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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe HIS Radeon X1300 Pro 256 MB IceQ was a competent low-end PCI Express graphics card in 2006: clearly ahead of Radeon X300, GeForce 6200 TurboCache and integrated graphics in many tests, but generally behind GeForce 6600-series cards in demanding games. Its rear-exhaust cooler and Shader Model 3.0 support were useful differentiators then. In 2026, it makes sense primarily in a period-correct Windows XP/Vista build, a restoration project or a collection—not as a modern gaming upgrade.
What exactly was reviewed?
The tested board was the HIS Radeon X1300 Pro 256 MB IceQ, not every product sold under the X1300 Pro name. The sample used a PCI Express x16 interface, a 600 MHz GPU and 256 MB of 2.5 ns, 128-bit GDDR2 running at 800 MHz. Its outputs were VGA, DVI and mini-DIN for S-Video/component connections. Hardware Secrets published the original review on May 31, 2006; the page shown today was republished or updated on February 24, 2023 (original review; specifications).
Do not confuse this PCIe board with AGP X1300 Pro versions or other X1300 revisions. Clock rates, memory arrangements and board layouts can differ.
Specifications and launch position
| Item | Reviewed HIS board |
|---|---|
| GPU clock | 600 MHz |
| Memory | 256 MB GDDR2, Infineon 2.5 ns chips |
| Memory bus and clock | 128-bit; 800 MHz |
| Interface | PCI Express x16 |
| Outputs | VGA, DVI and mini-DIN (S-Video/component) |
| Graphics API generation | DirectX 9.0c and Shader Model 3.0 |
| Retail bundle | Two CDs, games or demos and multimedia software |
| Historical pricing | ATI suggested $149 for a 256 MB X1300 Pro; the reviewed HIS card averaged $120 in the United States |
ATI positioned the X1300 Pro as the fastest chip in its low-end X1300 family, above the regular X1300 and X1300 HyperMemory. The Pro ran at higher clocks and used dedicated onboard memory; HyperMemory versions could borrow system RAM. That distinction helped, but “256 MB” alone did not make this a powerful card. The 128-bit bus and GDDR2 memory placed a firm ceiling on performance. The generation’s important feature was full Shader Model 3.0 and DirectX 9.0c support, not modern API capability.
#1 Best Overall
- Delivering a Gigantic 32 GB of High-Performance ECC Memory
- Hardware Raytracing
- Optimizations for 6 Ultra-HD HDR Displays
- Accelerated Software Multi-Tasking
- PCIe 4.0 for Advanced Data Transfer Speeds
What the IceQ cooler changed
HIS fitted an enclosed or semi-enclosed IceQ cooler intended to push warm air toward the rear of the chassis. That layout could be helpful in a cramped or poorly ventilated case because less GPU heat was dumped directly around the motherboard. The available review supports the cooler’s exhaust-oriented design, but does not provide verified temperature or noise measurements. It is therefore more accurate to call IceQ a practical airflow design than to claim that it was silent or categorically cooler than every reference board.
Test system and methodology
Results came from a distinctly 2006 platform:
- Intel D915GEV motherboard
- 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 LGA775 processor
- 1 GB DDR2-533 memory
- Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 and DirectX 9.0c
- ATI driver 6.5 for the HIS card; comparison boards used their own contemporary driver versions
- 3DMark2001 SE, 3DMark03, 3DMark05, Doom 3 version 1.3 and Far Cry version 1.33
Hardware Secrets generally used 1024×768 for the low-end cards and tested default and enhanced image-quality settings in 3DMark2001 SE. Its stated error margin was 3%, so smaller differences should be treated as effectively equivalent (test platform; 3DMark2001 methodology).
Benchmark results
3DMark2001 SE
The HIS board produced an unusually strong result in this DirectX 8.1-era synthetic test. At default settings it was reported as 14.35% faster than the tested Albatron GeForce 6600, 17.77% faster than the GeForce 6600 GT and 22.65% faster than the Leadtek GeForce 6200. With image-quality enhancements enabled, the reported advantages reached 40.52% over the GeForce 6600 and 53.73% over the GeForce 6600 GT. It was also far ahead of GeForce 6200 TurboCache, Radeon X300, Intel i915G integrated graphics and XGI Volari 8300. These figures describe this benchmark and configuration; they do not establish a universal gaming ranking (test results).
