OpenGL and More Gaming

At one time, OpenGL (Open Graphics Library ) used to be the predominant API for 2D and 3D applications. OpenGL is a standard cross platform API for computer graphics originally developed by Silicon Graphics in 1992, featuring over 250 function calls. While OpenGL has been pushed somewhat into the back by DirectX powering most games in the Microsoft Windows environment, it remains a powerful factor in CAD and scientific computing. OpenGL is currently managed by a non-profit technology consortium known as the Khronos Group. OpenGL allows each vendor to add functions through extensions of the standard that are designated by specific identifiers (for example “NV” for nVidia).

Our first two articles on Intel's Clarkdale CPU were covering the architectural idiosyncrasies of Intel's latest CPU, featuring not only the integrated memory controller but also integrated graphics on the same processor package. We further looked into Intel's strategy of taking unused CPU cycles to augment the iGFX performance, and quite successfully so to gain an edge over the closest competitor, that is AMD's 785G/GX chipset featuring the integrated RADEON 4200 graphics core.

By the end of the day or the first two weeks of usage, though, we still believe that a substantial number of users will decide to bite the sour grapes and upgade to one or the other discrete solution. Regardless of its bravour, the iGFX is still too limited for anything but home theater use when it comes to entertainment. This of course begs the question what can be expected from a Clarkdale sans iGFX, that is, just a plain old dual core Nehalem CPU with TurboBoost Technology and Hypertreading. Out of the box 3.6 GHz are nothing to be ashamed of but how will two physical cores stack up against AMD's quad core competition starting at only about 1/2 of the '661 price tag?