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These [[integrated graphics]] products allow a computer to be built without a separate [[graphics card]], which can reduce cost, power consumption and noise. They are commonly found on low-priced notebook and desktop computers as well as business computers, which do not need high levels of graphics capability. 90% of all PCs sold have integrated graphics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2948&p=1|title=Intel G965: microATX Performance Update|work=AnandTech|first=Gary|last=Key|date=2007-03-16|accessdate=2008-07-17 }}</ref> They rely on the computer's [[main memory]] for storage, which imposes a performance penalty, as both the [[CPU]] and GPU have to access memory over the same [[computer bus|bus]].
These [[integrated graphics]] products allow a computer to be built without a separate [[graphics card]], which can reduce cost, power consumption and noise. They are commonly found on low-priced notebook and desktop computers as well as business computers, which do not need high levels of graphics capability. 90% of all PCs sold have integrated graphics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2948&p=1|title=Intel G965: microATX Performance Update|work=AnandTech|first=Gary|last=Key|date=2007-03-16|accessdate=2008-07-17 }}</ref> They rely on the computer's [[main memory]] for storage, which imposes a performance penalty, as both the [[CPU]] and GPU have to access memory over the same [[computer bus|bus]].
Compaq CQ31 Uses This.


== History ==
== History ==
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The processor consists of different clock domains, meaning that the entire chip does not operate the same clock speed. This causes some difficulty when measuring peak throughput of its various functions. Further adding to the confusion, it is listed as 667&nbsp;MHz in Intel G965 white paper, but listed as 400&nbsp;MHz in Intel G965 datasheet. There are various rules that define the IGP's processing capabilities.<ref name=TRG965 />
The processor consists of different clock domains, meaning that the entire chip does not operate the same clock speed. This causes some difficulty when measuring peak throughput of its various functions. Further adding to the confusion, it is listed as 667&nbsp;MHz in Intel G965 white paper, but listed as 400&nbsp;MHz in Intel G965 datasheet. There are various rules that define the IGP's processing capabilities.<ref name=TRG965 />


Memory controller can now address maximum 384&nbsp;MB memory according to white paper, but only 256&nbsp;MB in datashit.
Memory controller can now address maximum 384&nbsp;MB memory according to white paper, but only 256&nbsp;MB in datasheet.


=== GMA X3100 ===
=== GMA X3100 ===

Revision as of 22:39, 22 November 2009

GMA X3000 on Intel DG965WHMKR motherboard

The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, or GMA, is Intel's current line of integrated graphics processors built into various motherboard chipsets.

These integrated graphics products allow a computer to be built without a separate graphics card, which can reduce cost, power consumption and noise. They are commonly found on low-priced notebook and desktop computers as well as business computers, which do not need high levels of graphics capability. 90% of all PCs sold have integrated graphics.[1] They rely on the computer's main memory for storage, which imposes a performance penalty, as both the CPU and GPU have to access memory over the same bus.

History

The GMA line of GPUs replaces the earlier "Intel Extreme Graphics", and the Intel740 line, which were discrete units in the form of AGP and PCI cards. Later, Intel integrated the i740 core into the Intel 810 chipset.

The original architecture of GMA systems supported only a few functions in hardware, and relied on the host CPU to handle at least some of the graphics pipeline, further decreasing performance. However, with the introduction of Intel’s 4th generation of GMA architecture (GMA X3000) in 2006, many of the functions are now built into the hardware, providing an increase in performance. The 4th generation of GMA combines fixed function capabilities with a threaded array of programmable executions units, providing advantages to both graphics and video performance. Many of the advantages of the new GMA architecture come from the ability to flexibly switch as needed between executing graphics-related tasks or video-related tasks. While GMA performance has been widely criticized in the past as being too slow for computer games, the latest GMA generation should ease many of those concerns for the casual gamer.

Despite similarities, Intel's main series of GMA IGPs is not based on the PowerVR technology Intel licensed from Imagination Technologies. Intel used the low-power PowerVR MBX designs in chipsets supporting their XScale platform, and since the sale of XScale in 2006 has licensed the PowerVR SGX and used it in the GMA 500 IGP for use with their Atom platform.

