ATI Radeon X800 GTO AGP

Benchmark Performance

The ATI Radeon X800 GTO AGP occupies a peculiar position in the hardware landscape: its benchmark percentile versus all GPUs sits at exactly 50, meaning it outperforms precisely half of the database entries and falls behind the other half. This is not a statement of mediocrity but rather a reflection of the vast performance spectrum that includes both integrated graphics from the era and far more powerful discrete solutions. The average benchmark score registered in the database is zero, which indicates that no standardized benchmark runs have been submitted for this specific board revision, leaving the analysis to rely on architectural specifications and the position it holds within the broader product stack.

The raw rendering throughput figures provide the foundation for understanding what this card can deliver. The pixel rate stands at 4.800 GPixel/s, while the texture rate matches at 4.800 GTexel/s. This symmetry between pixel and texture throughput is characteristic of the R400 architecture, where each of the 12 texture mapping units is paired with a corresponding render output unit. The 12 TMUs and 12 ROPs operate in lockstep, meaning that the card's ability to fill the screen with textured polygons is balanced, neither stage becomes a bottleneck under typical gaming loads. In practical terms, this translates to consistent frame pacing in titles that were contemporary with its release, though the architecture's DirectX 9.0b (9_2) support places it in a specific compatibility tier.

The memory clock runs at 490 MHz, which produces an effective data rate of 980 Mbps when accounting for the GDDR3 double-data-rate signaling. This feeds a 256-bit memory bus, yielding a total bandwidth of 31.36 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is the lifeblood of the card's performance at higher resolutions and with anisotropic filtering enabled, as texture fetches and framebuffer operations both draw from the same pool. The 256 MB of GDDR3 VRAM is modest by later standards, but it was sufficient for the resolutions and texture sizes that the card was designed to handle. The 130 nm process node from TSMC, hosting 160 million transistors on a 297 mm² die, gives a transistor density of 538.7K per square millimeter, a figure that reflects the manufacturing capabilities of its time.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals array in the database is empty, which means there are no direct comparison points with exact percentage deltas available for this specific card. This absence of rival data is itself informative: the X800 GTO AGP was positioned as a mid-range offering in the AGP segment, and the database does not currently hold benchmark scores from cards that would sit adjacent to it in performance. Without those reference points, the analysis must lean on the architectural family relationships. The predecessor is listed as the Radeon R300, which represents the previous generation's foundation, while the successor is the Radeon R500 AGP, indicating the path forward for AGP users.

The chip itself, designated R481, is part of the R400 architecture family. This places it in the same generation as the X800 series that shipped on both AGP and PCI Express. The AGP 8x bus interface is a critical distinguishing factor, as it limits the card to older motherboards that lack PCI Express slots. For users upgrading from a Radeon R300-based card, the X800 GTO AGP would represent a significant architectural leap, moving from the older DirectX 9.0-era feature set to the refined R400 design. However, the lack of explicit rival scores in the database means that every comparison must be framed in terms of architectural generational shifts rather than numeric deltas, and the 50th percentile standing suggests it was neither a flagship nor an entry-level part.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The X800 GTO AGP does not include dedicated ray tracing cores. The rtCores field is null, and there is no corresponding tensor core hardware either. This is entirely consistent with the R400 architecture from the mid-2000s, which predates the concept of hardware-accelerated ray tracing by well over a decade. The card's feature set is defined by its traditional rasterization pipeline, and the API support confirms this: DirectX 9.0b (9_2) is the highest DirectX version available, with OpenGL 2.1 also supported. Vulkan is not present, as that API would not be introduced for many years after this card's release.

