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ATI's Radeon 9100 Pro IGP Takes Aim at Intel's Chipset Launch
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1. ATI Looks To Make Gains Against Intel's Chipset Share With Its Radeon 9100 Pro IGP

ATI's RS300 chipset, or the Radeon 9100 IGP, has seen growing popularity since its launch last year, with eight motherboard designs under its belt. However, ATI knows the Radeon 9100 IGP's features won't stand the test against Intel's soon-to-be launched chipsets, even for low-end or mainstream applications.

Now, ATI seeks to challenge Intel's chipset dominance in the mass consumer market with its Radeon 9100 Pro IGP again. The device does not, for the most part, differentiate itself compared to competing devices from Intel, SiS and VIA. However, the Radeon 9100 Pro IGP does manage to stand out with its comparatively fast graphics engine.

2. ATI Radeon 9100 Pro IGP


Only few differences distinguish the pro-version from the Radeon 9100 IGP, and the graphics core remains unchanged. ATI's enhancements with the Pro version capitalize on improvements with AGP performance and memory compatibility, which are of critical importance to OEM customers.

Another principal feature is a new Southbridge, called IXP320. Also added are two more USB ports (for a total of eight) and two Serial ATA ports. The 100 MBit 3COM MAC is part of the Southbridge, while the chipset does not offer gigabit Ethernet capabilities.

An even better equipped version named IXP400 is supposed to follow within a few months (four SATA ports), while versions with PCIe are not expected to see launch this year. This makes sense because of the A-Link interconnect that binds the Northbridge to the Southbridge component. Otherwise, there would instantly be a huge bottleneck for PCIe cards with a limited bandwidth of 266 MB/s.

3. Chipset Features

  1. Support for Pentium 4 Northwood & Prescott;
  2. Support for socket 478 & LGA 775;
  3. Hyper Threading supported;
  4. 400, 533, 800 MHz FSB clock;
  5. AGP 8x (3.0) interface;
  6. Dual-channel DDR 400 memory interface;
  7. A-Link point-to-point interface to Southbridge IXP150 or IXP320 (266 MB/s);
  8. 100 MBit Ethernet Controller (3COM MAC) integrated.

Graphics Features

  1. Unified memory architecture;
  2. Graphics frame buffer 16-128 MB;
  3. DirectX 8.1 engine;
  4. HyperZ II buffer;
  5. DVD playback including iDCT and motion compensation;
  6. 10 Bit DAC TV-out, up to 1024x768x32;
  7. 12 Bit digital out for DVI, up to 1600x1200;
  8. Two pixel pipelines;
  9. Up to 16x anisotropic filtering;
  10. Up to 4x full scene anti-aliasing (FSAA);
  11. Pixel shader 1.4;
  12. 400 MHz RAMDAC, max 2048x1536.
4. Southbridges: IXP150 / IXP320 / IXP 400

That is the new one: ATI IXP320.
  IXP150 IXP320 IXP400*
USB 6 Ports 8 Ports 8 Ports
Storage Controllers 2x UltraATA/100 2x UltraATA/100
2x SATA-150
2x UltraATA/100
4x SATA-150
PCI 3x 32 Bit PCI 2.3 5x 32 Bit PCI 2.3 5x 32 Bit PCI 2.3
Audio AC97 2.1 AC97 2.1 AC97 2.1
Legacy Interface LPC for Multi I/O LPC for Multi I/O LPC for Multi I/O
Networking Integrated 3COM MAC
100 MBit/s
Integrated 3COM MAC
100 MBit/s
Integrated 3COM MAC
100 MBit/s
* not yet available.

... and the older brother IXP150.
5. The Competitors: Intel 865G And 915G

BIOS Version: December 8, 2003

We picked an Intel 865G MicroATX motherboard from DFI (PS35-BL) for benchmark comparisons with the 9100 Pro IGP reference board. It comes equipped with all basic components including a 100 MBit network interface, AC97 sound system, four USB 2.0 ports, three PCI slots and two DIMM sockets only. These are features that satisfy OEMs, system builders and other customers.

That is, by the way, exactly the motherboard configuration for which ATI aims. As you could see in the Southbridge comparison table, there are only three PCI slots supported - that is exactly the amount motherboard makers incorporate into their MicroATX products.

