Running at 105MHz core and 105MHz memory clocks, the Mobility 128 is the fastest mobile solution on paper. We all know paper doesn't matter though, so our lab ran the AGP 2x card through a slew of 2D, 3D, and video benchmarking utilities. As we mentioned earlier, the system we benchmarked on wasn't a run of the mill laptop; rather, an Intel mobile platform to facilitate more centralized testing.
Anyone with a Rage Pro knows that in order to fully appreciate the visuals in Quake III, a top-notch system is imperative. Until this point, laptop users have been all but completely excluded from the party, leaving the visual feast to be devoured by high-end fps fanatics.
With high-resolution UXGA panels on the way with the ability to display true 32-bit color (unlike current panels which are closer to 16-bit), the need for more powerful mobile graphics adapters makes itself apparent in the form of Quake III. We tested this now-standard benchmarking application in both Normal and High Quality as well as expanded and unexpanded modes to try and expose a sweet spot for mobile gaming. Lets take a look at the numbers.
It's nice to see that running with the screen fully expanded (i.e. running at 640x480 on a 1024x768 screen) has little impact on the Mobility's performance. At a resolution of 800x600, 43 frames per second are definitely playable for a 105MHz, 16MB solution.
It would be prudent to note that flat panel displays are run at a 60Hz refresh rate so v-sync is forced on in Quake III. For the time being Normal Quality settings are chosen because of the limitations of today's LCD technology (16-bit gives an optimal performance/quality blend).
UXGA will allow 32-bit color with higher pixel densities, increasing the demand for larger frame buffers. ATI has already taken this into consideration and has a 32MB Mobility 128 variation ready for OEMs interested in even greater video performance. Yes, ATI even had a sample of this 32MB card for our salivating pleasure.
