Intel G965 "Broadwater" chipset for Conroe: 3D graphics & video optimization

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware edited January 2014
Chinese site HKEPC.com says next Intel G965 chipset (the one for the desktop Conroe processor) and its integrated graphics will support a bunch of new features related to special effects and hardware acceleration for 3D graphics and video, promising to deliver a lot more power than today's -crippled?- GMA 900 and GMA 950 found in current 945GM chipset. But it seems the new chipset is very windows-centric, with several Micosoft-only related technologies.





PIXEL & VERTEX SHADERS MODEL 3.0

G965 will have the 4th generation integrated graphics processor (IGP) from Intel, which will natively support OpenGL 1.5 and Microsoft DirectX 9.0, with Shaders Model 3.0 (Pixel and Vertex Shaders 3.0), Transform & Lighting (T&L) and Full Precision FP operations.

Current GMA 950 in 945GM only offers hardware-accelerated Pixel Shader 2.0, whereas Vertex Shader 3.0 and T&L code is software computed.

These features come standard in order to display next Windows Vista Premium "Aero Glass" 3D interface correctly.

We don't know yet about the name of this next Intel Graphic Media Accelerator (GMA 970? GMA 975? GMA 1000?) and if Intel will preserve this name scheme.





"CLEAR VIDEO TECHNOLOGY" FOR HD VIDEO

Intel "Clear Video Technology" is a lot like ATI AVIVO and NVIDIA PureVideo. It can natively decode MPEG-2 and Windows Media HD (WMV9b HD also standardized from SMPTE organization as VC-1). Too bad it doesn't seem to have hardware acceleration for the MPEG-4 H.264 codec promoted by Apple. This is important because both MPEG-2, H.264 and VC-1 are codecs of choice for DVD-video duelists successors Bluray-Disc and HD-DVD.



G965 boards will output video and sound through HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface), a digital compact all-in-one port found in most newest LCD & plasma HDTVs and PVRs.



It also has hardware adaptative de-interlacing and ProcAmp API (only harnessed by MS DirectShow now) which boosts detail sharpness while playing video and allows user to precisely tune brightness, contrast and color saturation.





OTHER IMPROVEMENTS

The G965 chipset will activate hardware virtualization (Intel VT) found in the newest Intel dualcore CPUs but currently not supported by 945GM chipset, and will also bring Intel Active Management Technology (iAMT) to easily diagnose computers through network. With iAMT, a list of all applications and hardware configuration is stored on a non-volatile memory and can be remotely checked by admins even if the computer is powered-off.

G965 will come with the new described integrated Graphic Media Accelerator and the associated ICH-8 southbridge.

Especially made for Conroe CPU, G965 will be a key component of the new Intel ViiV multimedia platform.





SCHEDULE

HKEPC claims Intel has made its first test module (rev. A0) and would be ready to make the second test rev. B0.

The final revision of the chipset, C0 or C1, would be ready between early April and early May 2006, with a mass production targeted to begin Q3'06.





You can find two "Intel Confidential" slides about Clear Video Technology here and here.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    boukmanboukman Posts: 93member
    Those specs are pretty impressive for an integrated graphics chip. The 3d engine seems to be getting much better with every new version. I am looking forward to Apple releasing new Macs with this chipset. The new features alone are worth it. Hopefully, we'll also get 64 bit x86 CPUs by then.
  • Reply 2 of 6
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,419member
    This is promising.



    Intel's integrated Broadwater chipset will run Vista's Aero Glass just fine.



    Gamers will always need the super megagigatexel GPU but for some of us who just need the basic support. Integrated Graphics are fine.



    In fact the main purpose of the AGP specification was to use main memory just as integrated graphics does. The called the feature DiME (Direct Memory Execution). AGP cards were never supposed to have 256MB frame buffers and be $600. DiME offered a fast low latency connection to main memory for the storage and retrieval of textures. Of course since games push the envelope local frame buffers were faster and thus what nvidia, ATI and others used.
  • Reply 3 of 6
    bitemymacbitemymac Posts: 1,147member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison

    This is promising.



    Intel's integrated Broadwater chipset will run Vista's Aero Glass just fine.



    Gamers will always need the super megagigatexel GPU but for some of us who just need the basic support. Integrated Graphics are fine.



    In fact the main purpose of the AGP specification was to use main memory just as integrated graphics does. The called the feature DiME (Direct Memory Execution). AGP cards were never supposed to have 256MB frame buffers and be $600. DiME offered a fast low latency connection to main memory for the storage and retrieval of textures. Of course since games push the envelope local frame buffers were faster and thus what nvidia, ATI and others used.




    Not really that promising... When do you think conroe will roll down for consumer Macmini?... in two years? This chipset still lacks ogl 2.0 and MPEG4 decoding acceleration which is supported format on QT, BR, and HD DVD's. However, adaptive deinterlacing is a plus for HTPC/DVR application, but once again macmini won't see conroe anytime soon, so it doesn't matter. Unless apple's thinking about integrated graphics on all apple pro destop lines.
  • Reply 4 of 6
    Why are you guys so warm and fuzzy about integrated graphics cards. Please...........for a tiny amount of money you could have a REAL graphics card that actually promotes performance, instead of hindering it.



    Hey, look I'm interested in something that kind of works in substitution for something that really does work and it costs almost as much. But hey, it's getting better.



    I wish you would support the people who provide quality hardware that innovates, instead of the substitute for it.
  • Reply 5 of 6
    telomartelomar Posts: 1,804member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by aircft.sys.spec.

    Why are you guys so warm and fuzzy about integrated graphics cards. Please...........for a tiny amount of money you could have a REAL graphics card that actually promotes performance, instead of hindering it.



    There are plenty of areas where graphical performance of discrete cards just aren't required. The mini serves those purposes well. It would be nice if Apple had a low end tower, and maybe they will at some point, but the mini competes well enough for its market.
  • Reply 6 of 6
    zengazenga Posts: 267member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Telomar

    There are plenty of areas where graphical performance of discrete cards just aren't required. The mini serves those purposes well. It would be nice if Apple had a low end tower, and maybe they will at some point, but the mini competes well enough for its market.



    i agree.. but a mid size tower in between mini and power.. cube like but upgradable - $ 1.000 (base price)...



    the mini is just fine...

    and just got better..

    but yes it should get a graphics card in the near future (128mb) high end model..



    who knows...

    transition is just begining
Sign In or Register to comment.