ExtremeTech - "Intel's New Integrated Graphics"

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1617350,00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1617350,00.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"The mere mention of integrated graphics is usually enough to send any PC game player into a fit. No matter whose integrated graphics solution you look at, the prognosis is not good: they're not nearly fast enough and don't have many of the important new features found in even the most inexpensive add-in cards. If all you plan to do is surf the Web, write e-mail, and maybe a do little word processing or spreadsheet work, the integrated solutions are fine. Just don't try to play a 3D game with them."<br /><br /> <img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/915G_GMA_900.jpg" /> <br /><br />PC game player???? How about any power user. The new <a href="http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/chipsets/graphics/gma900/index.htm?iid=ipp_desk_chip+highlight_gma900&">Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900</a> improves earlier efforts, but is still <b>far</b> behind even older "add-in" video cards. Still, with sub $500 PCs, support for fully DirectX 9.0b compliant integrated graphics is very welcome.

[Felix Torres]

Benchmarking integrated graphic with even last-gen games strikes me as a wee bit unfair in that the systems that most rely on onboard graphics are corporate desktops and simple web-n-mail home desktops. Neither of which actually *cares* about high-end gaming.

A more reasonable test of those onboard systems would be the upcoming Aero interface of Longhorm or SUNs proposed Looking Glass, both of which are not really here, though.

So, I guess game benchmarks will have to do for now.

But I suspect these chipsets are being judged by a standard they will never be asked to meet in the wild... :?

Now, the added video-processing and display-handling capabilities, those are relevant and it seems the GMA900 does okay in that regard, so at least there is some value in the chipset now, rather than only when Longhorn gets out. (if ever...)

[James Fee]

Now, the added video-processing and display-handling capabilities, those are relevant and it seems the GMA900 does okay in that regard, so at least there is some value in the chipset now, rather than only when Longhorn gets out. (if ever...)
I was just thinking as I drove into work today, that out of the 15 computers that are in my office, 10 have integrated Intel graphics. Many of these computers run AutoCAD or or other display intensive apps so this might be one place where a better integrated Intel chipset will help.