ATI Radeon X1950 PRO AGP

The ATI Radeon X1950 PRO AGP is an end-of-life graphics card from AMD, built on the RV570 chip using the Ultra-Threaded SE architecture. It was released in late 2006, targeting the AGP 8x interface, and represents a mature implementation of the Radeon R500 generation for legacy systems. The card is positioned at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database, indicating it sits exactly at the midpoint of overall performance, though this figure is accompanied by an average benchmark score of zero, meaning the relative ranking is based on architectural placement rather than direct testing.

Benchmark Performance

The X1950 PRO AGP does not have individual benchmark scores listed in the database, but its percentile ranking provides a clear reference point. At the 50th percentile, the card is neither a top-tier performer nor a low-end part; it occupies the precise median of all GPUs tracked. This suggests that in practical terms, the card delivers performance that is exactly average for its generation, but the lack of direct scores means the analysis relies on its architectural capabilities.

The card features 12 texture mapping units and 12 render output units, which drive its pixel rate of 6.900 GPixel/s and texture rate of 6.900 GTexel/s. These figures are identical, indicating a balanced design where pixel and texture throughput are in lockstep. For a card of this era, that balance typically translates to consistent performance across varying workloads, from fill-rate-bound scenarios to texture-heavy scenes.

Given that the nearest rivals list is empty, there are no direct delta percentages to report against specific competitors. The percentile value of 50, however, implies that the card performs on par with the median GPU, meaning it would be roughly half as fast as the top performers and twice as fast as the bottom quartile in the database. The absence of rival data makes it impossible to state exact percentage advantages or deficits, but the architectural numbers suggest the card is a capable mid-range solution for its time.

Power and Cooling

The X1950 PRO AGP has a thermal design power of 66 W, which is a modest figure for a graphics card of its performance class. This TDP indicates that the card does not generate excessive heat, allowing it to fit into a single-slot form factor. The cooling solution is not specified in detail, but the single-slot design implies a relatively compact heatsink and fan assembly sufficient for the 66 W envelope.

Power delivery requires two Molex connectors, which is a standard configuration for AGP-era cards. The suggested power supply unit is rated at 250 W, which is a low requirement by modern standards but appropriate for the hardware of that period. Users with older systems must ensure their PSU has the necessary Molex connectors available, as the card does not use PCIe power cables. The 66 W TDP means the card draws well under the capacity of even a modest 250 W PSU, leaving headroom for other components like the CPU and drives.

The card's power characteristics are directly tied to its process node of 80 nm, manufactured by TSMC. With 312 million transistors on a 230 mm² die, the transistor density is 1.4 million per square millimeter. This density is moderate, and the 80 nm process helps keep power consumption and heat generation manageable, which is reflected in the 66 W TDP and the single-slot cooling requirement.

How It Compares

The nearest rivals array is empty in the database, so there are no direct competitor comparisons available for the X1950 PRO AGP. As a result, the analysis must rely on the card's internal specifications and its percentile positioning. The 50th percentile ranking places it at the median of all GPUs, which is a neutral position—it neither outperforms the majority nor falls behind them.

The predecessor to this card is the Radeon R400 AGP series, and the successor is the Radeon R600. This generational placement indicates that the X1950 PRO AGP is a bridge between older and newer architectures. The R500 generation, to which this card belongs, introduced improvements over the R400, but the database does not provide specific performance deltas to quantify those gains. The successor, R600, would later bring significant architectural changes, but again, no numbers are available to compare.

Without rival data, the practical comparison is against the card's own percentile. Being at the 50th percentile means that in a histogram of all GPUs, half are faster and half are slower. For a user in 2006, this would have been a mainstream card, offering balanced performance for the era's games at medium to high settings, though the lack of direct benchmark scores prevents a more precise assessment.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory size and type of the X1950 PRO AGP?

A: The card comes with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory.

Q: What is the effective memory clock speed?

A: The memory runs at 690 MHz, which translates to 1380 Mbps effective.

Q: What is the memory bus width and bandwidth?

A: The memory bus is 256 bit wide, providing a bandwidth of 44.16 GB/s.

Q: What is the power consumption of this card?

A: The TDP is 66 W, and the suggested PSU rating is 250 W.

Q: What power connectors does the card require?

A: It requires two Molex connectors.

Q: What is the card's position in the overall GPU performance ranking?

A: It sits at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database.

Q: What is the manufacturing process for this chip?

A: The RV570 chip is built on an 80 nm process at TSMC.

Q: What API levels does the card support?

A: It supports DirectX 9.0c (9_3) and OpenGL 2.1 (full) with partial support for OpenGL 3.0.

Who Should Consider It

The X1950 PRO AGP is a card for users with legacy AGP 8x systems who need a mid-range upgrade. The 50th percentile ranking indicates it delivers average performance relative to all GPUs, which is appropriate for gaming at lower resolutions and settings. For a system from the mid-2000s, this card would be suitable for playing games of that era at 1024x768 or 1280x1024 resolutions with medium detail levels.

The 512 MB of GDDR3 memory is adequate for textures of that period, and the 44.16 GB/s bandwidth supports high-resolution textures without severe bottlenecks. The card's 12 TMUs and 12 ROPs, combined with the 6.900 GPixel/s fill rate, make it a solid choice for older titles that rely on fill-rate performance. Users running DirectX 9.0c games will find full support, while those needing OpenGL 3.0 features will have partial functionality.

This card is not intended for modern gaming or high-resolution workloads; it is best suited for retro builds or as a drop-in upgrade for aging AGP systems. The 66 W TDP means it can be powered by a standard 250 W PSU, making it a low-stress addition to older machines. However, the lack of benchmark scores means the exact performance envelope cannot be precisely defined, so users should temper expectations based on the percentile placement.

Memory Subsystem

The X1950 PRO AGP is equipped with 512 MB of GDDR3 memory, a capacity that was generous for its time and remains sufficient for the games and applications contemporary to its release. The memory operates at a clock speed of 690 MHz, with an effective data rate of 1380 Mbps due to double data rate signaling. This clock speed, combined with a 256 bit bus width, yields a total memory bandwidth of 44.16 GB/s.

The 256 bit bus is a key feature, as it allows for a wide path between the GPU and memory, reducing latency and improving throughput in bandwidth-intensive scenarios. The 44.16 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the pixel and texture rates of 6.900 GPixel/s and 6.900 GTexel/s, respectively. In practice, this means the card can sustain its fill rates without stalling on memory access, which is critical for maintaining consistent frame rates in high-resolution textures.

For high resolutions, the 512 MB capacity is a limiting factor. At resolutions above 1280x1024, texture-heavy games may exceed this memory capacity, forcing the card to use slower system memory or reduce texture quality. The bandwidth, however, is well-matched to the card's compute capabilities, and the 256 bit interface ensures that the memory subsystem does not become a bottleneck in most scenarios. The GDDR3 type is a mature technology that balances speed and power consumption, aligning with the card's 66 W TDP.