NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra Preview
Wednesday, April 14, 2004 by The DJ | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
"Notes
Since we’re testing with unapproved drivers, we decided to limit 3DMark testing to NVIDIA cards only. As you can see, GeForce 6800 Ultra easily surpasses the performance of its predecessors, offering double the performance in shader tests like Battle of Proxycon and Troll’s Lair.
Full review http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_6800_ultra/
Now:
"However, Nvidia has "paper launched" the part, as the GeForce 6800 will ship in May, while an "Ultra" part will be available in June. The chip has been expected for many months, although the chip's launch date was set last month.
Nvidia's suggested power requirements for the 6800 Ultra will shock some.
480-watt power supply or greater
Two independent (non-shared/split) power connectors"
"Yup, two power connectors no splitting allowed. The suggested requirements are likely based on a worst-case system scenario using lots of power-hungry parts. Our test system uses a 420-watt power supply and we found no issues. Nonetheless, the 6800 Ultra will be a tricky install in any power-challenged system."
Can't wait to see what the R420 (ATI's next) will do. Should be revealed about April 26th. This card will retail @ $500 and be available in June.
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kona0197
Reply #2 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 4:46 PM
I agree. ATI is far superior is both drivers and support. I really could care less about frames per second. I have never recommended Nvidia and I never shall.
Reply #2 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 4:46 PM
| Now its ATI all the way for me. I brought a ATI card and its great, so far. |
I agree. ATI is far superior is both drivers and support. I really could care less about frames per second. I have never recommended Nvidia and I never shall.
MadPyro
Reply #3 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 5:29 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 5:29 PM
wow, i stick with ati simply because i bought an Nvidia card and windows doesnt support it 
keep getting BSODs so i popped in a 32meg ati and wonders happen. 
keep getting BSODs so i popped in a 32meg ati and wonders happen. 
DesignCaddy
Reply #4 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 7:40 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 7:40 PM
NVIDIA releases High-End Graphics Chip (Reuters)
By Ben Berkowitz
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microchip designer Nvidia Corp. (NVDA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday unveiled its newest high-end graphics chip, with technology it hopes will give it a leg up in the ultra-competitive market for high-performance computer-graphics products.
Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia said the GeForce 6 series would offer a number of new features, including a faster architecture, compliance with the latest software standards and on-chip video processors for high-definition encoding and decoding and direct-to-television playback.
The new high-end product, the GeForce 6800 Ultra, will retail for $499, while a slightly less powerful version, the GeForce 6800, will sell for $299.
Nvidia executives said the new chip would offer more flexibility for game designers and graphic artists, while increasing performance substantially over its previous top-end part, the GeForce FX 5950. Early reviews of the 6800 Ultra said it doubled the performance of the 5950.
Nvidia said the chips, formerly known by the code name "NV40," are shipping to computer makers now and add-in cards using the new parts would be available at retail within the next 45 days.
The chips will be manufactured using the 0.13 micron process, a reference to the width of features on the chip, by IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which Nvidia took on as a foundry last year in addition to its long-time manufacturing partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd. (2330.TW: Quote, Profile, Research)
Analysts following the company gushed over the potential of the new chip and what it means for the company's future.
"Given the improving gross margin picture, the impressive graphics capacity of the NV40, and the new market potential in coming periods we would be inclined to upgrade Nvidia again, if we could," Pacific Growth Equities analyst Brian Alger said in a note. "However, with an existing Over Weight rating we reiterate our rating."
HIGH END CRUCIAL
Both Nvidia and its chief competitor, ATI Technologies Inc. (ATY.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , covet the high-end graphics consumer because of the higher margins on those chips and also the word-of-mouth references that power users provide to friends, family and co-workers.
Nvidia lost ground to ATI in that marketplace when it stumbled with shipping delays and production problems for a previous high-end product, the GeForce FX 5800.
While it has regained some of that ground with subsequent units for the high-end enthusiast and professional market, analysts and industry observers have nonetheless placed heavy importance on the new chip, and Nvidia plans to promote the new GeForce 6 line heavily.
"We're a company that's well known but not nearly as well known as we should be," David Roman, vice president of marketing for Nvidia, said in a recent interview.
Hardware enthusiast Web sites, whose opinions are considered crucial among high-end computer consumers, had good things to say about the new parts.
"So the four-word version of this review would simply be: it's really bleeping fast," ExtremeTech said in its preview.
"Even with the added power requirements, the kinds of performance gains we have seen are pretty substantial, and ATI will have a good fight on their hands," AnandTech said.
© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
By Ben Berkowitz
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microchip designer Nvidia Corp. (NVDA.O: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday unveiled its newest high-end graphics chip, with technology it hopes will give it a leg up in the ultra-competitive market for high-performance computer-graphics products.
Santa Clara, California-based Nvidia said the GeForce 6 series would offer a number of new features, including a faster architecture, compliance with the latest software standards and on-chip video processors for high-definition encoding and decoding and direct-to-television playback.
The new high-end product, the GeForce 6800 Ultra, will retail for $499, while a slightly less powerful version, the GeForce 6800, will sell for $299.
