Comparing Integrated Graphics
The integrated graphics of the ATI 9100 IGP PRO remains essentially the same as the graphics released six months ago as the RS300 chipset. The 9100 IGP is still the fastest integrated graphics that you can find for an Intel processor. While it is true that the 9100 IGP PRO is still built on a DirectX 8.1 part, ATI is now emphasizing the fact that the new PRO chipset is designed to work with DirectX 9.0B. This is likely due to the confusion many expressed over a DirectX 8.1 graphics part in the RS300 release.While DX8.1 may not run DX9 games to their best advantage, the 9100 IGP PRO can definitely run DirectX 9 games with the integrated ATI graphics. While often very slow, there was not a single DX9 game we tested that would not run on the 9100 IGP PRO with DirectX 9.0B installed.
Many also overlook the fact that Intel 865G integrated graphics are based on the even older DirectX 7 standard. Looking at a technology comparison between the RADEON 9100 PRO IGP and the Intel 865G, it is easy to see why the 9100 IGP family should significantly outperform the Intel 865G in almost any graphics testing.
Click to enlarge.
Performance was compared between the integrated Intel Intense Graphics 2 on the Intel 865G and the integrated 9100 IGP of the RS350. In both cases, we used the 2.8E Prescott that performed as well or better than Northwood in our testing on the RS350. Since ATI 9100 IGP PRO is so much faster than Intel 865G graphics, the fact that the 865G may have performed slightly faster with a 2.8C CPU is largely irrelevant, since the impact on our test results would have been minimal, and that difference is lost in the large performance delta between the integrated graphics solutions.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
24 Comments
View All Comments
Wesley Fink - Wednesday, May 5, 2004 - link
My apologies. The chart was supplied by ATI and shows a Clock Speed of 300 and a Ramdac of 400.SocrPlyr - Wednesday, May 5, 2004 - link
The comparison sheet on page 10 definately has 400MHz for the RAMDAC...it is a picture, and pictures don't lie :)
Josh
Wesley Fink - Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - link
The comparison sheet on page 10 states the Ramdac speed is 300MHz, exactly what was stated when the review was published. Where is the comparison sheet that states 400 for the Ramdac speed?quanta - Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - link
Are you sure the RAMDAC on 9100 IGP Pro is really 400MHz? The ATI site says it is 300MHz, but the comparison sheet in your site says 400MHz.gofor55 - Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - link
Does anybody know whether 9100IGP Pro will run ATI's Multimedia Center 9.0 and EazyShare. This might be just the ticket for a low cost multimedia PC for living room and bedroom to view PVR captures from a networked media server.Pumpkinierre - Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - link
So Wesley any indications in that ATI note as to how they optimise for Prescott?Wesley Fink - Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - link
ATI confirmed SATA RAID was present on RS350, not AOpen. Must have been a petit mal . . .Wesley Fink - Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - link
#12 -AOpen has confirmed that RS350 DOES support SATA RAID 0,1. We confiormed SATA RAID works fine with a pair of WD Raptors in a stripe.
The review will be updated to correct the SATA information.
Kai920 - Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - link
#14 - Very well said.I like how IGPs keep improving --say goodbye to Intel Extreme Graphics 2 and onboard GF4MX. The IGP may very well be a major decision in my future purchases, if not the next.
Wesley Fink - Monday, May 3, 2004 - link
#12 -Asute of you to catch the Sata RAID in the diagram. Unfortunately the diagram also shows IXP 300 when the board had an IXP 320.
We have asked ATI for clarification on whether SATA RAID is an option. They are all in Barcelona, Spain for the big X800 kick-0ff tomorrow, so we might not have an answer for a few days.
#10 -
As for the comment about mfg suck-up, GET REAL. Mfgs HOPE they will get a good review from us because we are honest, but more often than not mfgs complain we are too negative in pointing out failings with their product. That means we probably have it about right.
#4 - If you bothered to read the review you would have found the MAIN message was the RS350 competes very well with Intel AS A CHIPSET, which SHOULD be of interest to you. The other news was that Prescott optimizations make Prescott a better performer than Northwood on the new chips. Yes, we coverd Integrated Graphics, because it mattered, but that was not the main point. It wasn't a slow news day - the NDA expired at 6AM today, as the X800 NDA expires tomorrow. The RS350 is a damn good chipset or I wouldn't have bothered.