X32 graphics: Intel GMA 900 vs ATI Mobility Radeon

[yoesh]

in comparing some of the X32 models available on sites like Tiger and CDW, I noticed this difference in the video card descriptions (all other stats were pretty much identical, P-M 2.0, 512/60, etc...)

I know the ATI was used in the X31 (and prior models) -- but could anyone elaborate on the difference, pros/cons, etc between ATI Radeon and the GMA 900? or point me in the right direction? thanks...

[pphilipko]

I believe the X32 uses the old radeon graphics too. The intel 900 is far superior..

[beaker]

Perhaps the GMA 900 is a better graphics card, but the X32's memory controller hub is limiting the main memory throughput used by the GMA 900.

Wouldn't the ATI Mobility Radeon with its own graphics controller offer better performance?

[pphilipko]

Perhaps the GMA 900 is a better graphics card, but the X32's memory controller hub is limiting the main memory throughput used by the GMA 900.

Wouldn't the ATI Mobility Radeon with its own graphics controller offer better performance?

No.

[bhtooefr]

The GMA900 should blow the Mobility (read: underclocked) Radeon 7000 away.

FWIW, what type is the X32 with the GMA900? The only references that I can find to a GMA900 on the X32 are in Japanese and Chinese...

[beaker]

I actually looked up the differences in bandwidth between the two cards and I found this:

AGP cards:

AGP 1x mode = 266MB/s (megabytes per second data transfer rate)
AGP 2x mode = 533MB/s
AGP 4x mode = 1.07GB/s (gigabytes per second. 1GB/s = 1024MB/s)
AGP 8x mode = 2.14GB/s

whereas an integrated graphics card offers the bandwidth of 2.1 GB/s at 266 MHz. I got the later stat from IBM's PC Institute documentation.

[jokerunm]

No, memory bandwidth on the GMA 900 should be between 6.4-8.4 Gb/sec depending on the system memory.

[bhtooefr]

However, this is all a moot point, as tabook only lists X32s with a Mobility Radeon. As I said last time, what type/models are the X32s with the GMA900? If they exist, I WANT ONE.

[pphilipko]

However, this is all a moot point, as tabook only lists X32s with a Mobility Radeon. As I said last time, what type/models are the X32s with the GMA900? If they exist, I WANT ONE.

None.

[bhtooefr]

That's what I thought, too...

On Tiger, the only ThinkPad that I could find was a refurb A22 (IIRC). On CDW, I couldn't find any GMA900 X32s. Are you sure you weren't somehow confusing the X32 and the X41?

[pphilipko]

That's what I thought, too...

On Tiger, the only ThinkPad that I could find was a refurb A22 (IIRC). On CDW, I couldn't find any GMA900 X32s. Are you sure you weren't somehow confusing the X32 and the X41?

I wish there were GMA900 X32’s, but unfortunately, there are not. If you really want the extra graphics power, just get the X41 or T43!