of performance it goes 1215n>1215b-E450>1215b-C60 because the ion chip in the 1215n is quite a bit better than the amd igp's still.

If your choice is confined to the c60 and the ion/atom then go for the ion/atom 1215n - its a far more capable machine as the c60 processor is abysmally weak and the atom isn't bad at all (especially when overclocked ).

 

Really, I thought I'd read the opposite, (on multiple sites), or has the atom/ion been updated since the E-350's launch? (or maybe I'm just remembering things backwards )

 

I can easily get along with drivers... Never had a problem I couldnt fix atleast with a lil research.
Hoping on getting the cash asap to get the Ion, I already had it in my hands since Im a friend of the shop owner but if some1 order's it somewhere else there he goes and prolly my last chance of seeing one of those here.

 

On average the E350 gets around 800 in 3dmark vantage whilst i have had 1100 out of my 1215n - granted thats its max overclock but its easy enough to do. At stock levels they are pretty much still level with the E350 getting a slightly better cpu score. Overall the ion combo has more performance potential that can push it far ahead if utilised correctly.

 

I see. Most of the stuff I've read show E350 machines achieving higher frame rates in the majority of, (not all), games tested. Since I don't really plan to OC I suppose I'll stick with AMD. Honestly, I could care less about benchmarking, as I've typically found it to have little bearing on real world performance @ this point. (and I'm not planning to set any records )

 

My example of 3dmark was just to illustrate that performance is usually around 20% better than the amd and my extensive gaming tests have consistntly trounced the results of the amd E350 posted on various sites (no doubt the ones you have looked at).
Another point worth noting is that at the time the Atom/Ion systems were released and reviewed the drivers were appauling so the results on sites like Toms Hardware and Notebookcheck dont reflect the performance of the machine.
HOWEVER as you pointed out if you dont want to OC then the amd would be your most consistant performer and would have probably been my choice had it been available at the time i purchased.

 

Thanks.. having said that, if an E450 version of the same machine were around, (but it was roughly half a pound heavier & a touch thicker because of it, though a bit more durable too), do you think you'd have chosen it instead? Originally I'd hoped to snag an x120e but am now mulling over whether it's worth waiting for the E450/x130e version. I don't care about the "childish" looks everybody's pounding them about, though would prefer this particular machine to be as slim & lightweight as possible. Also, my apologies for being off-topic.

 

Personally im not a fan of the thinkpad's aesthetic, i like a machine of this class to be as thin as possible and i kinda like asus's simple design. But the performance difference between the e350 and the e450 warrants attention due to it's new turbo feature so i would have waited for an e450 system like the newly announced asus 1225b. If i were forced to go for a x130e though i would probably look into the i3 version over the E450 - depending on the price of course, although thats straying into the ballpark of the m11x so maybe i wouldnt. Anyway tangent over .

Just to bring it back to the thread topic - as it stands none of these current/upcoming amd machines really outperform what i have in the 1215n so i dont really regret my descision (yet) and i will probably keep this for the next year or two if i dont break it first (had a few clumbsey moments lately, dropping it on a hard floor ).

 

Yeah, I'm not all that into the their aesthetic either, (still considering the VAIO E450), though am a fan of the matte screen, trackpoint nub & keyboard/overall build quality thinkpads bring to the table. If all that came in a smooth, slim case, (and of course this size & price), I'd be all over it.

As for the i3, I'm expecting lesser video performance again, at least in stock form. (and like you mentioned, probable pricing)

 

Actually given that the i3 is a sandybridge chip the gpu is an intel hd 3000 which is as powerful as a geforce 310m putting it quite a bit above the ion and the amd gpu. But yes no doubt the price will be a bit inflated .

 

I'm new here and wanted to show off the specs of my machine which is only a month old: CPU overclock: now run at 2.25 GHz, GPU overclock: now run at 625 core, 948 memory, and 1500 shader (all in MHz), 500 GB Seagate Momentus XT hybrid solid state hard drive with 4 GB of solid state flash, 8 GB memory all usable in my 32 bit Home Premium OS (ask and I will tell how to do it), Intel 6320 A,B,G,N dual band 300 MB a second WiFi with Bluetooth 3.0, virtual network hosting, and support for Intel WiDi wireless displays (my machine had no Bluetooth or these other things before). Hacked the start up to display a picture of my choosing, start sound is now a PlayStation start up, and I can have a moving desktop wallpaper. Total investment including the price of the machine: $475.

