Intel i925X and i915G Architecture, Pentium 4 560 and 3.4GHz EE - The LGA775 Debut
i915G and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Here are some quick specifications and data points on Intel's integrated graphics solution, that is incorporated in the i915G chipset. The graphics core has been significantly beefed up over Springdale's (i865) but is it enough to do any kind of real gaming?
Let's see, 333MHz core speed, 4 graphics pipelines, DX9 acceleration, the ability to talk to up to 224MB in frame buffer memory and 8.5GB/sec of available memory bandwidth; not too shabby, for an integrated solution perhaps? On the other hand, for those with integrated graphics solutions, gaming may not be a top priority. So as a result, the best features of the graphics core here may in fact be its dual independent display output, DVI and HDTV capabilities.
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With barely a hint of image quality setting capability, it's clear that Intel's driver suite is targeted to the corporate user, rather than the casual gamer or entertainment PC user. The OpenGL control panel has the ability to turn Anisotropic filtering on and off but that's about it.
Regardless, we fired up some Quake 3 engine based Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory and UT2004 numbers for you here, to see what the i915G graphics are made of.
You might be able to play a few Quake 3 based games at 800X600 resolution but you sure aren't going to be playing UT2004 any time soon, with Intel's new integrated graphics solution. No, it's best to let this part of the chipset run your power point presentations and possibly drive High Def content to a TV or similar display. Beyond that, the i915G isn't up to the task of modern game play and we would be hard pressed to believe it could run a DX9 title with any sort of playable frame rate. Intel's DX9 play here with the i915G, is more than likely in support of Microsoft's upcoming Longhorn OS, which requires DX9 capable graphics to run its new interface with all of its 3D features and special effects enabled.
