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Both top graphics companies were caught on benchmark application specific optimizations early this year. However, even though such illegal manipulations harm reputation of hardware developers, it does not mean that nobody will go this route again. Apparently, eXtreme Graphics Innovation may also have quite some application specific optimizations in its new Reactor drivers for Volari chips released recently.

Martin Malik from HWInfo.com has found a file in Reactor drivers for XGI Volari VPUs that refers to numerous game and benchmark titles. The purpose of the file is not clear, but we may suggest that the file is made with the purpose to activate specifically created presets for every game or benchmark software used.

Currently the file xrvkp.sys contains the following executable files:

  • 3DMARK03.EXE; 3DMARK2001SE.EXE; 3DMARK2001.EXE; AQUAMARK.EXE; C4DEMO.EXE; GMMARK2.EXE; MAXPAYNE.EXE; BENCHMARK.EXE; UT2003.EXE; BEND3DIM.EXE; MADDEN04.EXE; HALO.EXE; 3DNASYS.EXE; CODECREATURES BENCHMARK PRO.EXE; CODECREATURES; SERIOUSSAM.EXE; SPLINTERCELL.EXE; C4.EXE; TRAOD.EXE; TRAOD_P3.EXE; TRAOD_P4.EXE; GIANTS.EXE; SEP.EXE; CLIENT.EXE; DFBHD.EXE; TOEE.EXE; MAJESTICCHESS.EXE; AOWSM.EXE; MGS2; SR2.EXE; F1_2001.exe; SPEEDDEMO.EXE; BF1942.EXE; X2-DEMO.EXE; XIII.EXE; FFXIWINBENCH.EXE; SIMCITY4.exe; GAME.DAT; WAR3.EXE; SM.EXE; FREELANCER.EXE; NR2003DEMO.EXE; FS9.EXE; DCT2.EXE; HCT.EXE.

It is not clear what exactly the driver does when reveals any of the mentioned applications, though, it is pretty clear that either the software or hardware developed by XGI may need some additional tuning to provide proper image quality and performance.

XGI – abbreviate for eXtreme Graphics Innovation – is a fully-owned subsidiary of Silicon Integrated Systems. The latter is known for its Xabre graphics processors launched in 2002 that were blamed for low image quality and relatively low performance. The Volari series contains the R&D efforts from the Xabre II project.

XGI Volari-based graphics cards are available now in limited quantities from Club 3D as well as CP Technology.

Officials from XGI were not immediately available for comment.

Discussion

Comments currently: 5
Discussion started: 12/17/03 02:00:16 PM
Latest comment: 12/19/03 03:16:47 AM
Expand all threads | Collapse all threads

[1-4]

1. 
- the driver contains kernel calls which hook on process creation and executable image load
- contains some cryptic code
- seems to modify Direct3D settings in registry (3D.Table, 3D.Func)
- seems also to enable Write Combining via MTRRs
[Posted by: Martin Malik  | Date: 12/17/03 02:00:16 PM]

2. 
The fact that Xbit continually coins "Both top graphics companies were caught on benchmark application specific optimizations early this year.", doesn't make it fact... ;)

There's quite a difference in ethos/philosphy between shader instruction re-order & insertion of static clipping planes, truncation to FX12/FP16 (not just pp_2.0 hints), wholesale code substitution, elimination of higher order filtering, etc... What's next? Resolution detection, such that it reverts to 640x480 for benchmark runs? It's an equally fair cheat. As we can see, Nvidia has continued to offload work from it's relatively weak graphics pipeline. If this continues we'll be back to point-sampling. I'm not surprised that the lesser players like XGI are following this sterling example...

Or perhaps it's the bad ISV's fault for disabling Nvidia's run-time compiler & optimizer...? ;) Unfortunately, NV40 won't solve all of the NV3x issues... Beware of AGP-PCIE bridge chip solutions...;)
[Posted by: Kazzaa  | Date: 12/17/03 04:40:53 PM]

3. 
Man you guys are a bunch of loosers. Post anything to get people to come to your site. You cheat on your taxes, run stop signs, run stop lights, lie to your kids, wife, husbands. Call in sick when your not sick. "It is not clear what exactly the driver does" If I were them I would SUE you. Or wait untill your walking home and have a nice chat.
[Posted by: Djohnson  | Date: 12/18/03 09:56:35 AM]
+ expand thread (1 answer)

4. 
The www.hardware.fr site confirms my findings:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?url=http%3A %2F%2Fwww.hardware.fr%2Fnews%2Flire%2F18-12-2003%2F& ;lp=fr_en&tt=url
[Posted by: Martin Malik  | Date: 12/19/03 03:16:47 AM]

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