ATI Radeon X800 XL AGP

The ATI Radeon X800 XL AGP is a legacy graphics card built on the R430 chip using the R400 architecture. Fabricated by TSMC on a 110 nm process, it integrates 160 million transistors across a 240 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 666.7K per square millimeter. The card ships with 256 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 32.00 GB/s of bandwidth. It is end-of-life, was released on April 30, 2004, and holds a 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The FACT PACK lists both RT cores and tensor cores as null, meaning the R430 chip contains no dedicated hardware for ray tracing or tensor operations. This is consistent with its R400 architecture, which targets the DirectX 9.0b (9_2) API and OpenGL 2.1. Vulkan support is absent. The feature set is purely rasterization-based, with 16 texture mapping units (TMUs) and 16 render output units (ROPs). The pixel rate is 6.400 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is also 6.400 GTexel/s, indicating a balanced fixed-function pipeline where pixel and texture throughput are exactly equal. The memory clock runs at 500 MHz, with an effective data rate of 1000 Mbps. The card lacks any programmable RT pipeline, so all lighting and shadowing must be computed via conventional shaders or fixed-function paths. The API ceiling of DirectX 9.0b (9_2) limits the feature set to that generation's capabilities, which excludes hardware tessellation, compute shaders, and any form of ray-accelerated effects. OpenGL 2.1 support provides a secondary path for legacy applications. The display outputs include one DVI, one VGA, and one S-Video connector, catering to CRT and early digital monitors.

FAQ

Q: What memory configuration does the X800 XL AGP use?

A: It uses 256 MB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 32.00 GB/s.

Q: Does it support modern APIs like Vulkan?

A: No. The FACT PACK lists Vulkan as null. It supports DirectX 9.0b (9_2) and OpenGL 2.1.

Q: What are the power requirements for this card?

A: The TDP is 49 W, and the suggested PSU is 200 W. It requires a single Molex power connector.

Q: When was this card released, and what is its production status?

A: It was released on April 30, 2004, and its production status is end-of-life.

Q: How many TMUs and ROPs does it have?

A: It has 16 TMUs and 16 ROPs, with matching pixel and texture rates of 6.400 GPixel/s and 6.400 GTexel/s.

Q: What is the process node and transistor count?

A: It is built on a 110 nm process by TSMC, with 160 million transistors on a 240 mm² die.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals field in the FACT PACK is empty, so the database holds no direct rival scores for this SKU. Consequently, its position must be inferred from the percentile field, which places it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs tracked. This means it sits exactly at the median of the historical GPU population, neither a low-end nor a high-end performer in the database's aggregate ranking. Without rival scores, no percentage deltas can be computed.

Relative to its predecessor, the Radeon R300, the X800 XL AGP represents a generational step within the R400 architecture. The R300 line would have used older features and lower clock speeds, but the FACT PACK provides no specific numbers for that comparison. The successor, the Radeon R500 AGP, continues the AGP interface lineage. The 50th percentile ranking is the only quantitative anchor for positioning. The AGP 8x bus interface is a defining characteristic, limiting it to motherboards with that slot. In the absence of direct rival data, the card's standing is defined by its architectural generation and its median percentile, not by head-to-head comparisons.

Power and Cooling

The X800 XL AGP has a TDP of 49 W, which is modest for a card of its era. This low power draw means a 200 W suggested PSU is sufficient for operation. The card uses a single-slot cooling solution, keeping its physical footprint minimal. Power is delivered via a single Molex connector, a legacy standard that predates PCIe power connectors. The single-slot design allows installation in compact cases without occupying an adjacent slot. The 49 W TDP also implies that the cooler is relatively small, likely a passive or low-speed fan design, though the FACT PACK does not specify the cooler type. The 200 W PSU recommendation is conservative, leaving headroom for other components. The absence of auxiliary power beyond the single Molex connector simplifies installation in older systems that may lack modern power supply rails. The low thermal output is a direct result of the 110 nm process and the fixed-function architecture.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmarks array in the FACT PACK is empty, and the average benchmark score is 0. Therefore, no direct performance scores exist for this entry. The percentile of 50 provides the only relative performance indicator, placing it at the median of all GPUs in the database. The pixel rate of 6.400 GPixel/s and texture rate of 6.400 GTexel/s are identical, indicating a perfectly balanced pipeline where each pixel output is matched by a texture operation. The 16 ROPs and 16 TMUs work in tandem to achieve these rates. The memory bandwidth of 32.00 GB/s is sufficient to feed these rates, as the effective memory clock of 1000 Mbps (500 MHz) on a 256-bit bus yields exactly that figure. The lack of benchmark scores means that any specific frame-rate or score comparison is impossible. The 50th percentile suggests that, among the database's tracked GPUs, it performs better than half and worse than half. The balanced pixel and texture rates imply that it is not bottlenecked in either direction for its intended workload. The memory size of 256 MB is typical for its generation, and the bandwidth is adequate for the pixel rate. Without scores, the analysis must rely on these hardware specifications to infer that it is a mid-range performer for its time.

Who Should Consider It

This card is intended for users with AGP 8x motherboards who need a legacy DirectX 9.0b (9_2) solution. The 256 MB memory and 32.00 GB/s bandwidth are suited for older titles that predate high-resolution textures and complex shaders. The 50th percentile ranking indicates it is a mid-range performer in the historical context, capable of handling games of its era at moderate settings. The lack of RT and tensor cores means it cannot run modern ray-traced effects or AI-accelerated features. The 49 W TDP and single-slot design make it easy to install in older cases with limited space. The 200 W PSU recommendation ensures compatibility with typical power supplies of that period. The card's end-of-life status means it is primarily for retro builds, system restoration, or testing legacy AGP platforms. The display outputs (one DVI, one VGA, one S-Video) cover analog and early digital displays. Users should set expectations to lower resolutions and reduced detail levels for games that require more than DirectX 9.0b features. The balanced 6.400 GPixel/s and 6.400 GTexel/s rates suggest it can handle fill-rate-bound scenes without a texture bottleneck. For anyone maintaining a period-correct AGP system, this card provides a competent baseline, though the empty benchmark data means users must rely on the percentile and spec sheet rather than measured scores.