AMD Claims Quality Beatdown in Integrated and Discrete Lineups
These sorts of marketing claims make good copy, but I think they do more harm then good in the long term when we can see the big thumb on the scale when looking at the details.
For example, take a look at what was compared and the driver revisions of the integrated graphics (IGP) solutions compared (driver verisons have been bolded).
System configurations:
INTEL® GMA X4500 (G41)
The first system represents a current basic, entry-level desktop computer with integrated graphics, from Intel. It uses Intel’s GMA X4500 integrated graphics (G41 Express Chipset) with a Pentium Dual Core E5400 processor running at 2.7GHz. This system was equipped with 2GB (2x1GB) DDR3-1066, and Intel display driver 8.15.10.1872.INTEL® HD GRAPHICS (I3)
The second machine is a current "premium" IGP solution from Intel, using a Core i3 530, running at 2.93GHz. This system was equipped with 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3-1066, and Intel display driver 8.15.10.1952.ATI RADEON™ HD 4200 (RS880 IGP)
Third on the list is an AMD integrated graphics solution, which includes an integrated ATI Radeon™ HD 4200 graphics processor and an Athlon™ II X4 630 Quad Core CPU running at 2.8GHz. This system was equipped with 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3-1333 and ATI display driver version 8.73 (soon to be released as "Catalyst 10.5").
Hardware Issues:
1) Where is Nvidia’s 9300/9400 base IGP?
2) Why was the G41 selected instead of the G45 for Intel’s last generation IGP?
Driver Issues:
1) The press release was about Catalyst 10.6, why was the driver from 10.5 used to generate scores for the ATI IGP?
2) Both drivers used on the Intel systems are ancient. The newest is 8.15.10.2141(released 6/9/10) completely excusable that it wouldn’t be used given how long it’s been out, but the next newest (8.15.10.2119) was released in April (4/27/10).
To be clear, I’m not trying to imply in any way that AMD is alone in trying to create and publize results that make their products look good – everyone does it – I just wish they [everyone] wouldn’t.
Every minute, more than 24 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube
indicating that image quality is an increasingly important part of the
PC experience.1 With this in mind, AMD (NYSE: AMD) today
announced improvements to its ATI Catalyst™
10.6 driver suite that further strengthen the company’s leadership
position in image quality as measured by the HQV® Benchmark, Version 2.0.
AMD scored 48 percent better than the competition in discrete graphics
and up to 87 percent better than the competition in integrated graphics.2
In addition, AMD supports the newly released Adobe®
Flash® Player 10.1 technology for more seamless video playback from
popular online video sites.