Intel has begun working on a new series of discrete (non-integrated) graphics hardware products, under the codename Larrabee.

Hardware: graphics cores

GMA 900

The GMA 900 was the first graphics core produced under Intel's Graphics Media Accelerator product name, and was incorporated in the Intel 910G, 915G, and 915Gx chipsets.

The 3D architecture of the GMA 900 was a significant upgrade from the previous Extreme 3D graphics processors. It is a 4 pixel per clock cycle design supporting DirectX 9 pixel shader model 2.0. It operates at a clock rate ranging from 160 to 333 MHz, depending on the particular chipset. At 333 MHz, it has a peak pixel fill-rate of 1332 megapixels per second. However, the architecture still lacks support for hardware transform and lighting and the similar vertex shader technologies.

Like previous Intel integrated graphics parts, the GMA 900 has hardware support for MPEG-2 motion compensation, color-space conversion and DirectDraw overlay.

The processor uses different separate clock generators for display and render cores. The display unit includes a 400 MHz RAMDAC, 2 25 - 200 Mpixel/s serial DVO ports, and 2 display controllers. In mobile chipsets, up to 2 18-bit 25 - 112 MHz LVDS transmitters are included.

GMA 950

The GMA 950 is Intel's second-generation graphics core, which was also referred by Intel as 'Gen 3.5 Integrated Graphics Engine' in datasheets. It is used in the Intel 940GML, 945G, 945GU and 945GT system chipsets. The amount of video-decoding hardware has increased; VLD, iDCT, and dual video overlay windows are now handled in hardware[citation needed]. The maximum core clock is up to 400 MHz (on Intel 945G, 945GC, 945GZ, 945GSE), boosting pixel fill-rate to a theoretical 1600 megapixels/s.

The GMA 950 shares the same architectural weakness as the GMA 900: no hardware geometry processing. Neither basic (DX7) hardware transform and lighting,[2] nor more advanced vertex shaders (DX8 and later) are handled in the GMA hardware.

GMA 3000

The 946GZ, Q965 and Q963 chipsets use GMA 3000.[3][4] The GMA 3000 3D core is very different from the X3000, despite similar names. It is based more directly on the previous generation GMA 900 and GMA 950 graphics, and belonging to the same "i915" family with them. It has pixel and vertex shaders which only supports shader model 2.0 features, and the vertex shaders are still only software provided. In addition, hardware video acceleration such as hardware-based iDCT computation, ProcAmp (video stream independent color correction), VC-1 decoding are not implemented in hardware. Of the GMA 3000-equipped chipsets, only Q965 retains dual independent display support. The core speed is rated 400 MHz with 1.6 Gpixel/s fill rate in datasheets, but was listed as 667 MHz core in white paper.[5]

Memory controller can now address maximum 256 MB memory and the integrated serial DVO ports has increased top speed to 270Mpixel/s.

GMA 3100

The G31, G33, Q33 and Q35 chipsets use the GMA 3100, which is DX9 capable. The 3D core is very similar to the older GMA 3000, including the lack of hardware accelerated vertex shaders. However, the RAMDAC is reduced to 350 MHz, and the DVO ports were reduced to 225Mpixel/s.

The Atom D510 and D410 will use a modified version of this 3D accelerator called the 3150. The specifications of this chip are not yet known.

GMA X3000

The GMA X3000 for desktop was "substantially redesigned" when compared to previous GMA iterations[6] and it is used in the Intel G965 north bridge controller.[7] The GMA X3000 was launched in July 2006.[8] X3000's underlying 3D rendering hardware is organized as a unified shader processor consisting of 8 scalar execution units. Each pipeline can process video, vertex, or texture operations. A central scheduler dynamically dispatches threads to pipeline resources, to maximize rendering throughput (and decrease the impact of individual pipeline stalls.) However, due to the scalar nature of the execution units, they can only process data on a single pixel component at a time.[9] The GMA X3000 supports DirectX 9.0 with vertex and pixel Shader Model 3.0 features.

