New motherboards with integrated graphics chip from NVIDIA are already on the market- the GeForce 9 mGPU. Company informs about the major changes and praises the high performance, and available technologies: CUDA, PhysX, Hybrid SLI and PureVideo HD improved. All these solutions are now available in the integrated graphics.

nVidia just at the beginning of the official presentation provides four key information: 5-fold higher efficiency, productivity increased by 70 percent. after using the Hybrid SLI technology, the full support Blu-ray movies, graphical operating system technologies CUDA and PhysX. Promises to be interesting? It should.

On slide 4 we see the results of tests carried out in the benchmark 3DMark Vantage. Intel (G45) reaches 104 points, the platform AMD 790GX has 262 points, while the GeForce 9400 gaining 575 points. And that is sufficient number of tests to determine – according to NVIDIA – that the latest systems are “5 times faster.”

Comparing these systems 3DMarku Vantage does not provide a fair test. 3DMark Vantage has four main components: two relate to the CPU, two GPU. One of the tests and the CPU for calculation of physics. It is based on the API from Ageia, which has developed a system PhysX. Futuremark used this API, because a lot of games use it – and so it makes sense. However, several months ago, NVIDIA bought Ageia group, and with it all technologies (including PhysX API). In the ForceWare 177.39 drivers already found to API. Moreover, the systems they use NVIDIA graphics rather than separate processor or PhysX chip.

3DMark Vantage – not exactly a fair test

Tests 3DMark Vantage make the system Intel does not compete on equal terms with an NVIDIA. Latest GeForce gain a lot more points because of the fact that use of the nVidia API, which is also implemented in the benchmark.
On the other Intel hardware that do not. Although support for PhysX in NVIDIA drivers a great thing, because we are free. Integration of the technology in graphics cards should also be considered a plus, because we do not need to install a separate card in your computer.

The presentation NVIDIA did not find any other test – for example in the games. I think it’s not surprising why, since the results would not be so beneficial to the green. Well, except that since some older systems. What’s more, there is no corresponding realive tests using integrated GeForce. Integrated graphics are not yet used to beating records in 3DMark.

In addition, NVIDIA did not provide the configuration of the hardware. Therefore, wait until will appear on the home market CD equipped with new GeForce chip and then I’ll verify “5 times better performance.” For now, this claim is strongly on the excrescence.

30 FPS? Games: laziness unintentional?

Another slide presentation indicates that the GeForce 9 mGPU ensure smooth animation (about 30 frames / s) in the best games. It must be noted, however, that these are not the newest games (such as Bioshock, Call of Juarez, FEAR). What’s more, the number of frames per second only occur when running the game at the lowest graphics settings and resolutions 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600

Currently, CRT monitors have already moved on to junk objects. The vast majority of users use LCD panels and a lot of these screens will work with a nominal resolution higher than 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600 pixels. And, as we know, in the LCD monitor, change the resolution to something other than natural result in lesser or greater deterioration in image quality. The more that it is now the most popular are the proportions of widescreen monitors.

A simple example – use the 19-inch monitor, that works at a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. To play the game with well smooth animation, we need to reduce the resolution to 1024 x 768, which now presents itself messy. In addition, you must set all the graphic effects to a minimum – so forget about any visual kickass effects, with DirectX 10 features at the forefront. Is it nice to be play example, in Crysis or Bioshock? Probably not. Especially now that the image has a lot to the gameplay – beautiful water, the excellent quality of buildings or reproduced prodigiously provide additional entertainment.

14 of the 30 games will not work on integrated video chips from Intel – only works on the GeForce 9 mGPU. It is not true!

On the next slide is an indication of the fact that 14 of the 30 best games does not work at all or has serious problems on Intel’s integrated circuits (G45 chipset). First of all, be pointed out that these are the best game titles, which had the best sales according to NPD report at the end of July. Now we are in October, so it could be a little updated. In addition, the sale is not always a prerequisite for quality. But this is not the most important.

It turns out that the tests were performed on a computer running Windows Vista and Intel-old drivers (7.15.10.1518). Among these games are such titles as Age of Conan, Crysis, Bioshock, and Half-Life 2 (exactly: Orange Box package). When we use the latest drivers for Intel, which has already been made some time ago, Age of Conan, and Crysis (in DX9) are just fine, while BioShock and Half-Life 2 may have some minor problems in Vista, but also work. Personally checked on a computer equipped with a CD based on the G45 chipset (drivers 15.11.2.1554).

