MSI Wind U115 can run Quake 3 at a staggering 30 fps

With GMA 500 graphics and Moblin Linux, the MSI Wind U115 can run Quake 3 at 30 fps

Midmovies posted one of many videos on YouTube of Martin Mohring (Linux Foundation) running HD videos on netbooks to test their performance, including the playtest of Quake 3. The tests were being carried out at a Mobile Dev Camp even in Germany. Liliputing commented on the event stating that 'the most impressive demo showed an MSI Wind U115 with an Atom Z530 processor and GMA 500 graphics, running Quake III in HD resolutions on an external display at about 35 frames per second.'

The netbook running Quake 3 was using Moblin Linux as its OS, and the Linux drivers for the GMA 500 chipset are rumoured to be superior to Microsoft Window's drivers. This novel demonstration is welcome news to netbook users who may be considering doing some limited gaming on  their machines. Although Quake 3 is not a graphically intensive game, relatively speaking, running it at 30 fps is still quite an accomplishment for a mobile device designed purely for browsing the net and performing undemanding tasks. You can read our full review of the MSI Wind U115 here.