LOSTCIRCUITS

SUMMARY

In the middle of ATI's current GPU lineup is the X1600 series, based on the R530 GPU and described by ATI as the "Absolute in Mainstream Gaming Performance". On paper, the specs look quite impressive for a card in the US$120-150 price range, moreover, AGP versions are available for those who want an inexpensive experience of SM3.0 goodness. All of this and even a game bundle is consolidated in the cornucopia described as X1600 series.

Yet sometimes things are too good to be true... now, which way around was that again?

After experiencing somewhat of a slump in performance, ATI's X1000- line of graphics processor is supposed to regain recognition and, more importantly, lost sales territory. The X1800 series was burdened with low availability and while it is now available, it never made it to the shelves in its prime. The X1900XT and XTX are, at least until the upcoming release of the nVidia FX7900 series later this week, the undisputed performance leaders. Then there is the field of midrange and low-end cards that draws the right to exist primarily from the OEM market. In the aftermarket, it is somewhat difficult to position particularly the X1300 cards - Hypermemory or not - since current integrated graphics solutions show about the same level of performance.

There is still a market out there for AGP-upgrades, it appears. Most socket 754 boards and also some Socket 939 and 940 motherboards have been using the AGP interface. On the other hand, there is always the potential of a premature death of a graphics card with the consequent need for a replacement, likewise, new gaming applications and demos have emerged that demand the capabilities of Shader Model 3.0. While particularly the latter appears to be of more or less esoteric value for the time being, chances are that there will be the one or the other game available shortly that will take advantage of the advanced features and, therefore, justify the upgrade to the latest core capabilities.

There is also the growing market of video processing and that is where technologies like "PureVideo" (nVidia) and "Avivo" (ATI) add value. This particular area is also the only one that may take advantage of the more streamlined protocol and higher bandwidth of PCIe compared to an AGP interface.

In other words, there is a diversity of market niches out there and where a niche is, there is a potential need to fill it. Driving factors are amongst other things the product positioning as outlined above with the AGP solutions appealing to the gamer community and the PCIe solutions targeted more towards the video-editing clientele. Of course, there is also the price/performance ratio and this is where ATI has diversified its portfolio to make sure that suitable products are available for the need of everybody.

What we are looking at today is ATI's lower midrange solution dubbed the X1600 Pro in AGP format in version supplied by SapphireTech and poised to deliver the "Absolute in Mainstream Gaming Performance". On paper, the specs look very appealing:

• Shader Model 3.0 capable GPU
• 256 MB of local frame buffer
• 128-bit memory bus interface
• 12 pixel pipelines
• 2560 x 1600 Max Resolution @ 60Hz

The question is: do these promises hold up under real life testing conditions?

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