The processor consists of different clock domains, meaning that the entire chip does not operate the same clock speed. This causes some difficulty when measuring peak throughput of its various functions. Further adding to the confusion, it is listed as 667 MHz in Intel G965 white paper, but listed as 400 MHz in Intel G965 datasheet. There are various rules that define the IGP's processing capabilities.[9]

Memory controller can now address maximum 384 MB memory according to white paper, but only 256 MB in datasheet.

GMA X3100

The GMA X3100 is the mobile version of the GMA X3000 used in the Intel GL960 and GM965 chipsets. The X3100 supports hardware transform and lighting, up to 128 programmable shader units, and up to 384 MB memory. Its display cores can run up to 333 MHz on GM965 and 320 MHz on GL960. Its render cores can run up to 500 MHz on GM965 and 400 MHz on GL960. The X3100 display unit includes a 300 MHz RAMDAC, two 25 - 112 MHz LVDS transmitters, 2 DVO encoders, and a TV encoder. In addition, along with the latest drivers, the product supports DirectX 10.0,[10] Shader Model 4.0 and OpenGL 2.0. The latest Windows XP drivers only support OpenGL 1.4.

GMA X3500

GMA X3500 is an upgrade of the GMA X3000 and used in the desktop G35. The shaders support shader model 4.0 features. Architecturally, the GMA X3500 is very similar to the GMA X3000,[11] with both GMAs running at 667 MHz. The major difference between them is that the GMA X3500 supports Shader Model 4.0 and DirectX 10, whereas the earlier X3000 supports Shader Model 3.0 and DirectX 9.[11] The X3500 also adds hardware-assistance for playback of VC-1 video.

GMA X4500

The GMA X4500 and the GMA X4500HD for desktop[12] were launched in June 2008.[13] The GMA X4500 is used in the G43 chipset[14] and the GMA X4500HD is used in the G45 chipset[12]. The GMA X4500 is also used in the G41 chipset,[15] which was released in September 2008.[16]

The GMA 4500MHD for laptops was launched on July 16, 2008. Featurewise, the 4500MHD is identical to its desktop cousin, the X4500HD.[citation needed]It had been previously rumored that a cost-reduced version, the GMA 4500, was to be launched in late 2008 or early 2009[17] and was to be used in the upcoming Q43 and Q45 chipsets.[15] But in practice the Q43 and Q45 Chipsets also use the GMA X4500[18]

The difference between the GMA X4500 and the GMA X4500HD is that the GMA X4500HD is capable of "full 1080p high-definition video playback, including Blu-ray disc movies",[12] the GMA X4500 however does not have that capability.[13] The G43 and the G45 chipsets are manufactured with 65 nm technology.[19]

Like the X3500, X4500 supports DirectX 10 and Shader Model 4.0 features. Intel designed the GMA X4500 to be 200% faster than the GMA 3100 (G33 chipset) in 3DMark06 performance[20] and 70% faster than the GMA X3500 (G35 chipset).[21]

GMA 500

The Intel System Controller Hub US15W for the Atom processor Z5xx series features a GMA 500 graphic system. Rather than being developed in-house, this core is a PowerVR SGX 535 core licensed from Imagination Technologies.[22] Intel hired a third party (Tungsten Graphics) to develop their own graphics driver for the GMA500 rather than licence a driver from Imagination Technologies, which has resulted in poor Linux support which depends on outdated closed source drivers.[23]

Intel describes this as "a flexible, programmable architecture that supports shader-based technology, 2D, 3D and advanced 3D graphics, high-definition video decode, and image processing. Features include screen tiling, internal true color processing, zero overhead anti-aliasing, programmable shader 3D accelerator, and 32-bit floating-point operations."[24]

MSI's Wind U115 Hybrid, Sony's VAIO P series, Fujitsu's Lifebook U820, ASUStek's Eee PC 1101HA, Dell's Inspiron Mini 10 and Inspiron Mini 12, Acer's Aspire One 751,[25] , ASUStek's EeePC T91 tablet, Sony Vaio X series, Nokia Booklet 3G, and the OQO 02+ are some examples of netbooks using the GMA 500 US15W.

