Anyone had Experience with the GMA950 and Aero?

[Ben Enfield]

I am helping a friend buy a computer and was wondering how well the GMA950
runs Aero glass. Specifically, I am wondering if anyone has run a
combination of displays with a total number of megapixels greater than 2.
This would include a single monitor with 1920x1200 resolution, or dual
monitor setups with 1024x768+1280x1024 and up.

This query about performance also goes out to those who run many programs,
as that tasks the graphics card. What is the performance of a video running
in media player and using Flip-3D?

Ben

 

[Rex Geissinger]

I am running the Intel D945GNTL Motherboard with the GMA950 Graphics, 2GB
667 DDR2, and a P4 631 3.0 Ghz CPU on Vista X64 RC1
at 1920X1200 resolution. With a performance rating (experience index) of
3.1 (The graphics rating in both categories was 3.1 while everything else
was 5 or better)

I was not able to get aero to show Transparency untill I upgraded to the
Intel 7.14.10.1138 drivers dated 8/23/2006 It worked great after that.

With 1 browser (3 Tabs open) 1 Excel document, 1 Publisher Doc, 2 Word doc's
and media player with a music video flip 3D or alt-tab were instantaneous.
No screen flicker or noise.

You must have the full 256 Mb allocated to Video in BIOS which requires a
minimum of 512Mb of Ram. I didnt test Aero with less than my 2Gb of system
memory so I dont know how total memory will effect the use of Aero. I also
was not able to test a dual monitor setup but I know you can use both the
internal adapter and a PCI adapter for a dual setup as long as the PCI card
drivers are capable of dual monitors.

All in all, the GMA950 is pretty decent Chipset for an onboard video.

Rex Geissinger
277598

 

[mike.menard]

got it to install, by going into safe mode with networking.
pass that along to anybody else you hear that is having problems.

thanks

mike.menard

 

[Ben Enfield]

Thanks, I won't hesitate in recommending a GMA950 for my friends laptops
then. I just didn't want them to be stuck without aero on their one month
old computer.

Ben

 

[mike.menard]

sorry, i missed. ment for the other thread above.