I will only make one comment on this.
Intel crossfire = 8x8 PCI-E 1.0 + DDR2/3 MemoryControl on Northbridge.
RD790 Crossfire = 16x16 PCI-E 2.0 + DDR2 IMC.
Now, most comments about HD2900XT performance don't have the cards. I do.
Nobody has posted RD580(16x16 SKT 939/AM2) 2900XT Crossfire numbers.
BUT....
@ 3ghz K8 SKT939, RD580, DDR1 @ 250mhz 3-3-3-8, X1900Crossfire =10.5k '06.
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=376335
@ 3ghz Core2, SKT 775, D975X, DDR2 @ 833mhz 4-4-4-8, X1900Crossfire =10.2k '06.
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=639467
Now, although these numbers are NOT R600, they illustrate how limits imposed by PCI-E bandwidth @ 8x8 afect Intel's 3dmark scores.
Like it or lump it, clock for clock AMD really isn't that far behind Intel in '06. The only thing currently holding AMD back in benching is lack of high clockspeeds on K8. Add in IPC improvements on the new AMD core, higher PCI-e Speed, and greater overall bandwidth, even without the extra PCI-E speed...things don't seem too "fake" to me....they seem right where I expected, actually.
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