Table of GMA graphics core

Graphics Market Chipset Code Name Device ID Core Render
Clock(MHz)		 Pixel Pipelines Shader Model
(Vertex / Pixel)		 API Support Memory Bandwidth(GB/s) DVMT(MB) Hardware Acceleration
DirectX OpenGL MPEG-2 VC-1 AVC
GMA 900 Desktop 910GL Grantsdale 2582
2782		 4 2.0 (SW) / 2.0 9.0 1.4 3.2 128 MC[26] No No
915GL
915GV 8.5
915G
Mobile Mobile 915
Family		 Alviso 2592
2792
GMA 950 Desktop 945GZ Lakeport 2772
2776		 4 3.0 (SW) / 2.0 9.0c 8.5 256[10] MC[10] No No
945GC 10.7
945G
Mobile Mobile 945
Family		 Calistoga 27A2
27A6
27AE		 250[27]
GMA 3100 Desktop Q33 Bearlake 29D2
29D3		 4 1.5 12.8 256[28] MC[10] No No
Q35 29B2
29B3
G31 29C2
29C3
G33 12.8 (DDR2)
17 (DDR3)		 Full[10]
Graphics Market CPU Code Name Device ID Core Render
Clock(MHz)		 Pixel Pipelines Shader Model
(Vertex / Pixel)		 API Support Memory Bandwidth(GB/s) DVMT(MB) Hardware Acceleration
DirectX OpenGL MPEG-2 VC-1 AVC
GMA 3150 Netbook Atom N4x0 Pineview
Graphics Market Chipset Code Name Device ID Core Render
Clock(MHz)		 Execution Units Shader Model
(Unified Shader)		 API Support Memory Bandwidth(GB/s) DVMT(MB) Hardware Acceleration
DirectX OpenGL MPEG-2 VC-1 AVC
GMA 500 MID UL11L Poulsbo 8108
8109		 100 4 3.0 9.0c 2.0 4.2 256 Full Full Full
US15L 200
US15W
GMA 3000 Desktop 946GZ Broadwater 2972
2973		 667[3] 8 2.0 &
(VS Model 3.0
- SW only)[29]		 10.7 256 MC[10] No No
Q963 2992
2993		 667[4] 12.8
Q965
GMA X3000 G965 29A2
29A3		 3.0 384 Full[10] MC + (LF -
WMV9 only)
GMA X3500 G35 2982
2983		 667[30] 4.0 10 MC + LF
GMA X3100 Mobile GL960 Crestline 2A02
2A03		 400[31] 8.5 MC + (LF -
WMV9 only)
GLE960
GM965 2A12
2A13		 500[31] 10.7
GME965
GMA 4500 Desktop B43 Eaglelake 2E42
2E43
2E92
2E93		 10 2.1 12.8 (DDR2)
17 (DDR3)[32]		 >512
Q43 2E12
2E13
Q45
GMA X4500 G41 2E32
2E33		 800 Full MC + LF MC + LF
G43 2E22
2E23
GMA X4500HD G45 Full Full
GMA 4500MHD Mobile GL40 Cantiga 2A42
2A43		 400[33] 12.8
GS40
GM45 533[33] 12.8 (DDR2)
17 (DDR3)
GS45
Graphics Market CPU Code Name Device ID Core Render
Clock(MHz)		 Execution Units Shader Model
(Unified Shader)		 API Support Memory Bandwidth(GB/s) DVMT(MB) Hardware Acceleration
DirectX OpenGL MPEG-2 VC-1 AVC
Graphics Media Accelerator HD Desktop Pentium G6950 Clarkdale 0042 533 12 4.0 10 2.1 17 >512 Full Full Full
Core i3-5x0 733 21.2
Core i5-6x0
Core i5-661 900
Graphics Media Accelerator HD Mobile Core i7-6x0UM Arrandale 0046 500 17
Core i7-6x0LM 566
Core i5-5x0M 766
Core i7-620M

This table is derived from these sources:[2] [3] [4] [9] [10] [27] [28] [29] [30] [26] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53]

Notes:

Software support

Mac OS X

Mac OS X 10.4 supports the GMA 950, since it was used in previous revisions of the MacBook and 17-inch iMacs.[54] It has been used in all Intel-based Mac minis (until Mac Mini released on March 3, 2009).[55] Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard contains drivers for the GMA X3100, which were used in a recent revision of the MacBook range.[56]

Late-release versions of Mac OS X 10.4 also support the GMA 900 due to its use in the Apple Developer Transition Kit, which was used in the PowerPC-to-Intel transition. However, special modifications to the kext file must be made to enable Core Image and Quartz Extreme.