Nvidia executives said the new chip would offer more flexibility for game designers and graphic artists, while increasing performance substantially over its previous top-end part, the GeForce FX 5950. Early reviews of the 6800 Ultra said it doubled the performance of the 5950.
Nvidia said the chips, formerly known by the code name "NV40," are shipping to computer makers now and add-in cards using the new parts would be available at retail within the next 45 days.
The chips will be manufactured using the 0.13 micron process, a reference to the width of features on the chip, by IBM (IBM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which Nvidia took on as a foundry last year in addition to its long-time manufacturing partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd. (2330.TW: Quote, Profile, Research)
Analysts following the company gushed over the potential of the new chip and what it means for the company's future.
"Given the improving gross margin picture, the impressive graphics capacity of the NV40, and the new market potential in coming periods we would be inclined to upgrade Nvidia again, if we could," Pacific Growth Equities analyst Brian Alger said in a note. "However, with an existing Over Weight rating we reiterate our rating."
HIGH END CRUCIAL
Both Nvidia and its chief competitor, ATI Technologies Inc. (ATY.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) , covet the high-end graphics consumer because of the higher margins on those chips and also the word-of-mouth references that power users provide to friends, family and co-workers.
Nvidia lost ground to ATI in that marketplace when it stumbled with shipping delays and production problems for a previous high-end product, the GeForce FX 5800.
While it has regained some of that ground with subsequent units for the high-end enthusiast and professional market, analysts and industry observers have nonetheless placed heavy importance on the new chip, and Nvidia plans to promote the new GeForce 6 line heavily.
"We're a company that's well known but not nearly as well known as we should be," David Roman, vice president of marketing for Nvidia, said in a recent interview.
Hardware enthusiast Web sites, whose opinions are considered crucial among high-end computer consumers, had good things to say about the new parts.
"So the four-word version of this review would simply be: it's really bleeping fast," ExtremeTech said in its preview.
"Even with the added power requirements, the kinds of performance gains we have seen are pretty substantial, and ATI will have a good fight on their hands," AnandTech said.
© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
DesignCaddy
Reply #5 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 7:46 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 7:46 PM
ati is packaged in some HP computers and in the high-end macs. my hp desktop at work is an nvidia while my laptop is an ati.. (shrugs). i personally prefer ati but i'll give this card its due.. its fierce. still, for the power it uses it should have a DC plug in. i can see high-send gamers jumnping all over this, but i've got a 500 watt PS.. thats hefty considering the standard.. and i have plenty of other high-gain devices that can't afford one card hogging the juice. 'sides.. my tower is so packed i wouldn't FIT something that bulky in the agp slot. that things longer then the old 8 bit cards.
nvidia is taking a risk with something this bulky.. when Shuttle, gateway, and dell are trying to reinvent the term 'desktop' pc by making slim, un-pgradable packages, this thing isn't going to fit into the agenda. it will also pump up the price on system like Dell's standard pc's when they add in a bigger power supply.
then again.. people thought the ipod wouldn't go anywhere.
i'm very curious as to ati's new device. anyone got any rumors/pictures?
nvidia is taking a risk with something this bulky.. when Shuttle, gateway, and dell are trying to reinvent the term 'desktop' pc by making slim, un-pgradable packages, this thing isn't going to fit into the agenda. it will also pump up the price on system like Dell's standard pc's when they add in a bigger power supply.
then again.. people thought the ipod wouldn't go anywhere.
i'm very curious as to ati's new device. anyone got any rumors/pictures?
HG_Eliminator
Reply #6 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:35 PM
Reply #6 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:35 PM
so basically ur saying my trident 8 meg card is a lil slow ?????? 
sad part is i still have the old bugger in my "stuff i just cant throw out" box
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sad part is i still have the old bugger in my "stuff i just cant throw out" box
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DesignCaddy
Reply #7 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:41 PM
Reply #7 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:41 PM
hehe i have an 8meg voodoo 3dfx overlay card in my 'can't get rid of' box. i just thrw the driver cd out tho. would be worthless anyhow.. drivers are included in win98.
HG_Eliminator
Reply #8 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:47 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:47 PM
hehe my "cant get rid of " box has grown in to a room ...lol
PurrBall
Reply #9 Thursday, April 15, 2004 7:57 AM
Reply #9 Thursday, April 15, 2004 7:57 AM
Nvidia has great cards. My 98se system came with a TNT2 M64 Pro card, and it hasn't died yet. I still switched to the GeForce FX 5200 and it is sooooo fast. 
My 2000 system has an ATI 8meg video card, and I've had terrible luck with it. 
The drivers it says its compatible with break down my system, and I have to reformat and it says its 3D and it isn't. There is a reason why my 98 system is my main gaming and OD system. My 2000 is my cable internet system.
My 2000 system has an ATI 8meg video card, and I've had terrible luck with it. 
The drivers it says its compatible with break down my system, and I have to reformat and it says its 3D and it isn't. There is a reason why my 98 system is my main gaming and OD system. My 2000 is my cable internet system.
DesignCaddy
Reply #10 Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:38 AM
Reply #10 Thursday, April 15, 2004 10:38 AM
at 8 megs, i dunno.. anything is possible i don't think my windows would run on 8 megs anymore.
i don't think my windows would run on 8 megs anymore.Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, April 14, 2004 2:52 PM
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