For info on the software tweaks and hacks that makes the OS do these things, ask and I can give detailed instructions. They will not harm the OS and the memory hack actually sped my system up a little. It also runs at decent temperatures despite the 25 to 30 percent overclock on it. They are past the generally set limits for this machine but I don't listen to people very well and it will only freeze if I try to set the clock speeds under load or if it is a little hot. Once set, it never freezes even after hours of 100 percent load on the CPU.

As a side note, does anyone know of a mini PCI E video card that will run Nvidia's PhysX software? Want to dedicate the CPU to rendering the game data, GPU to video rendering, and a separate card for PhysX rendering. I know I will lose the wireless card but there is enough free space inside it for a USB hub, USB wireless card, Bluetooth, and maybe mobile broadband too.

 

I was wondering... whenever I overclock the cpu, the gameplay of some games become faster, not fps-wise, for example in PES 2012 the player run like hell, and the same is with Skyrim... is anybody experiencing these issues?

 

I don't know the tech behind this problem but I know it is a common thing. I run older games on my machine. I'm currently playing Sonic Adventure DX for PC. Have the same issues. The player will run somewhat faster when my CPU is set to my 2.25 GHz overclock. The ION overclock is barely enough to keep up with the video rendering. My meter shows that it is always above 80 percent and at times will max out usage during game play. The ION does make the environment smoother than the original game was. As for the faster movement, I rather enjoy it. Makes it easier to complete time attacks faster. If the faster movement isn't causing problems, I say to embrace it and become a speed player.

 

My 1215N Silver arrived today straight from Germany, was having some problems with the Wi-Fi but solved it disabling a config on it.
I am liking this computer alot but I'd like to know where we can check which GPU we using?
I have no idea of which one I am using lol
Havent played games either, just tried a 1080p playback at youtube and it ran flawlessly, just what I intended when I bought this computer
Thanks for all the answers.

 

My 1215N is a silver one too. The GPU is the Nvidia ION 2 with 512 MB of dedicated video memory and Optimus auto switching between the ION and Intel's graphics in the chip set for video rendering.

 

In the nvidia control panel theres an option to "display gpu activity". This creates a little icon in the tray area which shows you when the ion is being used and by what program.
GPUz is also a good option, this little utility can be run in the background and show you the realtime stats of the ion gpu and by looking at the gpu utilization graph you can see when and how much it is being used.

 

hey sonicdude10 where did you get the wifi card with bluetooth 3.0 from since i plan on buying one for my 1215n

 

Ebay. Just search for WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 combo mini pci card. bought mine for under $18 shipped. You might try looking for a card that has the new Bluetooth 4.0 standard. This is the name of the card I got as the listing showed:

Intel 6230 802.11 abgn WLAN Bluetooth 3.0 Combo Card.

I can't promise compatibility yet because I haven't installed it yet. You will probably lose the function of the buttons on the keyboard that turn the WiFi on and off. I view this as an acceptable loss for me because I never use them anyway. But then again, you may not. If you will hold off on replacing your card, I will test it out and see how well it functions in my machine and post what my results are. Be warned, complete disassembley of your machine is required to get to it. It is very easy to break the tabs that seal the keyboard around the edges. Did that to mine when I replaced my hard drive. I will also have to search the web for the proper drivers as there was no mention of them in the listing. Last of all, make sure to either get a full length card or make sure to get an adapter for half length cards. My new card will have the mounting adapter with it.

New update. Just bought this off ebay while writing this:

Broadcom 802.11N Wireless WIFI + Bluetooth 4.0 Combo Card BCM94313HMGBL BCM20702

THIS one will go in my 1215N and the other one will go in my Acer Aspire One. Got this new on for $30 new and shipped. It is compatible with some Asus models, will have to do testing once it arrives. It is a half form factor so the mounting adapter mentioned above will be needed to correctly mount it inside. Decided on this because when I got the first one, I forgot that Bluetooth is now 4.0, thought 3.0 was the current standard. If this is going to work for you, better go ahead and get one. There are now only 2 left on ebay at the time of this post.

 

A little update on my WiFi card replacement. Currently debating as to whether I should put in my Intel one with Bluetooth 3.0, the virtual network, and WiDi display technology in my machine or go with the Broadcom one and lose the virtual network and WiDi support but gain Bluetooth 4.0 functionality. I can use programs if I need a virtual network and the WiDi display support is useless to me so I may sell the Intel card to someone who could use it. Decision made. I will be using the Broadcom chip and selling the Intel one.

