Ok. So I am reviewing Intels new line of onboard graphics, the "Intel Media Accelerator". Here are the 2 systems im comparing:
Inspiron 1200
1.4ghz Celeron M
768MB Ram
40GB 5200rpm HD
128MB Intel Media Accelerator 9xx
onboard Sigmatel audio
XP sp2/ w all updates and latest drivers directly from dell
AVG Free Antivirus
Kerio Firewall
MS Antispyware
Spybot S&D with Teatimer
Homebuild desktop machine
MSI P4MAM-V Motherboard
2.0ghz Northwood Celeron
512MB RAM
100GB Seagate 7200rpm drive
128MB ATI Radeon 9200
onboard 6 channel VIA audio
XP sp2 w/ all updates
AVG Free Antivirus
No Firewall
MS Antispyware
Spybot S&D with Teatimer
Heres a list of various games I have tested on these systems:
The Sims 2 (with University and Nightlife installed)
Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
Midtown Madness 2
Project64 (Nintendo 64 emulator. Primarily tested with Super Smash Brothers 64)
Generally on all of these games I have always had trouble on the desktop machine running anywhere above 800x600 and still keeping a decent quality/performance ratio. On my laptop I can run all of them at 1024x768 and still keep a good framerate.
Also I should make note that im not a "hardcore gamer" Generally im happy with any framerate above 20fps and any resolution at or above 640x480 (though I prefer 800x600 and above)
Game: The Sims 2
-----------------
On the desktop machine I generally have to leave it at 800x600 on low settings to keep the framerate up to a playable level. I can keep reflections on but it usually drops the framerate noticeably when looking into a reflective surface. and Special Event movies also have their own various bugs namely with the gui and their own slowdown.
The laptop fares much better. By default the game started up to 1024x768 with low settings and I got a good framerate. I was able to drop it to 800x600 and turn settings up to high-med/high with reflections and SE movies enabled and neither produced any noticeable slowdowns.
Game: Flight Simulator 2004
---------------------------
Now on a kind of unkown note, I have ran them in maximized windowed mode on both machines (1152x864 on desktop and 1024x768 on laptop) and Im not totally sure if the game takes the screens resolution or if it takes the resolution set in display options and just does a crude resize.
On the desktop I can safely say that it does run fairly badly. I get a good bit of slowdown on all settings just about everywhere. Get me in nasty weather at higher settings and the game is just unplayable. period.
On my laptop it automatically set everything to medium/high settings and I manually set the game display res to 1024x768x32. Havent had a chance to test various weather conditions but in clear weather with the above settings I had absolutely no slowdown. not a single hiccup. Played great.
Game: Midtown Madness 2
-------------------------
This game I have been playing for years all the way back to my old 333mhz gateway with a crappy 4mb onboard ati rage card which ran the game badly at even the lowest settings.
On the desktop machine this game runs just fine based on the settings I use. Generally I have to keep it at a maximum of 800x600 with settings at low-med with the view distance set to about 1/3 in order to get a playable framerate (20-30fps)
On the laptop im able to run at 1024x768 with all settings to medium and view distance at maximum and keep a good playable framerate. the only time it slows down any is if im staring down the center of san frnaicsco where it has to render dozens upon dozens of buildings in the hills of san fran.
Game: Project64/Super Smash Brothers
--------------------------------------
First off, im not too keen on the detailed settings here, just basic windowed and full screen resolutions.
On the desktop I usually have to keep the full screen resolution at 640x480x16 for good playability. and the framerate usually stays pretty high. its primarily the regular hiccups that bother me.
On the laptop I can run it at 1024x768 and it plays at the max framerate (60fps) and I get no hiccups whatsoever.
In my own personal opinion I think this model of intel graphics is definitely viable for gaming albeit by no means a match for current ati and nvidia cards, but it is definitely viable for most "commoner" games. But I keep hearing people badmouthing this card saying its meant simply for productivity purposes and cant run any games. As my own tests have proven this is simply not the case, atleast not as harsh as what others say.
As another comparison, The desktop machine used to use an intel based motherboard with onboard 64MB intel 845g graphics and the radeon it uses now easily outperforms those old graphics.
