ATI or GeForce??

[Carskick]

So tht modified 5600 Ultra just an overclocked version of the standard 5600 Ultra?

Really, after the 5800 core fiasco, i distrust nvidia.

ATI has made mistakes in the past, too, but I understand.

The first generation 5600 ultras were clocked at 350/700. The later ones were 400/800, which gave them a nice performance boost in pretty much all categories. I am not sure if the latter is just an overlocked former, or if the chipset is actually updated. But at least if you get the higher clocked card, you don't have to overclock to achieve it's performance, and you know it's a later card, so hopefully the kinks had been worked out of it.

[Tranquility_Base]

Yeah but the point im trying to stress more on is comparison between the equivalent cards for both companies.
Like i mentioned before the 9600 Pro followed by the XT beat the 5600 Ultra comprehensively in most tests, and requiring no revisions to the core.
Similarly, the 9700 Pro beats the pants off the 5700 Ultra with no visuals turned on, and when AA and AF the difference in performance becomes even more drastic.

[Carskick]

I think your comparison grades are slightly off though. The 5600 ultra really compares more to the 9600 Pro, while the 5700 ultra compares to the 9600XT. The 5700 series is a replacemet for the 5600s, and are therefore meant to compete with the 9600 series.

[Tranquility_Base]

If tht had been true then tht would have been even another negative point for nvidia becoz they would not have a card tht even competes with the 9700 Pro. Also, if NVIDIA needs a new core in order to compete with an improved ATI core that says a lot.
Unfortunately, it is not true, at least with relation to pricing.

The 9700 Pro is priced between 190-200$ whereas the 5700 Ultra is between 180-200$, whereas the standard 9600 XT is in the 140-150$ price range. which tells us a little about who NVIDIA are trying to compete with.

[Tranquility_Base]

http://www.chipzilla.com/?article=14373

NV40 is going to have 16 pipelines in a 16x1 config. which carries more power than the 8x2 config that its been speculated to have.
this might be a closer fight than i thought, nvidia might have a nice knock out punch for ati if the the r420 isn't all its beefed up to be. Looks like nvidia's card will own ATI's this time. This is gonna be lovely :D

[Mark H]

Competition is great for the consumer: "ATI & Nvidia" and "AMD & Intel" just name a couple. :)

Mark H

[trav]

yep

[Carskick]

Wait a minute. Isn't the 9800 series a replacement for the 9700 series? But you are right. I thought 9600XTs were still around $200, but they're about $160 now, while the 5700 ultra remains at $200. Nvidia needs to lower their prices to better compete with ATI. After realizing thi, I think I'd choose ATI. When I bought my card, the 9600XTs were out, only the pros, and they were about $160 to $200, and the 400/800 5600 ultras were $200. So when I saw a PNY FX5600 ultra on sale for $190 with a $30 mail in rebate I grabbed it. I'm happy with it, but now ATI is quite a bit cheaper than Nvidia, so I'd go with them.

And you said Nvidia is constantly revising to keep up with ATI, which is saying something. But that is good for the consumer. It will give us a better option through Nvidia, and ATI will feel threatened and lower their prices, which is what must have happened. Isn't capitalism great?

[trav]

Are Matrox fast for games?

[Carskick]

Not really.

[Mark H]

Are Matrox fast for games?

Matrox cards would be a bad choice for games. They rock for 2D applications like Photoshop, which is why I am considering one. Games are mostly 3D applications, so they will work much better with ATI or Nvidia video cards.

Mark H

[saoirse]

nVidia launched the GeForce 6 range yesterday (April 14).

I've seen some video footage based on the Unreal 3 engine, and it's impressive to say the least.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_12687.html.

saoirse

[Mark H]

I saw a review on that card. It is going to be called the FX 6800 ultra and it blows away the ATI Radion 9800XT in performance. Of course, ATI will be releasing an equivalent card later this month.

The great thing is that the price of the 9800XT and FX 5950 will drop. :)

Mark H

[slaxorz]

The FX line is no longer going to be advertised as nvidias flagship model.  The 6800 ultra is on its own with a new graphics core the nv40 thus the fx series (nv30). with a score of about 12000 on 3dmark 03 i would say its a piece of artwork.  Anything that can run halo at 1600x1200 res at 60fps is awesome.

[Mark H]

The FX line is no longer going to be advertised as nvidias flagship model.  The 6800 ultra is on its own with a new graphics core the nv40 thus the fx series (nv30). with a score of about 12000 on 3dmark 03 i would say its a piece of artwork.  Anything that can run halo at 1600x1200 res at 60fps is awesome.

Just checked and you are correct. It will be the GeForce 6800 Ultra.

Mark H

[query]

The big problem for both nVidia and ATI is the level of power consumption for these GPUs - nVidia is quoting the need for close to a 500W power supply to run one of the new cards -- they are clearly designed with the new BTX specification in mind.  Given the cost of a new power supply - and the lockout of most OEM systems (Dell, Gateway, HPaq, Sony, etc.) because of the stiff requirement - they may face a very limited market.  Many upgraders may put off the purchase until the BTX format boards, cases and power supplies arrive in force - and those have been delayed a couple of times recently.

If ATI can undercut nVidia's power requirements, it may have a solid answer to nVidia's new chip, particularly among cost-conscious OEMs.

[Andrew S]

Whats this about BTX? whats the difference between that and ATX?

This is power supply right?

[query]

BTX refers to a new specification set that includes a very different format mainboard, case and power supply (relative to ATX, that is).  Take everything you know of ATX and turn it upside down, and you effectively have  BTX.

It is due to arrive this summer - along with quite a few new innovations (AGP will be gone, replaced by PCI Express, among other things).

http://www.intel.com/update/contents/dt10031.htm

[Andrew S]

I actually read al little about PCI Express, but whats exactly is it? i didnt fully understand what i read.  I saw a BTX picture, but how is it changed? More power? or what?

edit: nevermind about the BTX unless you still wanna talk more about it

[pat]

Here are a couple of articles from AnandTech that explain the basics of the formats.

Balanced Technology eXtended (BTX) Form Factor

PCI Express: Interconnect of the future

[Igloo]

but i still dont get it ???