 

New update. My machine now runs at 2.3 GHz. I have it set to where I overclock by simply pressing CTRL+ ALT+ O ("O" for "Overclock" ). This runs a "Set FSB" shortcut with my FSB parameters built in to it. To do this, for those wondering, simply create a new shortcut, have it target where you have the "Set FSB" program located, add to the end of it this line with a space between the program location line and this code: -w1 -sX. Replace the "X" with the FSB number of your choice. For my 2.3 GHz clock, I typed "128" in place of "X". For 2.25 GHz, type 125, and so on. A simple way to get the number you need is to take your speed you want in MHz (2.3 GHz = 2,300 MHz for an example) and divide it by 9. You can't use decimals (like 125.6). It won't work, I tried it. The "-w1" command makes the program wait 1 second before setting. This is important for reasons I don't know. You can make it wait longer by replacing the 1 with another number. This number is seconds it will wait before setting once the window opens. The program will also close when done; it doesn't need to always be running for the overclock to be set. Be sure to have your clock generator set to "ICS9LPR427AGLF". Then go to the "Creator" tab and hit "Export". This saves the clock generator model to a file that the program accesses when it starts. You may also have to hit "Import" right after exporting to make it remember your clock generator model. For the "Set FSB" version, use this one: 2.2.134.98. You can also put this shortcut into the Windows startup folder to do this when your computer starts. I don't since it will freeze at this speed when starting up. The startup tip won't work for hibernation. You will have to open the shortcut manually. You can also use my keyboard trick to do this. Right click the shortcut and select "properties". You will see a tab called "Shortcut". In there is an option called "Shortcut key". This option allows this overclock set up to be launched by hitting CTRL+ ALT + a key of your choice. You can't change the CTRL+ ALT setting. That is the only option in this window. In the box next to the "Shortcut key", simply type the key you want to press with CTRL+ ALT to open this. Save it and test it out to see if it works. It should. Mine did on the first try. Hope this helps out new owners wanting faster speeds.

 

i have this 1215n PC for 4 month.
before I had 2GB ram (stock) and CPU @ 2.3GHz/1.8GHz/1.5GHz stable using the SHE button to switch between speeds. also had the GPU overclock to the Oogamar speeds.

them I upgrade the RAM to 8GB (2x4gb) the module are kvr1066d3s7/4gb, my problem is that now i cant OC to 2.3GHz. im able to go up to 2.0GHz.

so my question is
@OOGAMAR what are your RAM modules? (i see that you OC. 2.3Ghz with 4gb ram)
and to @SONICDUDE10 mind you tell me your module too, since you have 8GB @CPU 2.3GHz.

note: with anyone want to OC using SHE, i can help with that, you will just need a modBIOS that i get from a russian forum.

 

Just a couple of things first, make sure that the LAN adapter is disabled in the BIOS as this produces errors when you overclock the processor beyond 2ghz. Also if you are using setfsb to overclock i recommend uninstalling SHE since it conflicts. In my experience the RAM brand doesn't matter since they are all at 1033/1333mhz which is above the 800 the 1215n requires so overclocking wont hit any boundaries when it comes to ram speed. I've tried 4 sets of ram and gotten the same results each time.

 

It is as oogamar said, The RAM doesn't matter since they are faster than the computer's access speed is. I also don't use the SHE function to overclock. Never tried it and probably won't based on what oogamar said about it being problematic.

To answer your question on the RAM I use, I use these from eBay. Go type this into the search on eBay. Got 2 of them. They are a little pricey but hey, live and learn: 4GB Asus Eee PC 1215N-PU17 Netbook DDR3 Ram Memory.

There is also these that are cheaper on eBay: 4GB (1x4GB) RAM Memory Compatible with Asus/ASmobile Eee PC 1215N. Again, type this into the search box on eBay.

As for the overclock issue, Use the suggestion in my post below. This allows for simple pushing of a hotkey combination to overclock. If you need a tutorial, I will gladly put one on YouTube.

A final word of caution. For the computer to access all 8GB of RAM, you will need BIOS revision 902 or newer. A 64 bit Os is recommended. I have a 32 bit OS with a hacked kernel file to allow up to 64GB of RAM access. All 8GB show up as usable. Ask for me for a how to if you need this modification.

