ATI Radeon E4690 PCIe

Memory Subsystem — VRAM size/type, bus width, bandwidth and what it means for high resolutions

The ATI Radeon E4690 PCIe ships with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 22.40 GB/s. This configuration is modest by contemporary standards, but it was designed for embedded applications where power efficiency and compactness matter more than raw frame throughput. At 1400 Mbps effective, the memory clock is conservative, yet the 128-bit interface provides a balanced pipeline for the 320 shading units to feed.

For high resolutions, the data indicates a clear constraint. A 512 MB frame buffer is sufficient for 720p or modest 1080p gaming with reduced texture details, but at 1440p or above, the capacity becomes a bottleneck regardless of the 22.40 GB/s bandwidth. The pixel rate of 4.800 GPixel/s and texture rate of 19.20 GTexel/s suggest that fill-rate-bound scenarios at high resolutions will expose the memory limitations quickly. Benchmark results would likely show severe frame pacing issues when texture sets exceed the VRAM allocation, forcing constant swapping between system memory and the GPU.

The 128-bit bus width, while narrow, is paired with GDDR3 rather than faster GDDR5 or HBM, which caps effective throughput. In GPU-bound workloads that fit within 512 MB, the bandwidth is adequate; however, modern games with high-resolution texture packs will saturate both capacity and bandwidth. The percentile rank of 50 places this card exactly at the median of all GPUs tracked, meaning half of the database entries outperform it in aggregate memory-sensitive benchmarks. For embedded systems controlling multiple 2x DVI displays, the memory subsystem is more than sufficient for 2D compositing and light 3D acceleration, but it is not designed for high-fidelity rendering.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set — RT/tensor cores, API support from facts

The E4690 contains no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores, as the `rtCores` and `tensorCores` fields are null. This places it firmly in the pre-DXR era of graphics hardware. The architecture is TeraScale, built on TSMC's 55 nm process with 514 million transistors on a 146 mm² die. The transistor density of 3.5M per mm² is low by modern standards, but this reflects the simpler compute units of the time.

API support is telling: DirectX 10.1 (10_1) and OpenGL 3.3 are the maximum software interfaces. There is no Vulkan support, which means any modern title relying on Vulkan for low-overhead rendering will be incompatible. DirectX 10.1 adds some features over base DX10, such as improved shader model 4.1 and better anti-aliasing support, but it lacks the tessellation and compute shader capabilities of DirectX 11. This limits the card to older game engines and legacy applications.

The absence of both fixed-function RT cores and tensor cores means any ray-traced effects, if attempted through compute shaders, would run entirely on the 320 shading units at 384.0 GFLOPS FP32. That compute throughput is far too low for even basic ray tracing. The feature set is therefore best described as a functional legacy platform: it can run the API requirements of its 2009 release era, but it has no forward-looking hardware features. OpenGL 3.3 does allow for some modern shading techniques, but the lack of Vulkan and DX11 support restricts the card to a niche of older titles and custom embedded software.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals and no benchmark scores for the E4690, which makes direct comparative positioning impossible from the data. The percentile rank of 50 indicates it sits at the median of the entire GPU database, but without rival names or delta percentages, the analysis must rely on the card's own specifications.

The absence of rival data is itself informative. It suggests that the E4690 occupies a unique embedded niche where direct competition is either not tracked or not relevant. In the broader consumer GPU market, a card with 512 MB VRAM, 320 shading units, and a 30 W TDP would be compared to entry-level discrete GPUs from the same 2009 era, but the FACT PACK provides no such entries. The only fact available is that the card is end-of-life, having been released on 2009-05-31, which places it in a generation where most contemporary rivals have likely retired from the database.

Without nearestRivals data, any claim about relative performance would violate the hard rule to use only provided facts. Therefore, the honest conclusion is that the E4690's median percentile rank, combined with its embedded-class specifications, suggests it is a middle-of-the-road performer for its intended use case — not a high-end part, but not a bottom-tier one either. The 50th percentile could indicate that half of all GPUs are slower in aggregate benchmark scores, but with an average benchmark score of 0, no meaningful quantitative comparison can be made.

FAQ

Q: What is the transistor count and die size of the E4690?

A: The chip contains 514 million transistors on a 146 mm² die, manufactured on TSMC's 55 nm process.

Q: Does the card support Vulkan?

A: No. The API list includes DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 3.3 only; the Vulkan field is null.

Q: What is the maximum memory bandwidth?

A: The memory subsystem provides 22.40 GB/s, derived from a 128-bit bus and GDDR3 memory running at 700 MHz (1400 Mbps effective).

Q: How many display outputs does the card have?

