Why is the performance of the Atom N280 and N450 are the same?

I know that the N450 is newer than the N280. I know that both are clocked at 1.66GHz. I also know that the architecture of the N450 has been improved compared to the architecture of the N280.

So how comes that the performance of both CPUs is the same? Also why is the DTP of the N450 twice as high as the DTP of the N280 if the performance for both CPUs is the same?

PassMark:
N280: 315
N450: 319

 

As far as I know I thought that the N450 was just a die shrink with an accompanying iGPU, die-side. The actual architecture of the Atom CPU itself has seen little change. It's still the same bonnell core between the N280 and the N450.

I'm not entirely sure but the new Atom CPUs are a bit improved... The N2x00.

Edit: My bad, both of those are 45NM parts.

 

See

AnandTech - Intel Atom D510: Pine Trail Boosts Performance, Cuts Power

"Pineview takes the same 45nm Atom architecture introduced in 2008 and integrates a memory controller, DMI link and GMA 3150 graphics core."

It's just focused on power consumption not performance and since more is integrated tdp is higer, but overall system power consumption should be lower.

 

so the
N450 = N280 + memory controller + GMA3150 (more or less)
right?

having the choice between two netbook, one with the N450 and the other with a N280, which one would be better?

 

Having the choice, I'd go with the newer part. Also, the memory controller maybe integrated on-die, but it's still connected through the FSB... another reason that performance isn't increased. Like said above, they focus on cutting power from here and there, not performance.

 

Honestly - neither. The Atom is a dead-end experiment and the performance is likely to leave you seriously exasperated. Spend a little more and go for a thin and light/ultrabook.

- Tim

 

Sorry, I didn't explain myself properly. I have already a proper laptop, and I have a Samsung NC10 netbook with an Atom N270. I have the opportunity to upgrade the Samsung to a Toshiba NB250 which has a N450 Atom for really little cash.

The upgrade will cost me less than £20. The Samsung uses DDR2 while the Toshiba uses DDR3. Should I go for the upgrade?

 

I would say yes. There may have been very little improvement, but the GPU did improve over the GMA950. The X3150 is just a tiny bit better, but better nonetheless. Plus, from what I've read, the Toshiba NB-series has the best keyboard out of the netbook class.

 

Thanks. I'll test drive the toshiba and then decide if I should ugrade.