 

thanks for the reply... i dont use setFSB to overclock, I use a 0902 MOD-Bios that give me a different speed at the 3 modes.

thanks for the reply.
I have 64bit Win7, 0902 Bios already, the only different thing is the RAM, when i had the stock ram i was able to go 2.3GHz, now only 2.0GHz....
I used to have a 32bit with the hack to use more ram but i rather use 64bit.

I will try the disable the LAN adapter and try 2.3GHz again...

if that doesn't work i will buy the modules you recommend to try with that.

 

Hey pguerrerox, mind telling me where to get this MOD-BIOS 0902? I figured I would give it a try and see if it works for me and maybe narrow your problem down. If it works with my RAM and 32 bit OS, then your problem should be either the RAM or your 64 bit OS. I know the first modules I recommended will work. They are $50 on eBay with free shipping. I don't know about the second ones. Haven't ever tried them. Should work. They are $30 with free shipping. You will need to get 2 each.

 

I think i see what the problem could be... its the jump in clockspeed from 2-2.3ghz. My 1215n wont go to 2.3ghz in such a large step i have to gradually increment the clockspeed up by 30-40mhz otherwise i get a crash or BSOD. Since SHE uses pre-defined clockspeeds in the bios table it doesnt have the ability to build gradually to the speed, it just sets it at the defined speed.

I've never been able to pin down or really pursued the cause of this issue as the workaround i have been employing with setfsb (set to auto overclock upon startup in stages) avoids the issue completely.

 

I can go straight to 2.3 GHz with my 8GB RAM from the stock 1.8 GHz in one step. I just wait until it has booted up and then hit a hotkey to do it. It will freeze once in 50 times so this works for me. I make sure that SHE is not set to the super setting or else that will freeze me up every time.

 

Its probably the RAM then... my current RAM in this machine is just bog standard budget stuff so i bet its not rubust enough to handle fast changes like that... mine would most certaily freeze every time if i did that.

 

hello, sure I can tell you, i get them from a rusian forum.. dont know if i can name it in here, but I can send you the different bios, or just post them in here..
i will edit this post after I come back.

@oogamar, when i was using stock ram i jumped from 1.8 to 2.3 without problems...

EDIT:
so ok, I get the following MODBIOS from 4*P*D*A-RU (you know what i mean)

thanks to Dimitriusis and KeLsTaR for this modBIOS.

0902 GHz -2300/1800/1503-

0902 GHz -2000/1800/1500-

 

Feel free to send me this BIOS. If you need, I can PM you my email to send it straight to me. Never mind. Thanks. Just installed the BIOS 2300/ 1800/ 1503 and things are working fine so far. As a side note my wired Ethernet port is active. That may be what causes my random freeze ups. Otherwise, things are working right. This may be successful because of my higher cost RAM that seems to be better quality. So pguerrerox, your problem is either the RAM or your OS. I'm leaning toward the RAM if it is some of those "2 for $20" 4GB chips. The ones I recommended should correct this issue. Be careful of those random freeze ups when going to 2.3 GHz if you manage to get back there.

 

I got the mod BIOS flashed in. Here are my results. My machine can hit the 2.3 GHz clock through the SHE super mode. My problem here is the one I have with set FSB, if I try to go from a lower clock to 2.3 GHz while running under load or above 60 degree Celsius, it freezes. I also have issues with changing it to 2.3 GHz while the CPU is idle. However, if I change it 30 seconds after the desktop comes on, everything is fine and the super mode clock works fine. As a side note, my Ethernet port is active so that may be what causes these freeze ups from time to time. I'll look into it. And pguerrerox, since my set up is having success with my 8GB RAM, I'm leaning toward your problem being either the Ethernet port, the OS, or the RAM. Especially the RAM if it is one of those "2 for $20" 4GB deals. I'd recommend trying the first ones from eBay I suggested since they are working for me. They will cost about $100 for 2 but I think these modules are a higher quality build than the most commonly used ones.

 

NICE, im glad that it work for you, I will Buy x2 module of the ones you recommend,

are you using SHE to switch between modes?

 

Sure thing pguerrerox. Thanks for the BIOS link. Because of that, I added to your reputation. For the test, yes, I used SHE. I usually just set my clock to max and leave it. I only under-clock if I start to run low on battery. That never really happens. Don't go far enough from the charger to need unplugging. I will be making a custom extreme capacity battery sometime soon. Going from the factory 6 cell design to a custom 48 cell pack that will sit under my machine. Before anyone gripes me for blocking cooling vents or it getting hot, I am leaving the vent uncovered and insulating the pack. It will make my machine 2x as thick as original and that is fine by me.

