790GX's Side-Port Explored
790GX's Side-Port Explored PDF Print E-mail
Written by Chris Tom   
Thursday, 11 December 2008 12:58
Tom's Hardware looks at AMD's side-port memory feature from their 780G and 790GX chipsets.

The most interesting benchmark run was the one where we used the 128 MB DDR3 side-port memory and 512 MB shared memory. This is the fastest possible setting in terms of 3D performance—only running the integrated graphics unit and a Radeon HD 3450 in Hybrid CrossFire mode was superior. However, we recommend going straight for a higher-performing graphics solution instead of saddling yourself with such a low-impact hybrid solution. The side-port memory option does make a difference, but we can only recommend it if it comes at very little extra cost (just a few dollars). Most of the performance comes from AMD’s RV610-based 700 MHz DirectX 10 graphics unit.

Sadly they only test games that should only be used discrete graphic solutions.