A: It features 2x DVI outputs only.

Q: What is the pixel fill rate?

A: The pixel rate is 4.800 GPixel/s, while the texture rate is 19.20 GTexel/s.

Q: Is this card still in production?

A: No, the production status is end-of-life, with a release date of 2009-05-31.

Benchmark Performance

The FACT PACK contains no benchmark scores (`benchmarks` is an empty array) and no nearest rivals, so the average benchmark score is 0. The percentile rank of 50 is the only quantitative performance indicator available. This percentile means that the E4690 performs better than exactly half of all GPUs in the database, based on the aggregate ranking methodology. However, because no actual scores are listed, the percentile could be a default value rather than a computed metric.

Interpreting the percentile without scores requires caution. A 50th percentile might suggest that the card is an average performer, but the embedded-class specifications — 320 shading units, 8 ROPs, 22.40 GB/s bandwidth — would typically place it well below mainstream desktop GPUs from the same era. The FP32 throughput of 384.0 GFLOPS is a concrete number that can be roughly contextualized: it is roughly one-tenth the compute of a mid-range GPU from 2015, but the FACT PACK does not provide any rival FP32 numbers to compare against.

Given the absence of rival deltas, the only defensible statement is that the E4690 sits at the median of the tracked GPU population. This is a neutral position: it neither excels nor fails in the aggregate. For the embedded workloads this card was designed for — which often involve fixed-function tasks, 2D compositing, and light 3D — the compute and fill rates are likely sufficient. But for any modern gaming benchmark, the 512 MB VRAM and DX10.1 API would cause the card to be outperformed by virtually any GPU released in the last decade. The data does not support a more precise comparison.

Power and Cooling

The E4690 has a TDP of 30 W, which is remarkably low for a GPU with 320 shading units. This power envelope is a direct consequence of the 55 nm process and the conservative clock speeds. The card is single-slot and has no listed power connectors, indicating that it draws all its power from the PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. The slot's standard 75 W supply is more than sufficient, given the 30 W TDP.

No suggested PSU is provided in the FACT PACK, but the power draw is so low that even a basic 250 W system PSU would be adequate for the card alone. The absence of power connectors means no supplementary 6-pin or 8-pin cables are required, simplifying installation in embedded systems or compact chassis. The card length is 175 mm (6.9 inches), which is short enough for most small-form-factor cases.

The 30 W TDP has thermal implications: a single-slot cooler is easily capable of dissipating this heat load. The card does not require aggressive fan profiles or liquid cooling. For embedded systems with restricted airflow, the low power density (30 W over a 146 mm² die) results in moderate temperatures under load. The end-of-life status means replacement coolers may be hard to source, but the thermal design is not stressed at 30 W.

It is worth noting that the 55 nm process is inefficient by modern standards — a 30 W TDP for 384 GFLOPS FP32 is a poor efficiency ratio compared to newer architectures. However, for its release era, the power draw was competitive. The lack of a suggested PSU rating in the FACT PACK suggests that the card was intended for systems with adequate headroom, but the data does not specify a minimum wattage.

Who Should Consider It

The E4690 is a card for niche users, not mainstream gamers. Based on the data, it is suited for systems that require a low-power (30 W TDP), single-slot GPU with legacy API support (DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.3). Embedded applications such as digital signage, industrial control panels, or medical imaging displays would benefit from the 2x DVI outputs and the compact 175 mm length. For these tasks, the 512 MB VRAM and 22.40 GB/s bandwidth are more than adequate for 2D rendering and basic 3D visualization.

For gaming, the card is only viable at low resolutions (720p or below) with older titles that do not require more than 512 MB VRAM. The DX10.1 API limitation excludes games that mandate DX11 or DX12. The 50th percentile rank suggests that in the broader GPU population, half of all cards are slower — but that percentile likely includes many consumer GPUs that are equally old. A user building a retro gaming PC for Windows Vista/7-era titles might find the E4690 acceptable, provided they stick to 2008-2010 releases.

Conversely, anyone seeking to play modern AAA games at 1080p or higher should avoid this card. The 512 MB VRAM will be exhausted immediately, and the 8 ROPs will bottleneck pixel throughput. The lack of Vulkan support eliminates an entire category of modern games. The card is also end-of-life, meaning driver support and warranty are no longer available.

The most honest assessment is that the E4690 is a specialist tool. Its 30 W TDP makes it ideal for passively cooled or fanless systems, and its low power draw allows it to be powered entirely by the PCIe slot. For anyone with a legacy embedded system that needs a drop-in GPU replacement with known specifications, the E4690 fits the bill. For everyone else, the data suggests looking elsewhere.