 

Hey My netbook keeps crashing if i try switching modes in SHE using the 2300mhz bios anyone else have this issue.

 

I do. There are a few things needed to make this work. 1. Make sure your on board LAN (the wired internet port) is disabled. 2. Don't switch while the CPU is under load or getting a little warm (you need monitoring tools to see this). 3. check that your RAM is rated for at least 1033 MHz (you may have to take the little door off the back to see the chips for this). If it is still being problematic after this, then I'm at a loss. Could be OS issues or something wrong with the motherboard chips.

 

I think its worth noting that with overclocking there are no guarantees. Not all cpus will be able to hit 2.3ghz, some wont go much beyond 2.1ghz whilst others may hit 2.5ghz (seen it done before). Each cpu is different and each setup whilst standardized is still unique so the way RAM reacts to being overclocked and the way the motherboard reacts to the higher FSB will vary.

My advice for anyone wanting to overclock is "start slow and progress gradually". Use setfsb with the settings stated on page 1 and gradually raise the clock speed until you start to see crashes, then you'll know how high you can push the machine before loss of stability.

Using the custom SHE setup is all very well and good if you know the cpu can take that setting without trouble and you're happy with an arbitrary clock speed, but its not the best way to get the most out of this machine, nor is it error free - just my 2 cents.

 

Hey guyz I found another bios that works well and no problems changing modes even while the cpu is warm.
Super= 2002
High=1800
Power=1500
here if anyone wants it : 1215N.ROM

 

hey oogamer, care to share how you make set FSB ramp up in stages? my method is finally getting to where it freezes every time. Need to know what you do for the steps to final FSB speed.

 

Basically i just made a shortcut to setfsb with the following commands on the end - "\setfsb_2_2_134_98\setfsb.exe" -w0 -s128.0 -i3.

The "-i3" is the key here... it stands for increment 3. So it increments by 3 every second until it reaches the desired setting (in my case 128). You set the steps to however big you want but i found 3 to be sufficient to not take too long and provide reliability.

I also made a de-overclock shortcut that i can hit before putting the system to sleep which returns the clock to under the 2ghz mark. If i get time i may see if there's a way to tie this to closing the lid so that before the standby happens it runs that link automatically - thus preventing a bsod on resume.

 

Thanks for that oogamar, I was getting tired of it messing up constantly. As for getting it to run with the lid button, I remember my old machine allowing me to run a program or command from those. Can't find it on this machine. I'll look around for a 3rd party solution to your dilemma. I would like to use it too. Now to set this thing up for 3 different speeds like the modded BIOS has. Then run them from keyboard shortcuts.

 

THis might be a stupid question, but is there a chance that this CPU will be able to handle guildwars 2 on low settings? I'm looking for an EXTREMELY portable computer to handle law school, but I want to be able to do light gaming. How's this guy looking?

 

Since the game hasn't been released yet and there are no official system requirements all i can say is that it's possible. Until we know how the game runs on other hardware its hard to say.

The d525 atom in this netbook is among the best in its class but compared to the core i range or standard amd offerings its very weak and new games are going to be hit and miss. Since its an mmo and they are usually well optimized its definitely possible but im betting it wont be 60fps fluid... probably more around 20-30 but again all i can do is take an educated guess at this point.

 

have any1 try the latest graphics drivers?

 

I tried up to the 290 beta versions and they didn't work for me. Haven't tried the 295 beta series yet but they wouldn't work either. This is due to the fact that Nvidia drivers don't support certain Intel chips with the Optimus setup. The 1215N has one of those unsupported chips. Asus had this setup working by modifying the Nvidia drivers. The last ones they offered were 267 series.

 

i tried the 295, didnt work... going back to the 267 from nvidia,,, gonna try the 280 later

 

Don't get it from Nvidia. Get it from the Asus website. Asus modified the driver to work on this chip series with the Optimus.

 

hey sonicdude10, how were you able to use 8gb on 32-bit?

 

Download this: http://www.howorks.com/download/1/

That is the link for the program needed. Also go here for instructions on how to do it, but be warned, there are adds for some adult videos on the side bar. Just ignore them and read article: UNAWAVE - 32-bit Windows 7 with full 4 GB or 8 GB RAM support

Also, I recommend 2 of these chips for 8GB of RAM if you plan on doing any overclocking: http://www.ebay.com/itm/4GB-Asus-Ee...ultDomain_0&hash=item19c6b16bf4#ht_676wt_1037