ATI Radeon 9600 Pro Mac & PC Edition: One Card for All
by Anand Lal Shimpi on August 19, 2005 12:54 PM EST- Posted in
- Mac
Application Pixel Shader Performance
For our last tests, we have two applications that use pixel shaders and thus GPU acceleration, Apple's Motion 1.01 and iMaginator 2.0.Motion is Apple's motion graphics software package and many of its effects are rendered on the GPU. For this particular test, we use the Motion Mark RAM Preview test described here.
Next up, we have iMaginator 2.0, a image processor that uses OS X's Core Image framework to apply GPU accelerated filters and other effects to images. For these tests, we standardized on the benchmarks introduced by Macwelt. The three tests used basically combine a number of filters and play 200 frames of their effects with a 0-second delay between frames, timing how long they take to play back.
Test 1 performs the following filters in this order: Kaleidoscope, Bump Distortion, Bloom, Bloom, Glass Distortion, Glass Distortion, Transition: Mod. Our test 1 is slightly different than what was introduced by Macwelt.
It is interesting to note that in Test 1, the 256MB frame buffer of the Radeon 9600 Pro Mac & PC Edition actually gave it a significant advantage over the 128MB Radeon 9600XT, despite the fact that the 9600XT has more memory bandwidth.
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Cuser - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
I don't see the use for a video card that is cross-platform compatible, except in the corporate environment....yet it seems like this would be a good direction for future cards...which, now that I think of it, will be a moot point being that Mac is going x86...A side note though...
Wow, there is a "gamer" base for the Macs? With framerates like 44 fps from their highest performing systems, I feel for them! Come on over the the x86 side, we'll take good care of you...
IceT - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
I also don't understand why ATi is launching such product @ this time...It seems (my opinion) that they are bringing us backward, unless you can provide me with some rationale.sirfergy - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
The dual link functionality is why. Only other card for mac was the 6800 and that was very expensive.Doormat - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
If someone can afford a 30" Cinema display to utilize the dual link capability, they can splurge on a 6800DDL over this card.a2daj - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
Unless they have a G4 and want to use the 30" in it. Then the 6800 wouldn't be compatible. Only the new Mac Radoen 9600 Pro.MrFantastic - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
"As a card, the Radeon 9600 Pro Mac & PC Edition is an excellent offering."LoL.
It may as well NOT support PC's since no pc owner in their right mind should choose this '£200' oldie over something like a 9800pro/6600gt/800gt
a2daj - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
And how many of those "9800pro/6600gt/800gt" cards offer a dual-link DVI connector to run the 30" cinema display?Scott66 - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
There are many mac users looking for an upgrade in video cards to take advantage of the new graphic abilities in the new Tiger OS software. (similar to what Vista is now announcing and will be included in subsequent beta versions). A 9600 card is just what the Mac doctor ordered. So I guess ATi is looking to provide a similar card for Window users who just want to get all the graphic features Vista can provide but not interested in gaming. If they keep the price low it will be a good sellervijay333 - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
yes! I've always wanted to buy graphics cards 3-4 years after everyone else has had a chance to stress test them...funny thing is that I just upgraded from my 9600 Pro to a 6800GT :)
Questar - Friday, August 19, 2005 - link
Wow, a review of a three year old GPU.My guess is that Anand had to give ATI a good suck in order to get 520 parts before launch.