Rank #2
- Drive a single 5K (5120 x 2880 resolution) display @ 60 Hz or up to four 4K displays
- Experience up to 50W maximum power consumption enabled by AMD PowerTune technology, which dynamically optimizes GPU power usage, and AMD ZeroCore Power technology
- Load massive models and manipulate them in real time with 4 GB of ultra-fast GDDR5 memory and a 128-bit memory interface
- Speed up single-precision video effects and rendering, signal processing, transcoding, and digital rendering applications with up to 2.4 TFLOPS of compute performance
3DMark03 and 3DMark05
The review includes separate 3DMark03 and 3DMark05 sections. Those tests are more representative of the card’s DirectX 9 positioning than 3DMark2001 SE, but their results should still be read with the period Pentium 4 platform, Windows XP drivers and the review’s comparison cards in mind. The source does not justify collapsing every benchmark into one fixed ranking (review index).
Doom 3
Doom 3 exposed the limits of the X1300 Pro more clearly. The GeForce 6600 GT was 56.84% faster in low-quality mode and 65.29% faster with enhancements. The tested Albatron GeForce 6600 led by 19.44% and 20.46% in the same modes. HIS’s card was only modestly ahead of the reference ATI X1300 Pro and Leadtek GeForce 6200, although it remained well ahead of the weakest TurboCache, Radeon X300 and XGI boards (Doom 3 results).
Far Cry
Far Cry was also tested as version 1.33. Its results belong to the same period-specific comparison: they show how this board behaved against contemporary budget and mid-range hardware, not how it would perform in a current game or operating system. Use the review’s Far Cry section for the original chart rather than extrapolating from one synthetic test (review index).
Rank #3
- New card in bulk package
- Comes with full height bracket
- Support 4 monitors
- You will receive: 1x Card, 1x spare short bracket
What gaming was it suited for in 2006?
The X1300 Pro was a low-end DirectX 9 solution intended for modest resolutions and reduced image quality. In practical terms, 1024×768 with restrained settings was a sensible target in demanding titles. It offered a meaningful upgrade over integrated graphics, Radeon X300 and the weakest GeForce 6200 variants, while the GeForce 6600 and especially 6600 GT delivered a substantial step up in games such as Doom 3. High resolutions, heavy antialiasing and demanding shader workloads were outside its comfort zone.
Drivers and compatibility in 2026
AMD now treats the Radeon X1xxx family as legacy hardware. Its legacy download page lists final-era packages including Catalyst 10.2 for Windows XP/Vista, and AMD says no additional driver releases are planned for products under this legacy model (legacy driver page; AMD legacy-support policy). Do not assume support for current Windows releases, modern graphics APIs or contemporary games merely because the card uses a PCI Express connector.
Buying or restoring one for a retro system
- Confirm that the motherboard has a compatible PCI Express graphics slot; an AGP X1300 is a different product.
- Check BIOS initialization and the power supply before installing an operating system.
- Match the operating system to the available legacy driver package, especially if using XP or Vista.
- Verify that your display accepts VGA, DVI or the board’s mini-DIN output.
- Inspect the IceQ fan for bearing noise, stiffness or failure, and clean dust before extended use.
- Look for corrosion, damaged memory chips or visibly degraded capacitors on a used board.
- Test the games and graphics API you actually intend to run; connector compatibility alone does not guarantee software compatibility.
Ask sellers for a working-display photograph or test evidence when possible. Current used-market pricing and availability are not established by the historical review, so the $120 average and $149 suggested price should not be treated as present-day valuations.
Rank #4
- Performance redefined
- Features for a truly immersive experience
- Bus Type: PCI Express 3.0 x16
Verdict
Then: the HIS Radeon X1300 Pro IceQ was a sensible low-end PCIe upgrade at its 2006 price, particularly against integrated graphics, Radeon X300 and GeForce 6200 TurboCache. Its IceQ exhaust path was a useful board-design feature, while Shader Model 3.0 broadened its contemporary game compatibility.
Now: it is a legacy component for period-correct Windows XP/Vista machines, older DirectX 8/9 games, restoration and collecting. The card’s historical performance remains interesting, but obsolete drivers and modern software requirements make it unsuitable as a general-purpose gaming upgrade.
Quick Recap
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