Using an AMD E300 notebook

I recently bought an Acer Aspire 5250-0851 (2GB DDR3 RAM) with an AMD dual-core E300 processor. The GPU is said to be a Radeon HD 6310, but I've read somewhere that the notebook actually only has the E300 dual-core, and when it requires 3D graphics, it uses one of the cores as the GPU.

If that is correct, will an opened game in the background still use one of the cores? I mean, should I always close my games (World of Warcraft, for example) in order to have all my computing power back (despite the RAM usage)?

 

The Radeon HD 6310 is integrated into the CPU. Even though it is part of the CPU, it is in addition to the 2 CPU cores. Using 3D graphics in no way slows down the CPU. If your CPU doesn't feel very fast, that's because it is not fast to begin with. It is AMD's competitor to the Intel Atom, basically a netbook CPU (with better graphics similar to Atom with ION).

In the past "integrated graphics" were integrated into the motherboard chipset ("Northbridge") as well as PCIe lanes and memory controller. What has happened in recent years is that the functions of the Northbridge have been slowly integrated into the CPU itself, starting back with the first AMD Athlon 64 having an integrated memory controller. Now most of the recently released CPUs (except the highest end*) have the PCIe lanes, memory controller and integrated graphics built into the CPU. Your CPU is an AMD Brazos "APU" (accelerated processor unit, sold as C-50, E-350, etc.). Their Llano APU is similar (sold as AMD A4/A6/A8 series), as is the forthcoming Trinity. On the Intel side are Clarkdale and Sandy Bridge, and the forthcoming Ivy Bridge. You may have heard about these, which are marketed as Core i3, Core i5, etc.

This integration is a good thing as traditionally chipsets have been built using older processes so for instance Sandy Bridge uses the latest 32nm process while the chipset may be using 45nm or older. This probably allows for higher graphics clocks, plus as was proven with the first Athlon 64, performance goes up with having things integrated such as the memory controller. It also allows for cooler operation as a smaller process usually uses lower voltages, using less power and creates less heat. On the packaging side, having the motherboard chipset as a single chip instead of two allows for smaller designs.

 

Thank you very much, zippyzap!