Blu-ray Done Right: How Does Your Integrated GPU Stack Up?

The Competitors

Let’s have a closer look at the technical differences between these integrated graphics processors.

IGPs for AMD CPUS:

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Chipset Name:785G
Process:45nm
Platform:AM3
Universal Shaders:40
Texture Units:4
ROPs:4
Memory Bus:64-bit
Core Speed MHz:500
Memory Speed MHz:667 (1,333 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model:DX 10.1 / SM 4.0

A revamped 780G, the AMD 785G is a new chipset with some appealing features for HTPC enthusiasts under the Universal Video Decoder 2.0 marketing blanket, including picture-in-picture acceleration, dynamic contrast, HD flesh-tone enhancement, and HD color vibrance. Unfortunately, the 785G lacks eight-channel LPCM audio over HDMI, just like its 780G predecessor, although it's capable of playing back lossy six-channel audio such as Dolby Digital or DTS over the HDMI connector.

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Chipset Name:790GX
Process:55nm
Platform:AM2+/AM3
Universal Shaders:40
Texture Units:4
ROPs:4
Memory Bus:64-bit
Core Speed MHz:700
Memory Speed MHz:667 (1,333 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model:DX 10.1 / SM 4.0

The 790GX chipset is simply an overclocked 780G, so its performance should approach that of the 780G (assuming GPU clock speed won't have much of an effect on video playback or quality). It is slightly handicapped compared to the new 785G chipset, as it features AMD's older UVD 1.0 standard with none of the capabilities listed under the 785G notes above. However, it should still benefit from drivers that have matured a lot over the last year. The 780G and 790GX are limited to two-channel LPCM over HDMI, like the new 785G. Also like the 785G, they can handle six-channel Dolby Digital or DTS.

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Chipset NameGeForce 8200
Process:80nm
Platform:AM2+
Universal Shaders:16
Texture Units:4
ROPs:4
Memory Bus:64-bit
Core Speed MHz:500
Memory Speed MHz:400 (800 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model:DX 10 / SM 4.0

The GeForce 8200 has been around for some time as the only HD-capable IGP to compete on AMD's turf. While the 8200 IGP isn't as fast as AMD's 780/790 series in 3D apps, it can handle accelerated HD video playback. It will be interesting to see if the 8200's drivers have improved since our last review, when it scored a zero in the HQV HD video-quality tests.

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Chipset Name:GeForce 9300/9400
Process:65nm
Platform:LGA 775
Universal Shaders:16
Texture Units:8
ROPs:4
Memory Bus:64-bit
Core Speed MHz:450 (9300) / 580 (9400)
Memory Speed MHz:400 (800 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model:DX 10 / SM 4.0

Nvidia has provided an excellent chipset with its GeForce 9300/9400, bringing very good HD playback to the Intel LGA 775 platform. This GeForce 9300/9400 chipset has featured picture-in-picture acceleration, dynamic contrast, and eight-channel LPCM audio over HDMI for some time now, so it is ahead of the curve. Note that the only difference between the GeForce 9300 and 9400 is a slight clock speed increase, while all other features are identical.

IGPs for Intel CPUs:

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Chipset Name:G45
Process:65nm
Platform:LGA 775
Universal Shaders:10
Texture Units:4
ROPs:8
Memory Bus:64-bit
Core Speed MHz:800
Memory Speed MHz:400 (800 effective)
DirectX / Shader Model:DX 10 / SM 4.0

The GMA X4500 is Intel's best graphics chipset to date, although compared to its AMD and Nvidia competition, it is still underpowered. While it had buggy HD playback on its release, Intel has put a lot of effort into improving its drivers, and the situation has improved a great deal. The G45 is capable of eight-channel LPCM over HDMI too, though it has had some issues in the past as well.

  • Proximon
    Great article. I think maybe the 4650 is a bit overkill, but that's just nitpicking.

    As long as you are talking about HTPC builds though, you might want to mention temps... aren't the 9300/9400 boards very hot?
    Reply
  • epsiloneri
    Power draw is not interesting because of the electricity bill, it is the generated heat needed to be dissipated with the associated noise levels due to cooling that is critical for an HTPC.
    Reply
  • HalfHuman
    i don't get it why a home theater would use a 1200w power source. at the same time i don't get why would someone evaluate the power efficency using this kind of power sorce. if you ask me i'd make this crazy ass power supplies illegal. a normal hometheater should not use more than 50w at idle and 100-150w at load. seems that this is what these actually consume. factor in the less than 5% load on the power supply and you get a masterfull 50-60% power efficency. i'd love to see some proper power supply test.
    Reply
  • falchard
    BUT CAN IT PLAY CRYSIS!
    Reply
  • falchard
    BTW, I would like to see a "Can it play Crysis" article in the future that runs down every video card and IGP, then determines if it can possibly play Crysis and at what settings.
    Reply
  • HalfHuman
    the 1200w power supply is green as in blue-green mould green.
    this is in fact an excellent power supply... if you use it. at 100watts load it has a "cool" 76% efficency. if the intel pc uses less than 82watts in load and 66watts in idle you can only imagine the efficency a power supply has at below 5% load. the site suggest around 65% so instead of having a proper power supply using 40watts or less when idle, you get this "green" efficient hummer who swollows 66w. i really like you articles guys but this kind of testing is not the way to go.
    Reply
  • Efficiency isn't even tested below 20% load i believe But it should still be around 70-80% it is a Thermaltake Toughpower 1200w and all of them(3 listed on their site) are standard 80% eff rated or bronze. Ture a more modest Delta,Seasonic 250w or 300w would be much more appropriate for a htpc.
    Reply
  • HalfHuman
    20% for this would be 240watts and efficency would still be reasonable.
    i posted some link but i see it's been removed. that review said something about 65% minimum.
    Reply
  • drew_a
    Uh, guys... you might want to edit this article...
    "For the last CPU utilization test, we will check the capability of these graphic chipsets to accelerate picture-in-picture (PIP) video streams. To do this, we will use the Blu-ray dick Sunshine, which utilizes the H.264 codec and features PIP commentary during playback."

    on page 6
    Reply
  • icepick314
    "If you are an audiophile, you should know that out of these remaining options, only the GeForce 9300/9400 can handle uncompressed eight-channel LPCM audio over HDMI 1.3."

    i did NOT know this...

    i thought only way to listen to uncompressed audio on blu-ray was using Asus Xonar HDAV 1.3 audio card to bitstream to your receiver...

    it's nice to know that IGP has enough power to handle 1080p while streaming HD audio codec....
    Reply