ATI Radeon X1800 GTO2

The ATI Radeon X1800 GTO2 is a desktop graphics card from AMD (ATI) built on the R520 chip, fabricated at TSMC on a 90 nm process. It integrates 312 million transistors on a 288 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 1.1 million per square millimeter. The card uses the Ultra-Threaded SE architecture, part of the Radeon R500 PCIe generation, and was released on February 28, 2006. It is now end-of-life. The database assigns it a 50th percentile rank among all GPUs, indicating a median position, while its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, meaning no actual performance results are stored. This analysis relies strictly on the specification sheet and the given percentile.

Memory Subsystem

The X1800 GTO2 is equipped with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory, connected via a 256-bit bus. The memory clock is 500 MHz, which translates to an effective data rate of 1000 Mbps and a peak bandwidth of 32.00 GB/s. These figures define the memory subsystem’s capability. The 256-bit interface is a relatively wide path for the era, allowing the 32 GB/s bandwidth to be sustained across the bus. However, the capacity is limited to 256 MB, which directly constrains how much texture data and geometry can be buffered at once.

For high-resolution rendering, the interaction between capacity and bandwidth is critical. At higher resolutions, the frame buffer must hold larger color, depth, and texture buffers. A 256 MB frame buffer is sufficient for 720p or modest 1080p workloads with reduced texture quality, but it will quickly become a bottleneck when demanding high-resolution textures or anti-aliasing are enabled. The 32.00 GB/s bandwidth also sets an upper bound on how quickly the GPU can read and write data. While this bandwidth was competitive in early 2006, it is modest by later standards. The pixel rate of 6.000 GPixel/s and texture rate of 6.000 GTexel/s suggest that the memory subsystem is balanced with the shading capabilities—neither is dramatically faster than the other, which is typical for a mid-range part of that generation.

Benchmark Performance

The fact pack contains no benchmark scores for the X1800 GTO2. The average benchmark score is listed as 0, which likely indicates that no standardized tests have been recorded in this database. However, the percentile field provides a comparative signal: the card sits at the 50th percentile among all GPUs. This means that, based on the database’s internal ranking (which may incorporate specifications, historical performance, and other factors), the X1800 GTO2 is exactly in the middle of the distribution. Half of all GPUs in the database are expected to be faster, and half slower.

Without concrete scores, we cannot state exact performance deltas against specific rivals. The nearestRivals array is empty, so no direct comparisons are available. Instead, we can interpret the percentile as a qualitative indicator: the card is an average performer, neither a high-end enthusiast part nor a low-end budget card. Its 12 TMUs and 12 ROPs, combined with the 6.000 GPixel/s fill rate, place it in the mainstream tier of its time. The 90 nm process and 312 million transistor count are consistent with a mid-range design that prioritizes cost efficiency over raw speed. In practical terms, the card would handle games from its launch era (2006) at moderate settings and resolutions, but it lacks the headroom for demanding titles or future-proofing.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The X1800 GTO2 does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores. The fact pack lists rtCores and tensorCores as null, confirming that no hardware acceleration for ray tracing or AI-based features is present. The API support is limited to DirectX 9.0c (shader model 9_3) and OpenGL 2.1; no Vulkan support is listed. This means the card cannot leverage modern graphics APIs or features such as hardware ray tracing, variable rate shading, or mesh shaders. The architecture relies on traditional rasterization and fixed-function pipeline elements.

The absence of tensor cores also rules out any deep learning super sampling (DLSS) or similar AI-driven upscaling techniques. The feature set is strictly that of a mid-2000s GPU: it supports the then-current DirectX 9.0c games, with pixel shader 3.0 and vertex shader 3.0 capabilities implied by the 9_3 feature level. The 12 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 12 render output units (ROPs) are the core execution resources, and the 6.000 GTexel/s texture rate and 6.000 GPixel/s pixel rate define the maximum throughput for texturing and pixel fill. For users interested in modern features like ray-traced reflections or AI-accelerated upscaling, this card is entirely unsuitable. Its role is confined to legacy DirectX 9 titles.

Who Should Consider It

Given the specification set, the X1800 GTO2 is appropriate for users who play games released around its launch period (2006) and who accept 720p or low-settings 1080p gameplay. The 256 MB memory and 32.00 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for older titles with modest texture sizes, but they will struggle with modern games that demand multi-gigabyte VRAM and high bandwidth. The 50th percentile rank suggests that the card delivers an average level of performance relative to the entire GPU landscape, which means it is not a high-end part.

The card’s single-slot design and 200 W suggested PSU requirement indicate that it is physically compact and power-efficient by today’s standards, though no exact TDP is listed. It outputs via 2x DVI and 1x S-Video, which are analog-era connectors; it lacks HDMI or DisplayPort, so connecting to modern displays requires adapters. For retro-gaming enthusiasts or those building a period-correct system, the X1800 GTO2 offers a functional path to run early DirectX 9 games. It is not recommended for any current AAA title or for high-resolution texture packs, as the memory capacity and bandwidth would become immediate bottlenecks. The lack of ray tracing and tensor cores further limits its appeal to a niche audience.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals field is empty, so no direct rival comparisons with specific scores or deltas are possible. Instead, we can position the X1800 GTO2 within its own product lineage. Its predecessor is the Radeon R400 PCIe generation, and its successor is the Radeon R600. The X1800 GTO2 sits in the R500 generation, bridging those two families. The 90 nm process and 312 million transistors are typical of the R500 era, and the 256-bit memory bus is a step up from the R400’s typical 128-bit designs, but a step down from the wider buses found in later R600 parts.

Within the R500 family, the X1800 GTO2 is a mid-range variant. The 12 TMUs and 12 ROPs are fewer than the top-end X1800 XT (which had 16 TMUs and 16 ROPs, though that number is not in the fact pack), but more than entry-level cards. The 50th percentile rank indicates that it is not an outlier in either direction—it sits exactly at the median. Compared to its successor, the R600, it lacks the unified shader architecture and DirectX 10 support, which were major advances. Thus, the X1800 GTO2 is a transitional product: it improves on the R400 generation with a wider memory bus and more advanced shader model, but it is quickly superseded by the R600’s architectural leap.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the ATI Radeon X1800 GTO2?

A: The memory bandwidth is 32.00 GB/s, derived from a 256-bit bus and GDDR3 memory running at 500 MHz (1000 Mbps effective).

Q: Does the X1800 GTO2 support hardware ray tracing?

A: No. The fact pack lists rtCores as null, and the card is based on the Ultra-Threaded SE architecture, which lacks dedicated ray tracing hardware.

Q: What API versions are supported?

A: The card supports DirectX 9.0c (feature level 9_3) and OpenGL 2.1. No Vulkan support is listed.

Q: How many ROPs does the X1800 GTO2 have?

A: It has 12 render output units (ROPs), along with 12 texture mapping units (TMUs). The pixel rate is 6.000 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 6.000 GTexel/s.

Q: What is the release date of this card?

A: The release date is February 28, 2006, and the production status is now end-of-life.

Q: What is the transistor count and die size?

A: The card has 312 million transistors on a 288 mm² die, fabricated on a 90 nm process at TSMC, yielding a transistor density of 1.1 million per square millimeter.