Xscale VS StrongArm Processor (question)

[Goosey]

Ok, first I will say I don't currently own a ppc, but I have become fascinated by them. Right now I am lobbying strongly to get what appears to be the best ppc value (dell axim x5) from my loving parents.

I am extreemly interested in ppc gaming, but I have been dissapointed by the fact that there is very little discussion/reviews dealing with gaming that talks about the Xscale processor (and none dealing with the axim x5).

First I ask if anyone has an Axim X5 and what their opinions are on it concerning gaming?

Second- What is the deal with an Xscale processor. I know that mhz is not the only measure of a processor's power, and that Xscale is a fancy name for intel's new StrongARM processor with power-saving features... But it seems to me that most people playing aroudn with the new 400mhz Xscale ppc's are getting WORSE performance then people with 206mhz strongARM processors?

I have been working hard for the last 2 weeks to plant the image of the dell Axim X5 in my parent's subconcious... And since game performance is my top priority.. If Arm processors really are better for this then I should start reprogramming them immediately :O

Im just very concerned with my PPC's power... So I wonder if mabey Xscale processors are just giving worse performance on some games (snails for example)? Or if it is just that no current programs are optimized for the Xscale? Intel put in a number of gaming procedures.. so perhaps future games may have a chance to take advantage of these and be the best performers yet!

And what about that ATI chip? I am sure no current games are optimized to use that, but it offers big windows for upcomming games, don't you think?

So is it correct to say this: Axim's (with Xscale/ATI chip) actually give worse performance for current, unoptomized games? But as new games which do optimize for these features come out, it will show it's true power? I meen by including a graphics chip and a processor with commands designed for games, it seems like Dell (and the new ipaq) are really setting the stage for a great gaming platform!

Is it worth suffering through lower framerates in curret games to reap benefits of future games?

[James S]

The AXIM does not have an ATI chip. The Toshiba e740 is the device that comes with the ATI Imageon1000 chip, which, with the latest ROM update, increases the speed of the device to almost second place in PocketQuake benchmarks.

On average, the XScale 400MHz processor is 10% faster than StrongARM. Some games run noticeably faster, such as Snails, Lemonade Inc., and Argentum. The OS runs faster, and so does PocketDivX which plays much higher quality videos and MP3s without slowdown.
But there's no point in worry about the StrongARM being faster because there aren't any StrongARM processors anymore. Plus the XScale, on average being faster anyway, provides 4 times the battery life of StrongARM with average usage.

If you want the absolutely BEST PocketPC then check out the Asus Razor Zayo. It runs EVERYTHING, ATLEAST 20% faster than 206MHz StrongARM. For comparison, the iPaq H3955 gets 7.9FPS on PocketQuake, the Zayo gets 10.3FPS, second to Toshiba e740 which gets 8.6FPS (with new ATI ROM update).

Go with the Dell, It's the best there is right now and at that price it's incredible.

[Valheru]