ATI Radeon 9500

The ATI Radeon 9500 is an end-of-life graphics card manufactured by AMD, built on the R300 chip using a 150 nm TSMC process. It integrates 110 million transistors on a 215 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 511.6K per mm². Released on February 28, 2003, it is part of the Radeon R300 generation (9500) and occupies the 50th percentile in the database's GPU ranking.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK contains no benchmark scores and no nearest rivals for the ATI Radeon 9500. The average benchmark score is recorded as 0, and the percentile versus all GPUs is 50. With no rival entries, the data cannot support any percentage-delta comparisons. The only performance indicators are the raw throughput figures: a pixel rate of 1.100 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 1.100 GTexel/s, both derived from the 4 texture mapping units and 4 render output units. These figures represent the card's fillrate capabilities, but without a comparative benchmark suite, they cannot be converted into relative performance statements. The 50th percentile placement indicates that the card sits at the exact median of the database, meaning half of all GPUs rank above and half below, though no specific rival scores are provided to quantify that gap. The absence of benchmark data is itself a notable finding: the card has not been subjected to the database's standard test suite, or its results were not retained. Consequently, any performance analysis must rely solely on the architectural specifications rather than measured outcomes. The equality of the pixel and texture rates — both 1.100 — suggests a balanced design where pixel output and texture fetching progress at the same pace. The 4 TMUs and 4 ROPs operate in tandem, and the lack of FP32 or FP16 throughput fields in the data means compute performance cannot be quantified, leaving fillrate as the sole measured throughput metric.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem of the ATI Radeon 9500 is defined by a 64 MB DDR frame buffer connected via a 256-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 270 MHz, with an effective data rate of 540 Mbps due to double data rate transmission. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 17.28 GB/s. The 256-bit bus width is a significant architectural feature, allowing a wide data path to the memory chips. However, the 64 MB capacity is modest by any standard. For high-resolution workloads, the frame buffer size is the primary constraint. High resolutions require larger color buffers, depth buffers, and texture storage; a 64 MB buffer will be exhausted quickly, forcing the card to rely on slower memory management techniques. The 17.28 GB/s bandwidth, while respectable for the era, is directly tied to the memory clock and bus width. The effective data rate of 540 Mbps indicates the DDR transfer rate, which doubles the base clock. In practice, the bandwidth is sufficient for the card's fillrate, but the capacity limit dominates at higher resolutions. The memory type is DDR, which at the time was a standard choice. The combination of a wide bus and small capacity suggests the card was designed to maximize bandwidth per byte, but the absolute size limits its applicability to high-resolution rendering. The 270 MHz memory clock and the 256-bit bus together produce the 17.28 GB/s figure; any reduction in either parameter would lower the bandwidth. The 64 MB capacity is the more restrictive element, as even moderate texture loads can exceed it, while the bandwidth itself remains adequate for the pixel and texture rates the card can sustain.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The ATI Radeon 9500 has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, as both fields are recorded as null in the FACT PACK. This is consistent with the R300 architecture, which predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The card's feature set is defined by its API support: DirectX 9.0 with feature level 9_0, and OpenGL 2.0. Vulkan is not supported. The DirectX 9.0 support means the card can execute workloads up to that feature level, which was the contemporary standard. The OpenGL 2.0 support provides a cross-platform graphics API path. The absence of Vulkan is expected for a card released in 2003, as Vulkan was introduced much later. The 4 texture mapping units and 4 render output units define the rasterization pipeline: the TMUs handle texture fetching and filtering, while the ROPs handle pixel output and blending. The pixel rate of 1.100 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1.100 GTexel/s are derived from these unit counts and the core clock. The display outputs include 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video, providing analog and digital connectivity. The feature set is thus firmly rooted in the early DirectX 9 era, with no hardware support for modern ray tracing or tensor-based operations. The null entries for RT and tensor cores are explicit data points, not omissions; the card simply lacks these units. The API list is complete with DirectX 9.0 (9_0) and OpenGL 2.0, and the absence of Vulkan further confirms the card's age. The 4 TMUs and 4 ROPs are the sole geometry and pixel processing elements, and the display output trio covers the common connection types of the period.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for the ATI Radeon 9500. Therefore, a direct comparison against specific competitor cards is not possible from the provided data. The card's position in the database is indicated solely by the 50th percentile, which places it at the median of all GPUs. This percentile is a relative ranking, but without rival names or scores, the exact deltas cannot be calculated. The card's predecessor is the Radeon R200, and its successor is the Radeon R400 AGP, providing generational context within the Radeon family. The Radeon R300 generation, to which the 9500 belongs, is the architecture that introduced DirectX 9.0 support. Compared to its predecessor, the R200, the 9500 offers the newer R300 architecture with a 150 nm process. Compared to its successor, the R400 AGP, the 9500 lacks whatever features the R400 introduced, though the FACT PACK does not specify those features. The lack of nearestRivals data means the card cannot be benchmarked against contemporaries such as other early DirectX 9 cards. The 50th percentile ranking is the only quantitative comparison available, and it indicates a middle-of-the-road position. This suggests the card was neither a high-end part nor a low-end part, but the specific rival relationships remain undocumented. The generational markers — R200 as predecessor and R400 AGP as successor — place the 9500 in a clear lineage, but without rival scores, the performance gap to either side cannot be quantified. The 50th percentile is a global rank, not a comparison to a named competitor, so the card's relative standing is known only in aggregate.

Who Should Consider It

The ATI Radeon 9500 is suited for systems that require a DirectX 9.0-capable graphics card with an AGP 8x interface. The card's 64 MB memory and 17.28 GB/s bandwidth are the limiting factors for resolution and settings. The 1.100 GPixel/s pixel rate and 1.100 GTexel/s texture rate indicate a fillrate that is adequate for lower resolutions and less demanding graphical settings. Users running older software that targets DirectX 9.0 and OpenGL 2.0 will find the feature set sufficient. The card's power requirements are modest: a 12 W TDP with no power connectors, and a suggested PSU of 200 W. This makes it suitable for systems with limited power supply capacity. The single-slot design and the absence of external power connectors simplify installation. The display outputs (1x DVI, 1x VGA, 1x S-Video) cover common monitor connections of the era. However, the end-of-life production status means the card is no longer manufactured, so it would be acquired through secondary markets. The 50th percentile ranking suggests it is not a high-performance part, so users seeking high-resolution or high-settings gaming would need a higher-ranked GPU. The 64 MB frame buffer is particularly restrictive for high resolutions; the card is better suited to lower resolutions with less demanding settings. The card's memory bandwidth of 17.28 GB/s is adequate for its fillrate, but the capacity limits texture-heavy scenes. Users with AGP 8x motherboards and modest power supplies who need basic DirectX 9.0 acceleration could consider this card, provided their performance expectations align with the 50th percentile positioning. The 12 W TDP and 200 W suggested PSU mean no power connector is required, making it a drop-in option for older systems. The single-slot cooler and lack of power connectors further reduce installation complexity, and the 1x DVI, 1x VGA, and 1x S-Video outputs accommodate legacy displays. The card's end-of-life status, combined with its 50th percentile rank, positions it as a basic DirectX 9.0 solution for low-resolution workloads rather than a high-end performer.