Although the new MacBook line no longer uses the X3100, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) ships with drivers supporting it that require no modifications to the kext file. Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), which includes a new 64-bit kernel in addition to the 32-bit one, does not include 64-bit X3100 drivers.[citation needed] This means that although the MacBooks with the X3100 have 64-bit capable processors and EFI, Mac OS X must load the 32-bit kernel to support the 32-bit X3100 drivers.[citation needed] November 9's 10.6.2 update ships with 64-bit X3100 drivers.[citation needed]

The newer MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks instead ship with a far more powerful [57] NVIDIA GeForce 9400M,[58] and the 15" and 17" MacBook Pro notebooks ship with an additional GeForce 9600GT supporting hybrid power to switch between GPUs.

FreeBSD

FreeBSD 7.1 supports the following Intel graphic chipsets: G945/GME945/Q965/GM965/GME965/G33/Q33/Q35/G35/G45/Q45.[citation needed]

Linux

Intel has had a long history of producing or commissioning open source drivers for its graphics chips, with all chipsets (except the GMA 500) dating back to the i810 having open 2D and 3D drivers for Linux. Intel is the only major graphics hardware vendor to do so. (For an analysis by company see Graphics hardware and FOSS.)

In August 2006, Intel added support to the open-source X.Org/XFree86 drivers for the latest 965 series that include the GMA (X)3000 core.[59] These drivers were developed for Intel by Tungsten Graphics.[60]

In May 2007, version 2.0 of the driver (xorg-video-intel) was released, which added support for the 965GM chipset. In addition, the 2.0 driver added native video mode programming support for all chipsets from i830 forward. This version added support for automatic video mode detection and selection, monitor hot plug, dynamic extended and merged desktops and per-monitor screen rotation. These features are built in to the X.Org 7.3 X server release and will eventually be supported across most of the open source X.Org video drivers.[61] Version 2.1, released in July 2007, added support for the G33, Q33 and Q35 chipsets.[62] G35 is also supported by the Linux driver.[63]

As is common for X.Org drivers on Linux, the license is a combination of GPL (for the Linux kernel parts) and MIT (for all other parts).[64]

The drivers were mainly developed by Intel and Tungsten Graphics (under contract) since the chipsets' documentation were not publicly available for a long time. In January 2008, Intel released the complete developer documentation for their, at the time, latest chipsets (965 and G35 chipset), allowing for further external developers’ involvement. [65] [66] In April 2009, Intel released documentation for their newer G45 graphics (including X4500) chipsets. [67] In May 2009, Intel employee Eric Anholt stated Intel was "still working on getting docs for [8xx] chipsets out." [68]

intel_hal.so

The driver source contains references to a currently-unavailable binary named "intel_hal.so". It is entirely optional, and the advantages are not clear; ostensibly they are increased performance and/or additional features. References in the open source code indicate that it contains or contained (at least) Macrovision support and some minor, optional 3D optimization routines. Calls to the Macrovision code inside the binary were later removed from the 2D driver.[69][70]

GMA 500 on Linux

GMA 500 support on Linux is not optimal. The driver is developed by Tungsten Graphics, not by Intel, and the graphic core is not an Intel one, but is licensed from PowerVR. This has led to an uncertain mix of open and closed source 3d accelerated drivers, instability and lack of support.

Ubuntu is the Linux distribution that best supports GMA500 (Poulsbo), through the use of the ubuntu-mobile repository on Launchpad. Support is present for 8.04, 8.10, 9.04 and in an experimental way for 9.10, but the installation procedure is not as simple as other drivers and can lead to many bugs.[71]

Intel releases official Linux drivers through the IEGD (Intel Embedded Graphic Driver) supporting some Linux distributions dedicated to the embedded market.