Although our revision A PS35-BL ran perfectly with the Prescott 3.0 GHz processor we used for this review, you should definitely try to get revision C, as the revision A had not been designed for the power-gorging Pentium 4 Prescott.

In contrast to the 9100 Pro IGP, Intel lacks some graphics features like gamma correction, FSAA, pixel shaders and multi-display support. Thus, the main threat for ATI will be Intel's upcoming Grantsdale-G or 915G chipset with the renewed 3D engine called Graphics Media Accelerator 900. Featuring four pixel pipelines and a PCIe interface, we expect the 915G to perform at least as good as the ATI solution when paired with DDR400 memory and to outperform it when running with DDR2-533.

6. ATI Reference Motherboard

BIOS Version: TST422_01

The ATI reference motherboard, built by one of the biggest motherboard makers in Taiwan, gives the impression of a standard retail motherboard. It comes equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet controller from Realtek, a Firewire chip, a sound system, a CNR slot (communications & network riser) and two Serial ATA ports that add to the dual-channel UltraATA/100 controller.

However, turning it around reveals the real nature of this motherboard. Several bumpers are housed at the bottom of the board. They enable reviewers to operate it on a flat surface rather than installing it anywhere. In addition, this board features on/off and reset switches in hardware that proved to be valuable.

After flashing the latest BIOS version (ATI calls it Gator BIOS) we ran into heavy troubles, as our efforts to boot WindowsXP ended in a strange dead lock: Persuading the board to boot from our Serial ATA drive had to be done in the BIOS setup. Unfortunately the system crashed whenever we tried to "save & exit." We were able to track our Pentium 4 Prescott validation sample as the culprit for this mess. Obviously, the reference board cannot cope with unlocked processor multipliers.

Exchanging the processor with a retail CPU solved the problem instantly and ATI's prototype became gentle again. Special thanks to ATI at this point, as they managed to provide a processor faster than we would have been able to locate.

As the benchmark result differences between the Radeon 9100 IGP and the pro-version reference board are negligible, we did not include benchmark numbers for it. Once again, ATI manages to outperform Intel's 865G chipset in graphics benchmarks by up to 120% when using the integrated graphics engines, but cannot keep pace with other, non-graphics benchmarks. That does not apply when using an AGP graphics card: Equipped with ATI's Radeon 9800XT, the Intel platform deals out blows to ATI's 9100 Pro IGP.

