ATI Radeon 9000 PRO

The ATI Radeon 9000 PRO is an end-of-life graphics card from AMD, built on the RV250 chip using the Rage 7 architecture. Fabricated on a 150 nm process at TSMC, it integrates 36 million transistors on a 97 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 371.1K per square millimeter. In the benchmark database, this card holds a 50th percentile position among all GPUs, yet its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, indicating that no standardized performance data has been captured for this unit. Released on 2002-07-17, it belongs to the Radeon R200 (9000) generation, sitting between the Radeon R100 predecessor and the Radeon R300 successor.

Benchmark Performance

The most striking data point is the absence of recorded benchmark scores. The average benchmark score is exactly 0, which means the database contains no direct performance measurements for this card. Consequently, its 50th percentile ranking should be interpreted as a neutral statistical placement rather than a measured performance tier. Without rival deltas, the card's raw capabilities must be inferred from its fillrate specifications. The pixel rate is 1.100 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 1.100 GTexel/s, both derived from the 4 TMUs and 4 ROPs operating in tandem. These fillrates suggest a card designed for early DirectX 8.1 workloads, where geometry and texture throughput were the primary bottlenecks. The 1.100 GTexel/s texture rate implies that texture-heavy scenes will be processed at a modest pace, while the equal pixel rate indicates a balanced output stage. In the absence of rival comparisons, the 50th percentile places it exactly at the median of the database's GPU population, meaning half of all listed cards are above it and half below, but this is a statistical artifact of the empty benchmark set rather than a verdict on its real-world speed. The 4 ROPs and 4 TMUs are the only shading-related units explicitly listed, and the data does not specify a shading unit count, FP32 throughput, or FP16 throughput, leaving the compute capabilities undefined. Benchmark results indicate that any performance assessment must rely on the fillrate and memory figures rather than on synthetic scores, as the zero average benchmark score precludes direct comparisons.

Power and Cooling

Power consumption is a defining feature of this card. The TDP is rated at 28 W, which is exceptionally low even for its era. The suggested PSU is 200 W, and the card draws power entirely from the AGP 4x slot, as it requires no auxiliary power connectors. This makes it a drop-in solution for older systems with modest power supplies. The cooling solution is a single-slot design, and the physical dimensions are 167 mm in length (6.6 inches) and 111 mm in height (4.4 inches). These measurements confirm that it is a compact, low-profile card that will fit into most chassis without clearance issues. The absence of power connectors and the 28 W TDP mean that thermal management is straightforward, with no need for high-airflow cases or upgraded PSUs. The data indicates that this card is a low-stress component for any AGP-based system, and the 200 W suggested PSU is a modest requirement that most period-correct power supplies can meet. The single-slot cooler further simplifies installation, as it does not occupy adjacent expansion slots, making it suitable for dense motherboards.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

This card predates dedicated ray tracing hardware. The FACT PACK lists no RT cores and no tensor cores, confirming that it relies entirely on traditional rasterization. Its API support is limited to DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL 1.4, with no Vulkan support. The DirectX 8.1 support is significant because it enables programmable pixel and vertex shaders of that era, but the lack of newer APIs means it cannot handle modern graphics features. The absence of Vulkan is expected for a card from this generation, as that API did not exist during its release period. The feature set is firmly rooted in the early 2000s, with display outputs limited to 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video. This trio of outputs allows for connection to CRT monitors, analog projectors, and televisions, but offers no digital display options beyond the single DVI port. The lack of tensor cores also means there is no hardware acceleration for machine learning or AI-based upscaling, which is consistent with the card's 2002 release date. The API list is the definitive statement of its software capabilities: DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL 1.4 are the maximum supported interfaces, and any application requiring newer APIs will be incompatible.

How It Compares

Since the nearestRivals array is empty, there are no direct rival scores or delta percentages to reference. Instead, the card's position must be understood through its generation and product lineage. It belongs to the Radeon R200 generation, specifically the 9000 series. Its predecessor is the Radeon R100, and its successor is the Radeon R300. The R200 generation represents a transitional step between the original R100 and the more advanced R300 architecture. In the database's overall ranking, the 50th percentile is the only comparative metric available, and it indicates a median standing across all GPUs ever listed. This is a purely positional statement, not a performance measurement, given the zero average benchmark score. The card's release date of 2002-07-17 places it in a competitive era, but without rival data, no direct head-to-head analysis is possible. The empty rival list means that any claims of superiority or inferiority to specific competing products cannot be substantiated from the available facts. The 150 nm process and 36 million transistor count are the only architectural differentiators available for comparison, and they place it in the mid-range of its generation. The absence of nearest rivals is a data limitation, not a statement of market isolation, and the 50th percentile is the sole quantitative anchor for its relative standing.

Memory Subsystem

The memory configuration is a 128 MB DDR frame buffer connected via a 128-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 275 MHz, which translates to 550 Mbps effective data rate due to DDR's double-pumping. This yields a total memory bandwidth of 8.800 GB/s. For a card of its era, 128 MB was a substantial capacity, and the 128-bit bus was a standard mid-range configuration. The 8.800 GB/s bandwidth is the critical figure for high-resolution performance. At resolutions where the fillrate (1.100 GPixel/s) is not the limiting factor, the memory bandwidth will govern texture streaming and frame buffer writes. The 128-bit bus width ensures that the memory controller can move data efficiently, but the 8.800 GB/s throughput is modest compared to later cards. For high resolutions, this bandwidth may become a bottleneck, particularly in scenes with heavy texture use or anti-aliasing, as the frame buffer demands will outpace the 8.800 GB/s transfer rate. The 128 MB capacity is sufficient for the texture sizes common in 2002, but it will limit the ability to run modern high-resolution texture packs. The 550 Mbps effective memory clock is the only clock figure provided, as the base, boost, and game clocks are all null in the data.

Who Should Consider It

Given its end-of-life status and the absence of benchmark scores, the Radeon 9000 PRO is a candidate for legacy systems that require AGP 4x connectivity. The 28 W TDP and 200 W suggested PSU make it suitable for old pre-built machines with limited power delivery. The fillrate of 1.100 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1.100 GTexel/s indicate that it is capable of handling early DirectX 8.1 games at standard resolutions, though the data does not specify exact resolutions or settings. The 128 MB VRAM and 8.800 GB/s bandwidth suggest that it can manage moderate texture loads, but users should expect to lower settings in texture-intensive titles. It is not a card for modern gaming, as the API support stops at DirectX 8.1 and OpenGL 1.4, excluding virtually all contemporary software. The 50th percentile ranking, while not a performance measure, does place it in the middle of the database's historical GPU population, which is a reasonable position for a mid-range card from 2002. Anyone building a period-correct retro system with an AGP 4x motherboard will find this card's power and cooling requirements trivially easy to satisfy. The single-slot cooler and 167 mm length ensure compatibility with compact cases, while the 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video outputs provide flexible display connectivity for vintage monitors and televisions.

FAQ

Q: What is the TDP of the ATI Radeon 9000 PRO?

A: The TDP is rated at 28 W.

Q: Does the card require a power connector?

A: No, it has no power connectors and draws power from the AGP 4x slot.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth?

A: The memory bandwidth is 8.800 GB/s, achieved via a 128-bit bus with 275 MHz DDR memory (550 Mbps effective).

Q: What DirectX version does it support?

A: It supports DirectX 8.1.

Q: What is the production status?

A: The production status is end-of-life.

Q: What is the process node?

A: The process node is 150 nm, fabricated by TSMC.