GMA500 is capable of running well in Ubuntu with Compiz visual effects activated[citation needed], and is the only Intel chipset supporting hardware accelerated video decoding (including h264) through libva-api.

In November 2009, the Linux Foundation released the details of a new, rewritten Linux driver that would support this chipset and Intel's other upcoming chipsets. The Direct Rendering Manager and X.org parts would be open source, but the 3D component (using Gallium3D) will still be closed.[72]

Solaris

Solaris may possibly have support for these chipsets.[original research?] Scant information can be found on the Opensolaris DRI page.[73]

Microsoft Windows

GMA 900 on Windows

The GMA 900 is theoretically capable of running Windows Vista’s Aero interface and is certified as DirectX 9 compliant. However, no WHQL certified WDDM driver has been made available. Presumably this is due to the lack of a "hardware scheduler" in the GPU.[74]

Many owners of GMA900 hardware believed they would be able to run Aero on their systems as early release candidates of Vista permitted XDDM drivers to run Aero. Intel, however, contends that Microsoft's final specs for Aero/WDDM certification did not permit releasing a WDDM driver for GMA900 (due to issues with the hardware scheduler, as mentioned above), so when the final version of Vista was released, no WDDM driver was released.[75] The last minute pulling of OpenGL capabilities from the GMA drivers for Windows Vista left a large number of GMA based workstations unable to perform basic 3D hardware acceleration with OpenGL and unable to run many Vista Premium applications such as Windows DVD Maker.

GMA 950 on Windows

This IGP is capable of displaying the Aero interface for Windows Vista. Drivers have shipped with Windows Vista since beta versions were made available in mid-2006. It can also run Windows 7's Aero interface since Intel released drivers for Windows 7 in mid-June 2009.

The GMA 950 is integrated into many netbooks, such as the Acer Aspire One, and is able to display a resolution up to 2048×1536 at 75 Hz and up to 224 MB of video memory.[76]

Most of the reviews about this IGP were negative, since many games (such as Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory or Oblivion) need both Pixel Shader 2.0 or higher, which the GMA supports, and Vertex Shader 2.0, which is not supported in hardware on the GMA and is software-driven. Other games such as Crysis will run but may not work at frame rates fast enough to make the game playable.

GMA X3000/X3100 on Windows

T&L and Vertex Shaders 3.0 are supported by Intel's newest 15.6 drivers for Windows Vista as of September 2, 2007. XP support for VS3 and T&L was introduced on August 10, 2007. Intel announced in March 2007 that beta drivers would be available in June 2007.[77][78] On June 1, 2007 "pre-beta" (or Early Beta) drivers were released for Windows XP (but not for Vista).[79] Beta drivers for Vista and XP were released on June 19.[80] Since hardware T&L and vertex shading has been enabled in drivers individual applications can be forced to fall back to software rendering,[81] which raises performance and compatibility in certain cases. Selection is based on testing by Intel and preselected in the driver .inf file.

Intel has released production version drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Vista that enable the Aero graphics. Intel introduced Direct X 10 for the X3100 and X3500 GPUs in the Vista 15.9 drivers, though any release of DX10 drivers for the X3000 is uncertain. WDDM 1.1 is supported by X3100 but DXVA-HD is not.

OpenGL 2.0 support is available since Vista 15.11 drivers[82] and XP 14.36 drivers.[83]

GMA 500 on Windows

As of June 2009, best available driver revisions for Windows Xp and Vista are:[84]

  • Version 6.14.11.1012 for Windows XP.
  • Version 7.14.10.1006 for Windows Vista.

The Windows 7 version of the driver is available through Windows Update, released in the end of September 2009. It fixes all issues caused by the use of Vista driver in 7, restoring a full and stable Aero experience.