7. Test Setup
Processors
Intel Pentium 4 Prescott Core, 3.0 GHz, 1 MB Cache
Memory
DDR400 (200 MHz) 2 x 512 MB
Corsair CMX512-3200LL (CL 2.0-3-2-6)
Common Hardware
Graphics Card Asus A9800XT/DVD, Rev. 1.01
GPU : ATI Radeon 9800XT, 412 MHz Chip Clock
Memory : 128 MB DDR-SDRAM, 365 MHz Chip Clock
Hard Drive FastTrak S150 TX2plus (Bios : 1.00.0.30)
2 x SATA Maxtor 6Y080M0 (Raid 0)
80 GB / 8 MB Cache / 7200 rpm
DVD/CD-ROM MSI MS-8216 16x DVD
Software
ATI Drivers Catalyst 8.00 (040322a-014266c)
Intel Drivers Chipset Installation Utility 5.1.1.1002
Graphics Driver Ver. 1.41
DirectX Version : 9.0b
OS Windows XP, Build 2600 SP1
8. Benchmarks And Settings
Benchmarks and Settings
OpenGL
Quake III Team Arena Version 1.32
640x480 - 32 Bit
Timedemo1 / demo thg3
"custom timedemo"
Graphics detail = Normal
Bilinear
Wolfenstein Version: 2.55
Enemy Territory 1024x786, 32 Bit
timedemo 1 / demo demo4
Graphics detail = Normal
DirectX 7
3DMark 2001 SE Version 1.1 - Patch Build 330
1024x786 - 32 bit, Default Benchmark
DirectX 8
Comanche 4 Demo 1024 x 768 / 32 bit / Audio = off
Unreal Tournament 2004 Version 2206
system/benchmark.exe
640x480, 32 Bit
1024x768, 32 Bit
Audio = off
Texture Detail = Normal
Character Detail = Normal
World Detail = Highest
Physics Detail = High
all = on, Decal Stay = High
DirectX 9
3DMark 2003 Version 3.3.0
Graphics and CPU Default Benchmark
1024x786, 32 Bit
X2-The Threat Rolling Demo - benchmark
Graphic Settings: all off
1024x768, 32 Bit (X8R8G8B8)
Video
Mainconcept MPEG Encoder Version 1.3.1
1.2 GB DV to MPEG II
(720x576, Audio) converting
XMPEG 5.0.3 Intel: Otimized SEE2 iDCT
DivX 5.10 Pro Audio: off
Psychovisual Enhancements: off
Resize: 720x576
Restore Defaults
780 kbps
feedback windows: off
XMPEG 5.0.3 Custom Size = 100 MB
AutoGK 1.12b Fixed Width = 640
CBR MP3 = 192 kBps
Windows Media Encoder 9 Version: 9.00.00.2980
436 MB AVI File convert to WMV
Windows Media server (streaming)
Audio
Lame MP3 Encoder Version 3.93.1
65 minutes/44.100 KHz wave file (688,4 MB)
to mp3
Applications
Winrar Version 3.20
178 MB Wave file, Compression = Best
Dictionary = 4096 kB
Newtek Lightwave Version 7.5c - Build 572
Render First Frame = 1
Render Last Frame = 60
Render Frame Step = 1
Rendering Bench
"variations.lws"
Show Rendering in Progress = 320x240
Ray Trace Shadows, Reflection
Refraction, Transparency = on
Multithreading = 8 Threads
Maxon Computer Version 8.100
Cinema 4D XL 8 Rendering in 1028 x 1024, "Stairs.c4d"
Discreet Characters "Dragon_Charater_rig"
3D Studio Max 5.1 Rendering Single, 1024x768
Synthetic
PCMark 2004 Version 1.10
CPU and Memory Tests
9. Benchmark Results

OpenGL

Quake 3 Arena

Wolfenstein Enemy Territory

DirectX 8

Comanche 4 Demo

Unreal Tournament 2004

10. DirectX 9
3DMark 2003

X2 Demo

AquaMark 3

11. Video Benchmarks
Mainconcept MPEG Encoder 1.4.1

XMPEG 5.03 / DivX 5.11

Xvid 1.0 RC3

12. Auto Gordian Knot 1.12

13. Windows Media Encoder 9

Audio Benchmarks

Lame 3.95.1

Application Benchmarks

WinRAR 3.20

Newtek Lightwave 7.5c

Maxon Computer Cinema 4D XL 8.503

14. Discreet 3DStudio MAX 6.0

Synthetic Benchmarks

PC Mark 2004

15. Conclusion

From a benchmark point of view, the new Radeon 9100 Pro IGP chipset from ATI does not perform much better than the non-Pro version. Benchmarks with the additional Radeon 9800XT graphics card turned out to be marginally faster, but the ATI chipset still remains at the second position behind the Intel chipset if a discrete graphics board is what you desire.

According to ATI, a lot of effort has been put into increasing memory compatibility. Its media presentation talks about 120+ qualified memory modules. This is, of course, a statement difficult to test with only a prototype board that does not necessarily run as smoothly as a final product, so we have to prorogue the judgment here.

In terms of integrated graphics performance, Intel is light years behind. Depending on the benchmark you pick, the Pro IGP is noticeably or even considerably faster. If and how that may change with Intel's upcoming 915G chipset remains to be seen. We expect Intel's new device to be at least as powerful as the ATI solution, as the Santa Clara based chip giant does not take competitors attempting to gain share lightly.

Although overall 3D performance is still pathetic when compared to dedicated graphics solutions, the performance level is actually high enough to play lower-end games and to enable web-based 3D applications.

The real question is: Will ATI be able to convince long-term Intel customers? At this stage, the Radeon 9100 Pro IGP is definitely an alternative in the low-end multimedia and corporate market, as the performance handicap under non-graphics applications is likely to be absorbed by a better price point and the advanced branded 3D graphics accelerator. But ATI will have to add faster versions soon, as the Grantsdale-G chipset could easily catch up to ATI's current graphics advantage.