Mobile Platform Wars: AMD vs. Intel

Futuremark Performance

The results in the Futuremark 3DMark benchmarks are generally similar to the gaming performance results we just covered, although it appears that Intel has spent a bit more time optimizing for these tests. (Yeah, we're shocked too.) We will also include PCMark05 results as another indicator of general system performance.






The Intel GMA X3100 system comes out in the lead in 3DMark03 and 3DMark06, while the AMD X1250 holds a small performance advantage in 3DMark05. Looking at the individual results in 3DMark06, performance is similar but the inclusion of SM3.0 support by Intel gives them a large advantage in the overall score. Meanwhile, the Radeon Mobility HD 2300 is more than twice as fast as the IGP solutions in 3DMark03/05, and very nearly so in 3DMark06.


PCMark performance shows Intel in the lead as well, but since this is more of a CPU/platform benchmark that's understandable. As usual, we've put together a table showing the individual benchmark results for PCMark05.


Some tests are closer in performance, and the hard drive in the dv6500t in particular is clearly slower than the other hard drives, but the overall advantage clearly goes to the Intel platforms. Even discounting the Gateway system that has a discrete graphics card, the faster AMD setup wins about half of the individual tests, with 2D transparency, HDD XP startup, and HDD virus scan showing the biggest differences. The dv6500t by comparison wins nine of the results, with physics and 3D, 3D pixel shaders, file decryption, 2D line redraw, file encryption, and memory latency showing larger margins of victory.