Inspiron 1200
1.4ghz Celeron M
768MB Ram
40GB 5200rpm HD
128MB Intel Media Accelerator 9xx
onboard Sigmatel audio
XP sp2/ w all updates and latest drivers directly from dell
AVG Free Antivirus
Kerio Firewall
MS Antispyware
Spybot S&D with Teatimer
Homebuild desktop machine
MSI P4MAM-V Motherboard
2.0ghz Northwood Celeron
512MB RAM
100GB Seagate 7200rpm drive
128MB ATI Radeon 9200
onboard 6 channel VIA audio
XP sp2 w/ all updates
AVG Free Antivirus
No Firewall
MS Antispyware
Spybot S&D with Teatimer
Heres a list of various games I have tested on these systems:
The Sims 2 (with University and Nightlife installed)
Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight
Midtown Madness 2
Project64 (Nintendo 64 emulator. Primarily tested with Super Smash Brothers 64)
Generally on all of these games I have always had trouble on the desktop machine running anywhere above 800x600 and still keeping a decent quality/performance ratio. On my laptop I can run all of them at 1024x768 and still keep a good framerate.
Also I should make note that im not a "hardcore gamer" Generally im happy with any framerate above 20fps and any resolution at or above 640x480 (though I prefer 800x600 and above)
Game: The Sims 2
-----------------
On the desktop machine I generally have to leave it at 800x600 on low settings to keep the framerate up to a playable level. I can keep reflections on but it usually drops the framerate noticeably when looking into a reflective surface. and Special Event movies also have their own various bugs namely with the gui and their own slowdown.
The laptop fares much better. By default the game started up to 1024x768 with low settings and I got a good framerate. I was able to drop it to 800x600 and turn settings up to high-med/high with reflections and SE movies enabled and neither produced any noticeable slowdowns.
Game: Flight Simulator 2004
---------------------------
Now on a kind of unkown note, I have ran them in maximized windowed mode on both machines (1152x864 on desktop and 1024x768 on laptop) and Im not totally sure if the game takes the screens resolution or if it takes the resolution set in display options and just does a crude resize.
On the desktop I can safely say that it does run fairly badly. I get a good bit of slowdown on all settings just about everywhere. Get me in nasty weather at higher settings and the game is just unplayable. period.
On my laptop it automatically set everything to medium/high settings and I manually set the game display res to 1024x768x32. Havent had a chance to test various weather conditions but in clear weather with the above settings I had absolutely no slowdown. not a single hiccup. Played great.
Game: Midtown Madness 2
-------------------------
This game I have been playing for years all the way back to my old 333mhz gateway with a crappy 4mb onboard ati rage card which ran the game badly at even the lowest settings.
On the desktop machine this game runs just fine based on the settings I use. Generally I have to keep it at a maximum of 800x600 with settings at low-med with the view distance set to about 1/3 in order to get a playable framerate (20-30fps)
On the laptop im able to run at 1024x768 with all settings to medium and view distance at maximum and keep a good playable framerate. the only time it slows down any is if im staring down the center of san frnaicsco where it has to render dozens upon dozens of buildings in the hills of san fran.
Game: Project64/Super Smash Brothers
--------------------------------------
First off, im not too keen on the detailed settings here, just basic windowed and full screen resolutions.
On the desktop I usually have to keep the full screen resolution at 640x480x16 for good playability. and the framerate usually stays pretty high. its primarily the regular hiccups that bother me.
On the laptop I can run it at 1024x768 and it plays at the max framerate (60fps) and I get no hiccups whatsoever.
In my own personal opinion I think this model of intel graphics is definitely viable for gaming albeit by no means a match for current ati and nvidia cards, but it is definitely viable for most "commoner" games. But I keep hearing people badmouthing this card saying its meant simply for productivity purposes and cant run any games. As my own tests have proven this is simply not the case, atleast not as harsh as what others say.
As another comparison, The desktop machine used to use an intel based motherboard with onboard 64MB intel 845g graphics and the radeon it uses now easily outperforms those old graphics.
