Re: Latest news about next gen graf. cards

**SharinganTH1422** · 05-15-2008, 06:48 AM

Great updates Bamboo.

**Bamboo** · 05-22-2008, 09:10 AM

News is leaking out everywhere right now with both companies trying to get attention for their same time releases next month.

Big news of the morning is that ATI/AMD confirmed that they will be using DDR-5 on some of their high end cards. Kind of big news because a lot of people say that DDR4 wasn't that big of a jump over DDR3, but DDR5 is a huge step.
Links:
AMD Confirms GDDR5 for ATI Radeon 4 Series Video Cards
AMD says it'll use GDDR5 RAM in next-gen Radeons

Today's GPU performance is limited by the rate at which data can be moved on and off the graphics chip, which in turn is limited by the memory interface width and die size. The higher data rates supported by GDDR5 - up to 5x that of GDDR3 and 4x that of GDDR4 - enable more bandwidth over a narrower memory interface, which can translate into superior performance delivered from smaller, more cost-effective chips.

Also in the news:
Next-gen NVIDIA GeForce Specifications Unveiled

Says up to 50% faster, but it is still using DDR3. Means it will need more Watts to run compared to ATI cards.

**Bamboo** · 05-26-2008, 11:29 AM

More good news out today:

RV770XT to challenge 9800GTX

R700 to launch in August

**msdz** · 05-26-2008, 12:04 PM

I would still be skeptical of buying another ATI card since I had so much trouble from the ATI cards I had in the past but the prices are good for the performance factor. I just wish they would develope better drivers for all their cards instead of relying on thrid party drivers to run the cards decently. Those were my issues with my cards I had before, I always had driver problems and when I built my computer I made a point to stay away from ATI, I had Nvidia in the past and always had good luck with them so went back to Nvidia this time. ATI could probably release a card that absolutely smokes an Nvidia card and be really cheap, I would still probably stick with Nvidia due to the issues I had before with the ATI cards.

**Bamboo** · 05-26-2008, 01:00 PM

I have had 2 ATI cards before my current Nvidia, and I never had problems with my ATI. I have had a ton of freezes and and had to hard crash recently with my 8800. And nothing sucks more than crashing in the middle of a game that is going good or where you are Squad lead.

**CingularDuality** · 05-26-2008, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by msdz

ATI could probably release a card that absolutely smokes an Nvidia card and be really cheap, I would still probably stick with Nvidia due to the issues I had before with the ATI cards.

I am right there with you. Back when the 9800's came out, someone here convinced me to try ATI again, so I bought a 9800 AIW. What a mistake... I'm not sure what they could do to get me to buy one of their cards again.

**Buckets** · 05-26-2008, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

I am right there with you. Back when the 9800's came out, someone here convinced me to try ATI again, so I bought a 9800 AIW. What a mistake... I'm not sure what they could do to get me to buy one of their cards again.

That was your problem! :lol

I'm actually using my first ATI card right now (a 2900XT) and I've been really happy with it. I wouldn't have bought it if the price hadn't been right but when I did, it was reasonably fast and the drivers kept improving to the point where is would beat a 640MB 8800 GTS. The thing sucks a bit more power than I'd like but I've been really happy with the card and haven't had a single problem with it.

**CingularDuality** · 05-26-2008, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Buckets

That was your problem! :lol

Back then, it was supposed to be THE card to get to build a DVR/media PC...

**Bamboo** · 05-26-2008, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

Back then, it was supposed to be THE card to get to build a DVR/media PC...

That is true, but they did have a lot of problems with all those AIW cards/drivers. I think it just had too much stuff it was trying to do, which is why they don't make them anymore.

I had a 9800pro and X850pro, both of which ran perfect.

**Ferris Bueller** · 05-26-2008, 05:12 PM

I used to have dual X1950 Pro XTX cards and they ran beautifully. I had to dump them when my computer fried itself, but if I could replace them, I would. Unfortunately, I got the limited edition model, which ATI only made 100 sets of. They came in a metal briefcase, how cool is that?

**Bamboo** · 05-26-2008, 06:37 PM

Couple of new articles up on the Inquirer. You do have to take these with a grain of salt because they do sometime post roumers a bit too quickly, but a lot of times they get things out before anyone else. They have lots of moles in the industry that give them tips.

Nvidia GTX260 and 280 revealed

Nvidia changes GT200 NDA date

Nvidia vs AMD GPU war - June 2008 battle round

**Bamboo** · 05-27-2008, 09:04 AM

Just threw this up in another thread, but it is more on topic here. The are collected by the author from what is getting said around the net as the specs, though they may change a bit, and of course their will be overclocked ones

**Long Bow** · 05-27-2008, 10:09 AM

Looks interesting with ATI coming in at lower price points and I assume less performance. But they will probably be, pound for pound, equal cards. Time will tell what the prices will be and supply?

**SharinganTH1422** · 05-27-2008, 12:25 PM

Well, loking at that alone I'd go with the ATi HD 4870. GDDR5 memory, less power needed, will probably be more efficient and cooler, also because of 55nm, although it does slightly fall down in some performance areas when compared to the nVidia counterparts, but I can forgive that for the great price.

Of course, we all know that nothing is how it seems until it's released and those benchmarks come out, but based on the above alone, I'll be ordering a high-end ATi card this Summer.

**Bamboo** · 05-27-2008, 06:37 PM

As was just mentioned in the other thread, unless you are going to need to run this thing on a full rez 24"+ monitor, I am thinking the ATI might be the way to go as well. Right now it just barley is good for like a 21", and I'm thinking these new ones will be perfect for 22" screens, which is the biggest the vast majority of the public has.
And it looking like it is about $200 cheaper is mind blowing.

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