Games: laziness unintentional?

At several presentation slides find information that some of the games work much better on systems GeForce 9 The following examples.

The first comparison gives us to understand that the game Assassin’s Creed does not work on the boards with integrated graphics from Intel. Easily work with you to GeForce’ach 9 mGPU. NVIDIA said: “We expect more of the motherboards graphics GeForce 9″. Meanwhile, simply install the latest drivers for integrated graphics Intel X4500 HD (G45 chipset) supports this game.

The next examples show that the game Age of Conan, Second Life, Spore work better for GeForce’ach 9 mGPU, because you can run at higher graphics settings. It’s true. But on the other hand, it’s obvious that the latest NVIDIA graphics chip (CDs not weń have yet to buy) will be better than those that are available in the market for a long time (referred to G45 chipset). The meaning of this comparison is standing under a question mark – as if to make the statement to the graphics card Radeon HD 4850 and write, that it will offer even better impression of the game, he could be set higher settings and not lose the liquidity in the animation. It is no wonder that the latest graphics chip is faster than the older ones. There are also more expensive than they

Believe in miracles! Hybrid merger and Blu-ray

NVIDIA advises that the main plates equipped with a GeForce 9 mGPU user will be able to enjoy better performance in several applications. For example, the company provides a change of the video clip resolution 1280 x 720 format corresponding to phone Apple iPhone – 640 x 360 The graph shows that the computer equipped with a system that supports NVIDIA CUDA technology perform a task better, although it was slower central processing unit (CPU). PC with a processor E2180 (80 dol. – The price of presentation) use the program Badaboom (supports CUDA), while number two machine operation carried out by the popular iTunes. Its processor is E8400 (158 dol.).

Here agree – CUDA technology actually makes an impression, and without a doubt, this is a great solution. But beware! Currently on the market do not find too many applications that could exploit the possibility of miracles. Then, if we use nieobsługującego NVIDIA technology, computer with a faster processor will provide significantly better performance. Therefore, before you believe in miracles, necessarily Find out whether your applications support this solution. Comforting is that NVIDIA are constantly working on the CUDA-enabled tools to be more and more.

The company additionally shows – once again relying on 3DMarku Vantage – the benefits of having an arrangement of plates of GeForce 9 Again, we have to deal with two computers: one of the more expensive, second from cheaper chip. And, of course, the cheaper the CPU can boast a much better result in the test 3DMark Vantage – CPU Test 2 (physics calculations). It is also a significant advantage of the latest NVIDIA systems. But again I have to write that the benefits of having images equipped with PhysX is only when we have the appropriate applications.

The company proudly claims that the technology for the Hybrid SLI able to increase efficiency at up to 70 percent.

This is possible when you install on your computer independent graphics card or GeForce 8400 GT in 8500. Then, will work with an integrated. It is certainly an attractive solution for some users. You can buy it relatively cheap computer, and later also buy inexpensive graphics card. As a result, without spending much money at a time, eventually become holders of a computer that offers good graphics subsystem.

But whether in fact we can even talk about siedemdziesięcioprocentowym growth? The graph shows NVIDIA him only a few games, in addition non-art. Taking into account wpadki from the previous part of the presentation so it is difficult to believe that the actual increase in productivity is so high. We still wait for independent testing. Nevertheless, the Hybrid SLI technology is definitely a successful solution, and certainly they can be considered as a great advantage in systems GeForce 9 mGPU.

Worth mentioning that the latest integrated graphics systems offer at the end of the full support Blu-ray movies (HD quality). With the help of improved technology PureVideo HD-chip GeForce 9 mGPU will support all Blu-ray titles and codecs. According to NVIDIA, 59 percent. Blu-ray movies are saved in H.264 codec, with 10 percent. uses MPEG-2, and 31 percent. – VC-1. The company also argues that the consumption of the CPU when watching Blu-ray movies will be very small. Here, however, not funny, because competing technologies provide similar results. This message should be treated as ordinary fact.

Source: Benchmark.pl (Translated and shortened)