System Builder Tip: Vista Aero Performance Rating - ATI X1650 512 MB PCI-E

We just received a system configured as follows:

• Intel BOXDQ965GF series motherboard.
• Intel Q6600 2.4 GHz Core 2 Quad CPU.
• 2 GB Kinston DDR2.
• Sapphire ATI X1650 Pro PCI-E 512 MB video.
• Antec Sonata III Chassis.

The system has the newest ATI Catalyst driver installed.

We ran the Windows System Assessment Tool to establish the Windows Vista video performance for the X1650 Pro.

Here is a screen shot of the scores:


The Desktop performance for Windows Aero for this video card scored a very respectable 4.5 and a 3D business and gaming graphics performance score of 4.9.

This is a pretty good step up from the ATI X1550 Aero performance score of 3.4 and a 3.8 for 3D business and gaming graphics performance.

It is looking more and more like the entry level video cards available from ATI are more than capable of running the Aero Glass among other demanding 3D requirements.

In one of our earliest tests, we pitted an X850 series PCI-E video card in a P4 HT system against an X1300 configured in an E6400 Core 2 Duo based system. This side-by-side comparison made it clear that the CPU had very little influence over the video card's performance scores. The X850 kicked butt! :D

The Sapphire X1650 Pro PCI-E 512 MB video card is now our de facto choice for our corporate systems. It as very good value for the money.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

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