Reviews

			FiringSquad.com Thanks to Radeon X1250, AMD 690 can drive two digital displays simultaneously…This is great news for IT professionals in an environment with a wide range of PCs , the integrated graphics engine inside AMD 690 is so versatile it can drive any display, whether it's a 10-year old 15” CRT running off VGA, or the latest 30” LCD off DVI. Meanwhile, home theater PC users will appreciate the fact that both HDMI and component video outputs are also supported, provided the motherboard provides the right connections… Media center PC users will also appreciate the addition of Avivo…with AMD 690 you're getting good video quality out-of-the-box for free.
			TG Daily AMD promises long-term support for the platform which should make the chipset an attractive alternative for business PCs, especially with AMD's claim that 690-based motherboard/processor combinations will be about 10% cheaper than a comparable Intel platform consisting of a Core 2 Duo processor and a G965-based motherboard.
			Tech Report AMD has put together a very competent integrated graphics chipset in the 690G—one that will no doubt help the company push a holistic platform that consolidates processing, core logic, and graphics.
			Beyond3D It's hard not to like a Vista Premium compliant IGP-based core logic set with support for HDMI, first-rate video features and performance and support for AMD's low-power AM2 processors, at least where it concerns the media PC crowd. With a quoted power of ~8W according to AMD, and a die size of just 49mm², it's hard not to like from a mobile computing perspective either.
			Red Herring “What stands out is the inclusion of built-in DVI and HDMI,” said Shane Rau, a PC chip analyst with the research firm IDC. “This is a strong bow to the consumer market and the prospect of attaching digital video devices directly to the PC and not requiring any intermediate silicon or boxes that would translate signals between the PC and a television.”
			HotHardware As promised, AMD delivered on their claims of a better gaming experience with the integrated X1250, with both gaming tests showing the Radeon X1250 as the top performer….. Comprised of the RS690 Northbridge and SB600 Southbridge, AMD brings a single solution that boasts an integrated X1250 Radeon graphics engine, AVIVO and native DVI/HDMI. OEM's may appreciate AMD's highly integrated solution, that offers competitive performance and a comprehensive feature list. Ultimately, the AMD 690 series chipset brings a balanced feature-set to the table, that is very competitive with what NVIDIA has to offer.
			PC Perspective The RS690 chipset reintroduces the world to chipsets by AMD -- and for its intended audience it is a complete success. Users looking for a budget computer for an HTPC or businesses looking for an alternative to current offerings, the AMD 690 chipset fits the bill.
			Motherboards.org From a gamer's point of view the AMD RADEON 1250 is the best available integrated graphics chipset on the market bar none.
			Anandtech AMD has introduced a very competitive integrated graphics chipset that offers slightly better video performance than its competition at a very competitive price point that should please a majority of potential customers.
			Hexus.net “We like the AMD 690G.” “The chipset's strengths lie with its display options. Multi-display support that includes integrated, HDCP-certified HDMI and DVI as standard - the pre-requisite for Blu-ray and HD-DVD playback on your PC - as well as 4-monitor support if used with a discrete Radeon graphics card.”
			Clubic.com “It's an excellent choice for Athlon 64 PCs and an interesting choice for livingroom PCs. For those who want a sub-100 euro motherboard that is silent, the RS690G with Radeon X1250 should undoubtedly allure.”
			Hardware.info “In comparison with the nVidia GeForce 6150 chipset, the AMD 690G offers better video performances, a lower price and a lower power usage.”
			TechPowerUp.com “The new AMD 690 chipset is a very good and solid start after the AMD/ATI merger, offering a lot of features in a well rounded package. The use of the Radeon XPress 1250/1200 IGP makes casual gaming possible, while AVIVO improves the video playback quality significantly. The included HDMI on-die also reduces cost and space needed on the mainboard, which translates into full featured small form factor motherboards .”
			EliteBastards.com “(It) brings a new level of functionality and capability to integrated graphics. AMD's new 690G chipset features an integrated Radeon X1250 GPU - A step up from current Intel and NVIDIA on-board GPUs from a 3D rendering performance standpoint, as well as featuring DVI and even optional HDMI capabilities, coupled with ATI's AVIVO functionality to assist with video playback.”
			Globe and Mail "The idea from AMD's perspective is to give customers a better Vista experience than using a normal integrated solution," said Samir Bhavnani, research director at the consultancy Current Analysis in San Diego .
			Tech Spot For years, AMD Athlon desktop processors have had to negotiate access to other system components through third-party chipsets from ATI, Nvidia, SiS, and VIA. That arrangement has largely been successful, at least in part because AMD was able to move the traditionally chipset-level memory controller right onto the processor die. This move allowed chipset makers to focus on peripherals and connectivity options, and it gave AMD control over the one chipset feature most likely to affect overall system performance.
			Legit Reviews By launching the AMD 690 series chipset it is clear that AMD has aimed this product at the mainstream market, which makes up more than 90% of the overall market according to recent data. The AMD 690 series of chipsets is clearly the top choice right now for those that are looking to build a system that can run Windows Vista 32-bit without any problems.
			Extreme Tech The 690G has some intriguing features, such as built-in HDMI with HDCP support, while the 690V is a more basic integrated graphics core. At $80 or so, the K9AGM2 is a bargain for office and light-duty home systems. Coupled with a 65nm AMD CPU, it can become the core of a quiet, low-power system suitable for most office chores.
			Gizmo Café The new graphics chipset will share core features normally associated with your graphics engines. The 690 chipset will run all that Windows Vista eye candy and support enhanced bus speeds and ATI's Avivo reference for advanced high definition video. Great for next generation PCs that are required to support advanced applications and standards like HD DVD, Blu-ray and the HDMI specification.
			Information Week If AMD can change the game and both bring the graphics processor into the mix and also have a leading graphics part, then there is a scenario in which Intel would have to chase it and, if folks looked at the platform, AMD would have a solid chance to both take and hold the lead.
			IT Business Edge Intel is the graphics chip market leader, but the release of the RS690 will give AMD a route to direct competition for those sales.
			Tech Lounge To boot, these small boards are very popular with the home theater crowd, as they promise lower power requirements and along with it, super-silent passive cooling. The competition's chipsets are no graphics power-houses, and AMD wants the RS690 to win out in all categories; they've got two aces to play: onboard video provided by a re-branded X700 core, and a dedicated hardware video accelerator. Together they make up the X1200 and X1250 with Avivo.
			Portable Planet Working together, AMD's chipset, CPU and GPU hardware and software teams have optimized the AMD 690 platform to provide rock-solid stability and image quality and will soon support select platforms in the AMD Validated Solutions program. Commercial customers will appreciate the energy-efficient design of AMD 690 series-based platforms, in a compact package suitable for multiple form factors and configurations, supporting up to four monitors with the addition of a dual-DVI ATI Radeon graphics card .