Vista - Anyone had Experience with the GMA950 and Aero?

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

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


"Ben Enfield" <benfield@u.washington.edu> wrote in message
news:EB018A63-6D1A-4938-92C5-86D3F01C5C08@microsoft.com...
>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

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" <benfield@u.washington.edu> wrote in message
news:EB018A63-6D1A-4938-92C5-86D3F01C5C08@microsoft.com...
>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

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

"Rex Geissinger" <rexg@bmg50.com> wrote in message
news:B6893A6B-4589-44B3-89BD-7B0E8932FBA3@microsoft.com...
>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
>
>
> "Ben Enfield" <benfield@u.washington.edu> wrote in message
> news:EB018A63-6D1A-4938-92C5-86D3F01C5C08@microsoft.com...
>>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
>

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

"mike.menard" <mrmenard@comcast.spam.net> wrote in message
news:OB$atRFOHHA.4244@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> 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" <benfield@u.washington.edu> wrote in message
> news:EB018A63-6D1A-4938-92C5-86D3F01C5C08@microsoft.com...
>>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
>