  • Version 8.14.10.2011 for Windows 7. (from Windows Update)
  • Version 8.14.10.2015 for Windows 7. (from Sony Vaio Support)

Modern gaming

The Intel GMA products are designed to allow Intel to offer a full system platform that includes graphics hardware. However, due to the GMA's nature as a highly cost-sensitive product, performance and functionality are limited relative to more expensive discrete graphics components. Some games and 3D applications will not recognize support for some hardware functionality because of the simplification of parts of these graphics accelerators. The GMA X3x00's unified shader design allows for more complete hardware functionality, but the line still has issues with some games and has significantly limited performance.[85]

Intel has put up a page with 'Known Issues & Solutions' for each version.[86] For Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Software Development concerns, there is the Integrated Graphics Software Development Forum.[87]

Intel generally hopes to increase processing power tenfold while still maintaining a low-cost GPU alternative, however due to the amount of computers using Intel GPUs, mass market replacement implementation would take a while.

Fortunately some group known as INTEL 9xx have made "modded" drivers that significantly improves gaming with many games such as games that run with the Source engine and there was a theory that they will make modded drivers that will support vertex shader processing sometime in the future.

On Windows Vista and later, Intel's drivers do not support DirectDraw very well. This causes many older games to malfunction or just not work. Aside from the game being updated, there are few solutions, mainly only workarounds (such as virtualisation).

Microsoft Windows performance reviews

GMA X3000 review

A review conducted in April 2007 by The Tech Report determined that the GMA X3000 had performance comparable to the Nvidia GeForce 6150.[88] During that review the GMA X3000 was unable to run the PC games Battlefield 2 and Oblivion.[89] However, the ExtremeTech review found that games which aren't as graphically demanding, such as Sims 2 and Civilization 4, "look good" when the GMA X3000 is used to run them.[90]

While generally believed that Intel GMA X3000 chipset based cards won't run games like Oblivion, this is in fact untrue, and Oblivion can be made to run as many other games also, by using an application called 3D Analyze ceated by TommiTi with acceptable frame rates outdoors, and extremely good frame rates indoors. This program emulates other Cards on the market by nVidia and Ati. Another fix for this is a .dll package known as SwiftShader 2.0, while enabling Intel cards to launch Oblivion, the performance is terrible.

Reviews performed by The Tech Report, by ExtremeTech and by Anandtech all concluded that the AMD's Radeon X1250 integrated graphics solutions based on the AMD 690G chipset was a better choice than the GMA X3000 based on the G965 chipset, especially when considering 3D gaming performance and price.[88][91][92]

GMA X3500 review

In a review performed by Register Hardware in December 2007,[11] author Leo Waldock argued that because the GMA X3500 is not capable of running any PC game that requires DirectX 10, the addition of DirectX 10 support to the GMA X3500 was "irrelevant".[93] During that same review, the GMA X3500 was used to run the PC games Crysis and FEAR Extraction Point, where it was able to render only 4 and 14 frames per second respectively for each game.[94] In the end the review concluded that overall the X3500 made "minimal advances" over the GMA X3000.[93]

GMA X4500 review

In a review published in May 2008, the GMA X4500 showed a superior game performance to the lowest-end 1-year-older GeForce 8400M graphics card, while losing to the still low-end GeForce 8400M GS with a slower CPU.[95]

See also

References

  1. ^ Key, Gary (2007-03-16). "Intel G965: microATX Performance Update". AnandTech. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  2. ^ a b Case, Loyd. Intel GMA950 Integrated Graphics Core, Extremetech, May 31, 2005.
  3. ^ a b c "Product brief: The Intel 946GZ Express Chipset" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  4. ^ a b c "Intel's Next Generation Integrated Graphics Architecture – Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 and 3000" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-06-08.
  5. ^ "Intel's Next Generation Integrated Graphics Architecture — Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 and 3000 White Paper". Retrieved 2007-10-19.
  6. ^ "Intel G965 with GMA X3000 Integrated Graphics — Intel GMA X3000 Graphics Subsystem — CPUs, Boards & Components by ExtremeTech". Extremetech.com. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  7. ^ Waldock, Leo (2007-12-05). "Asus P5E-VM HDMI motherboard|Register Hardware". Reghardware.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  8. ^ "2006 Intel Desktop Motherboard Roadmap". DailyTech. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  9. ^ a b c Gasior, Geoff. Intel's G965 Express chipset, Tech Report, April 5, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "Intel Graphics — Built for mainstream Desktop and Mobile PC Users" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-06-08.
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