The absence of tensor cores also means there is no hardware acceleration for AI-based features such as deep learning super sampling or neural network inference. The card operates purely on fixed-function and shader-based rendering. The 12 TMUs and 12 ROPs are the sole engines for geometry processing and pixel output, and the architecture's shading capabilities are tied to the DirectX 9.0b specification. This means that games requiring Shader Model 3.0 features, which are part of DirectX 9.0c, would not run at full fidelity. The feature set is therefore best suited to titles from the early-to-mid 2000s that were designed around the 9_2 feature level, where the card can deploy its full throughput without compatibility restrictions.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory type and how much VRAM does the X800 GTO AGP have?

A: The card ships with 256 MB of GDDR3 VRAM, connected via a 256-bit memory bus, providing a total bandwidth of 31.36 GB/s.

Q: Does this card support hardware ray tracing?

A: No. The rtCores field is null, and the architecture predates ray tracing hardware entirely. The feature set is limited to DirectX 9.0b (9_2) and OpenGL 2.1.

Q: What power delivery does the card require?

A: The card has a TDP of 49 W, draws power through a single Molex connector, and the suggested power supply rating is 200 W. It occupies a single slot.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: The card provides one DVI output, one VGA output, and one S-Video output, covering analog and digital connectivity for monitors of that era.

Q: What is the manufacturing process and transistor count?

A: It is fabricated on TSMC's 130 nm process, with 160 million transistors on a 297 mm² die, yielding a density of 538.7K transistors per square millimeter.

Q: Is the card still in production?

A: No, the production status is listed as end-of-life, and the release date was 2005-09-30.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem is one of the most consequential aspects of the X800 GTO AGP, because the 256 MB VRAM capacity and the 256-bit bus width define its resolution ceiling. At 31.36 GB/s, the bandwidth is sufficient to feed the 12 ROPs at the card's peak pixel rate of 4.800 GPixel/s without causing memory stalls in most scenarios. The GDDR3 memory operates at 490 MHz, which translates to an effective 980 Mbps data rate per pin. This is a balanced configuration: the memory clock and bus width are matched to the compute throughput so that neither the shading units nor the memory system idles waiting for the other.

For high resolutions, the 256 MB framebuffer is the limiting factor. At 1600x1200 with 4x antialiasing and high-detail textures, the framebuffer footprint can exceed 256 MB, forcing the card to spill into system memory over the AGP 8x bus. That spillover carries a significant performance penalty, as AGP bandwidth is far lower than the dedicated VRAM bandwidth. At 1024x768 or 1280x1024 with moderate settings, the 256 MB capacity is adequate, and the 31.36 GB/s bandwidth ensures that texture streaming and framebuffer operations stay within the VRAM's capabilities. The 980 Mbps effective memory rate is not exceptional, but it is consistent with the card's mid-range positioning, and the 256-bit bus compensates for the relatively modest clock speed.

Who Should Consider It

The X800 GTO AGP is a card for a specific user: someone with an AGP 8x motherboard who is looking to extend the life of an older system without switching to PCI Express. The 50th percentile standing across all GPUs means that it delivers middle-of-the-pack performance in the database's historical context, which translates to playable frame rates at 1024x768 or 1280x1024 in titles from its release era. For games that target the DirectX 9.0b feature level, the card's balanced 12 TMU and 12 ROP configuration ensures smooth texture mapping and pixel output, and the 4.800 GPixel/s pixel rate is sufficient for that resolution class.

Users who want to run games at 1600x1200 or higher with full antialiasing will find the 256 MB VRAM to be a constraint, as will those who attempt to play titles requiring DirectX 9.0c features. The card is not a candidate for modern gaming, given the DirectX 9.0b API ceiling and the lack of Vulkan support. Instead, it is best suited to retro gaming builds or as a drop-in upgrade for an aging AGP system that previously relied on integrated graphics or a Radeon R300-era card. The 49 W TDP and 200 W suggested PSU mean that it can fit into systems with modest power supplies, and the single-slot design with one Molex connector simplifies installation. The single DVI and VGA outputs cover standard monitor connections, and the S-Video output allows for TV-out functionality. The end-of-life production status means that buyers are looking at the used market, and the 2005 release date places it firmly in the legacy hardware category.