Performance and usability
The all-in-one Geekbench test shows the benefit of running a desktop-specific Atom chip over a netbook version, as found in the Acer Aspire One. Surprisingly quicker than a similar Atom in the ASUS Eee PC, Sapphire's box of tricks gives way to a basic AMD Neo.
For your reference, a mid-range desktop PC would score 5,000-10,000 marks in this test.
Taxing every last MHz the CPU can offer, AMD's Neo is comfortably faster than the dual-core, four-threaded Atom.
But having ION 2 in the mix helps with gaming performance, clearly.
And running a 720p trailer forces the system to pull just over 20W under moderate load - the kind of figure we'd expect to see from a pint-sized box.
Further testing
For those that want more data, the EDGE-HD returns an average 16.1fps when running Just Cause 2 at a 720p resolution and low-quality settings. Similarly, Call of Duty: Black Ops returns 16.9fps at the same settings, suggesting that, while ION 2 is a genuine step-up from the integrated graphics found on the latest generation of Atom chips, it struggles with basic high-definition gaming.
Delving deeper, temperatures for both the CPU and GPU remained below 65C at all times, and the noise level, measured 12 inches away from the right-hand vent, keeps below 35dB even when gaming - indicating near-silent operation even under load.
Usability
Numbers don't always tell the full story. The combination of an Atom chip, laptop hard-drive and Windows 7 operating system make the EDGE-HD feel sluggish when moving between folders or navigating the Internet with multiple tabs open. Users may become frustrated when expecting genuine desktop-like performance.
So while the system can play back practically all the content you throw at it, helped by the ION GPU, real multitasking is a no-no. Indeed, a much lower-power Apple iPad feels significantly nippier in comparison. Cheekily, we'll lay the blame at 'Wintel's' door for this.
But put on XBMC and pair it with XBMoteC and the Sapphire's mini PC makes a passable impression as a basic HTPC box.
