ATI Mobility Radeon X700 XL

The ATI Mobility Radeon X700 XL, manufactured by AMD, is a mobile graphics processor built on the M26 chip using the R400 architecture. Fabricated by TSMC on a 110 nm process, the chip packs 120 million transistors into a 156 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 769.2K per mm². Released in 2005 and now marked as end-of-life, this part occupies a precise median position in the benchmark database, holding a 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs. The data sheet lists a 128 MB DDR memory pool on a 128-bit bus, with a memory clock of 330 MHz (660 Mbps effective). This analysis interprets the available specifications, the percentile standing, and the notable absences in the FACT PACK to construct a complete picture of this legacy mobile solution.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK provides no direct benchmark scores for the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 XL; the `benchmarks` array is empty and the `avgBenchmarkScore` is recorded as 0. This zero is best understood as a placeholder indicating the absence of standardized test entries rather than a literal performance measurement. The critical quantitative anchor is the `percentileVsAllGpus` field, which places this GPU at exactly the 50th percentile. This means the X700 XL sits at the precise median of the entire GPU database — half of all recorded parts are slower, and half are faster. This is a remarkably balanced position, indicating that the card is neither a performance outlier nor a weakling.

Without a `nearestRivals` list, no percentage deltas against specific competitors can be computed. However, the derived fill-rate specifications offer a proxy for raw throughput. The pixel rate of 1.400 GPixel/s, generated by 4 ROPs, and the texture rate of 2.800 GTexel/s, produced by 8 TMUs, define the practical limits of its rendering pipeline. The 50th percentile ranking suggests that these rates are sufficient to match the median performance of all GPUs ever cataloged, but the absence of any rival scores means the data cannot confirm whether this part punches above or below its fill-rate numbers in real workloads. The 0 average benchmark score further complicates interpretation, implying that the database has not yet aggregated any reproducible test results for this mobile chip.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The FACT PACK explicitly lists `null` for both `rtCores` and `tensorCores`. This is a definitive statement that the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 XL contains no dedicated hardware for ray tracing or tensor operations. In the context of its 2005 release and R400 architecture, this absence is expected, but the data is unambiguous: any workload relying on hardware-accelerated ray tracing or AI-based tensor processing is entirely unsupported. The API support is equally clear: DirectX 9.0b (9_2) and OpenGL 2.1 are the only graphics APIs listed. Vulkan support is `null`, confirming that this GPU cannot interface with modern low-level APIs.

The DirectX 9.0b (9_2) level indicates a feature set that is firmly rooted in the early 2000s. The lack of Vulkan and any DirectX version beyond 9.0b means that software requiring newer API features will fail to run or will fall back to software rendering. The R400 architecture, as a whole, is a programmable pipeline design, but without RT cores or tensor cores, its feature set is limited to traditional rasterization and fixed-function operations. The data suggests that the X700 XL is a pure rasterizer, with no path forward for modern graphics features. This positions it as a legacy part, suitable only for applications that target its specific API generation.

Power and Cooling

The FACT PACK provides no numerical data for `tdp`, `slotWidth`, `powerConnectors`, or `suggestedPsu`. This absence is a significant finding in itself. For a mobile GPU from 2005, the lack of a TDP figure means the database has not verified a thermal design power rating, so any discussion of wattage is impossible. Similarly, the absence of power connector requirements and a suggested PSU wattage indicates that the X700 XL likely draws power through its designated bus interface, which is listed as PCIe 1.0 x16. This interface is the only power-related specification available.

Without a TDP, the cooling solution cannot be quantified. The 110 nm process node and 120 million transistor count suggest a chip that is not power-hungry by modern standards, but the data does not confirm this. The `slotWidth` is null, meaning the physical dimensions of the cooling solution are unknown. The bus interface, PCIe 1.0 x16, provides a maximum power delivery path, but the exact connector requirements are not recorded. The data implies that the X700 XL is a low-power mobile part, likely relying on passive or small active cooling, but the FACT PACK offers no numbers to support this inference. The absence of a PSU recommendation is notable, as it suggests the card's power draw is within the capabilities of standard laptop power supplies of its era, but again, no figure is available.

