AMD 790GX Chipset Platform Launch

We also ran the 790GX-based Gigabyte MA790GP-DS4H motherboard through Futuremark’s latest system performance metric built especially for Windows Vista, PCMark Vantage. PCMark Vantage runs through a host of different usage scenarios to simulate different types of workloads including High Definition TV and movie playback and manipulation, gaming, image editing and manipulation, music compression, communications, and productivity.  Most of the tests are multi-threaded, so they can exploit the additional resources offered by a quad-core CPU.

Before we get to the benchmark comparisons, we have a bit of explaining to do.  We initially wanted to compare the 790GX to IGPs from NVIDIA and Intel, using similarly priced processors.  For the nForce 780a, we had no problem.  But the brand new G45 motherboard we had on hand did not support our Q6600 processor and the lowest clocked, compatible quad-core we had on hand was the Q9650.  On top of that, the G45 board did not support multiplier manipulation, so we had to run everything stock.  For reference, we have also included scores from a 790FX and X48 using discreet graphics, but with the X48 we were able to use the Q6600, which is a more fair comparison to the sub-$200 Phenom X4 9850.

With that said, the PCMark Vantage results put the 790GX in a very positive light.  AMD's new chipset outperformed the nForce 780a across the board and hung tight with the more expensive offerings that used discreet graphics.