July 24th, 2007
AMD 690G versus Intel G965 PC shootout
The integrated graphics market is one of the least glamorous platforms in desktop computing, but it is probably one of the most important since 90% of the PC market is dominated by integrated graphics. Not only is the chipset itself a valuable prize to AMD and Intel, but the chipset also determines which CPU gets put in to the system. This article will compare AMD’s latest 690G integrated graphics chipset to Intel’s G965 integrated graphics chipset.
The AMD 690G launched back in March 2007 and the Intel G965 is more than a year old with its successor the G35 due later this quarter. That leads to the question of why bother with this comparison since the Intel G35 is due in a month or two. The reason I’m doing releasing this now is because there is a lot of contention over which CPU is more energy efficient, which chipset does better at gaming, and which chipset is better at playing back video. The results of this test will also give us a general idea of what to expect with Intel’s G35 chipset and it also gives much needed coverage for AMD’s integrated graphics chipsets since many people are still under the false impression that AMD doesn’t have a motherboard chipset.
As soon as I can get my hands on a G35 chipset or updated drivers that resolve some of the problems, I will post a follow up to this shootout. I’ll also be able to quickly test the upcoming energy efficient AMD BE-2350 low-power processors and some of Intel’s newer Core 2 CPUs which have been refined.
Hardware and Software configuration:
| AMD 690G platform | Intel G965 platform |
| MSI K9AGM2-FIH motherboard | Intel DG965WH motherboard |
| Size = MicroATX | Size = ATX |
| X2 5600+ 2.8 GHz dual-core CPU | E6600 2.4 GHz dual-core CPU |
| Two 512 MB DDR2-533 DRAM | Two 512 MB DDR2-533 DRAM |
| ATI X1250 integrated graphics | Intel GMA 3000 integrated graphics |
| 330 Watt SeaSonic Power Supply | 330 Watt SeaSonic Power Supply |
| Seagate 160 GB SATA 7200 RPM | Seagate 160 GB SATA 7200 RPM |
| Vista x86 32-bit | Vista x86 32-bit |
| ATI Catalyst 7.7 display driver | Intel Graphics driver v15.4.3 |
| Default Vista DVD CODEC | Default Vista DVD CODEC |
| Windows Media Player 11 for DVD playback | Windows Media Player 11 for DVD playback |
Feature and price comparisons
| AMD 690G platform | Intel G965 platform |
| MSI K9AGM2-FIH 690G motherboard has integrated HDMI digital video output in addition to VGA analog output. However, the digital HDMI out isn’t going to fix the terrible video playback quality. | Intel DG965WH motherboard lacks built-in HDMI and requires an add-on card. While the card may only cost $10 or less to large manufacturers and PC makers, end-users who build their own computers will have a hard time finding those SDVO ADD2 add-on boards. Some of the newer G35-based Motherboards being released this quarter will come with HDMI ports. |
| The AMD 690G only has 4 SATA ports with RAID 0, 1, and 1+0 support. Neither of these RAID types are suitable for storage servers but is more than sufficient for most PC users. | The Intel G965 motherboard has one of the finest integrated storage RAID controllers on any motherboard. It has 6 SATA ports that support RAID 0, 1, 1+0, and 5. Its storage performance numbers are extremely good. |
| AMD X2 5600+ costs $150 | Intel E6550 costs $185 (replacement for E6600 which has FSB1333 and newer manufacturing process) |
| Low cost motherboard at $70. | Modest cost motherboard at $115 |
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George Ou is Technical Director of ZDNet. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
