We used three different motherboards and CPUs in the system configurations, but all the other parts were the same in our test setup for as much an apples to apples comparison as possible given the variables of the platforms. As you can see form the test results the AMD Sempron 3100+ is the clear leader in performance when combined with a discreet VGA solution. Using a discreet VGA card allows the CPU to operate at its optimal levels.
It does this by freeing up the CPU to do other tasks instead of being taxed by the onboard VGA solution and shows the CPUs raw power more effectively. The tests ran using the onboard graphics show the Intel Celeron/ATI’s RS350 chipset to be the winner in sheer performance when compared to the Nforce2 in 3Dmark 2003, but in all the other tests the Sempron and the Nforce2 showed the higher test results. Both will support the Direct-X 8.1 API and play games at about the same level from the users interface aspect
The Motherboards
- AMD Socket 462: ASUS A7N8X-VM
- AMD Socket 754: Shuttle AN51R
- Intel Socket 478: GIGABYTE GA8TRS300M
The CPUs
- AMD Socket 462: Sempron 2800+
- AMD Socket 754: Sempron 3100+
- Intel Socket 478: Celeron 2.8D
Memory
- Crucial Ballistix 2X512MB CAS 2.0 DDR SDRAM
Discreet VGA
Hard Drive
- Maxtor 80Gb ATA133 7200RPM
Test Software
- SYSmark 2004
- PCmark 2004
- 3Dmark 2001
- 3Dmark 2003
- Quake 3 (Time Demo 1)
- UT2003 (Botmatch/Flyby)
- Dronzmark
- Final Fantasy X1
- Gunmetal
- Aquamark
- Halo
- Serious Sam TSE
- SpecViewPerf 7.1.1
- Prime95