Who Should Consider It

The 50th percentile ranking is the primary guide for potential users. This GPU is not a high-end performer; it sits exactly in the middle of the database. The 128 MB frame buffer and 10.56 GB/s bandwidth are the key constraints. These specifications indicate that the X700 XL is suited for lower resolutions and modest texture quality settings. The pixel rate of 1.400 GPixel/s and texture rate of 2.800 GTexel/s suggest it can handle simple 3D scenes and older games, but not demanding modern titles. The lack of Vulkan and DirectX 9.0b (9_2) API support means it cannot run software that requires DirectX 10 or later, effectively limiting it to legacy applications.

Given the 50th percentile, this card is appropriate for users who need a baseline 3D experience for basic productivity, legacy software, or very light gaming. The data does not support recommendations for high resolutions or high detail settings. The 128 MB memory capacity is a hard ceiling for texture-heavy workloads, and the 10.56 GB/s bandwidth will bottleneck any attempt to push beyond low to medium settings. The absence of ray tracing and tensor cores further confines it to simple rasterization tasks. In short, the X700 XL is a median performer that is best suited for users who have modest expectations and work within the constraints of its early-2000s feature set.

Memory Subsystem

The memory configuration is clearly defined: 128 MB of DDR memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 10.56 GB/s. The memory clock is 330 MHz, with an effective data rate of 660 Mbps. The 128-bit bus width is a moderate design choice, but the 128 MB capacity is the dominant limiting factor. At high resolutions, the frame buffer must accommodate the color buffer, depth buffer, and texture data. A 128 MB pool is insufficient for large textures and high-resolution back buffers, which will force the GPU to either reduce texture detail or thrash the memory subsystem.

The 10.56 GB/s bandwidth is also modest. It limits the speed at which textures and geometry data can be streamed to the GPU. The combination of 128 MB capacity and 10.56 GB/s bandwidth means that resolutions such as 1080p or higher are not viable. Even at lower resolutions, texture-heavy scenes will likely experience performance degradation due to memory pressure. The 128-bit bus does provide a reasonable data path, but the small capacity and moderate bandwidth work against it. The data indicates that this memory subsystem is designed for 32-bit color at resolutions like 1024x768 or 1280x1024 with reduced texture quality, but the exact resolution limits are not specified in the FACT PACK.

FAQ

Q: What is the DirectX version supported by the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 XL?

A: The FACT PACK lists DirectX 9.0b (9_2) support, along with OpenGL 2.1. Vulkan is not supported, as the `vulkan` field is null.

Q: How much video memory does this GPU have, and what is its bus width?

A: It has 128 MB of DDR memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 10.56 GB/s. The memory clock is 330 MHz, with an effective rate of 660 Mbps.

Q: What is the manufacturing process and transistor count for this chip?

A: The M26 chip is fabricated on a 110 nm process at TSMC. It contains 120 million transistors on a 156 mm² die, with a transistor density of 769.2K per mm².

Q: What are the pixel and texture fill rates of this GPU?

A: The pixel rate is 1.400 GPixel/s, derived from 4 ROPs, and the texture rate is 2.800 GTexel/s, derived from 8 TMUs.

Q: What is the production status and release date of the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 XL?

A: The production status is listed as end-of-life. The release date is 2005, and its predecessor is the M1x series, with the M5x series as its successor.

Q: Does this GPU have ray tracing or tensor cores?

A: No. The FACT PACK lists `null` for both `rtCores` and `tensorCores`, indicating that no dedicated hardware for these features exists.

How It Compares

The `nearestRivals` field in the FACT PACK is empty. This means the database has not recorded any direct rival comparisons for the ATI Mobility Radeon X700 XL. Consequently, no specific rival names, scores, or deltaPct values are available for analysis. The only positional reference is the `percentileVsAllGpus` of 50, which places it at the exact median of all GPUs in the database. Without rival data, the comparison must rely on its internal specifications. Its 8 TMUs and 4 ROPs, combined with a 128-bit memory bus, suggest a performance class that is typical of mid-range mobile GPUs of its era, but no exact percentage deltas can be cited. The absence of rivals also means that the 50th percentile is the sole comparative metric, indicating it sits exactly in the middle of the performance distribution. The 0 average benchmark score further confirms that no standardized test results exist to differentiate it from any other part.