NVIDIA pushing up GeForce 9900 to outgun Radeon HD 4800?

NVIDIA's been on a hyper-competitive tear lately and while the latest rumor isn't quite on par with Roy Taylor saying that the Intel CPU is "dead," it reinforces the company's new win-at-all-costs attitude. Seems ATI's upcoming RV770-based Radeon HD 4800 might threaten NVIDIA's dominance of the high-end graphics market, and that's just not acceptable -- so the company is planning on pushing up the release of the GeForce 9900 to July. That's one billion transistors and GDDR3 memory, if you haven't been memorizing rumored graphic card specs.

[Kakkoii]

I'm currently waiting for this card before I upgrade my computer parts.

Over 1 Billion transistors in a graphics chip... To put that into perspective..

The GeForce 8800GT/GTS only have 754million Transistors..(8800Ultra only has 681 oddly.)

This cards sure to be a hit.

(Btw, I used Engadget's take on it instead of the main source cause it is a better read. There's an alt source for the source story.)

[Snoozer282]

Cant wait for it, but sadly I'm going to need to be saving up for it.

[SuperSaiyan4]

How many games on the market are even fully utilising the power in high end PC's? Crysis and emmm thats all I can think of.

Gonna stick to console gaming, the graphics are not that greatly different now to PC games.

[xboxftw]

Agreed. While hardcore pc gamers change cards like their underwear we use console for 5-6 years for price of a vga card and get all the latest and greatest games. I stopped upgrading the pc when i bot 360.

[Kakkoii]

@SuperSaiyan4: Uhhh.. I think you've got mixed info.

The only thing games aren't really fully utilizing yet are QUAD-CORE CPU's.
There's only a few games out that fully take advantage of a Quad Core.
There's quite a few for Dual-Cores now.

But on the side of Graphics cards... Games don't need to be "built to utilize" them. The GPU is merely designed faster. What your thinking of is when people put more then one card in there computer. Yes most games don't utilize that. This new card isn't a multi GPU card. ALL GAMES can full utilize it out of the box.
.
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@xboxftw: Firstly.. We don't change em like underwear. A smart PC Gamer might upgrade there computer every 3-5 years.

And they can upgrade them usually for less or equal to that of a console. Unless they want to deck out there PC in the best stuff.

And even if it does cost more then console gaming. It's worth it for the benefits that come with PC gaming. (Much better online gaming, a lot better customizable content/player made creations, direct access to everything else on your computer and the internet.)

Your computer becomes a HUB for everything you like to do. Games, internet, porn, chatting, research, artwork, blah blah..

People like to put money into what they love. And lots of people put money into there computer because they love to. Just like some people pour tons of money to pimp up there cars and make em look nice and run fast.

That's why you see people spend ridiculous amounts of money to pimp out there PC. Cause there an "ENTHUSIAST". Learn what that word means.

[Bolts]

Bingo, Kakkoii is right on. Just because the latest game doesn't support quad core or some uber graphics card doesn't mean there isn't a benefit.

A good video card improve existing games, now you play a 50 player game of CoD 4 in 1080p with 8x AA and all features maxed at well over 60 FPS. Not upscaled 1080p like the console, but TRUE 1080p with all the eye poping uber textures to match.

It makes the 360 version looks like crap.

[funkeystu]

The whole price thing really comes down to your situation - If you're still leeching off your parents (pro-tip: its a top idea) and they have multiple high def TV's lying around and are willing to buy lower end computers for your school/uni work then a console has to be the way to go.
If, on the other hand, you don't have a high def tv around (or it's being otherwise utilised) and have to fund your own computer for work/uni, then going a little further with a decent video card, tv-tuner card and large screen will always work out being cheaper.

The other thing to consider is how and what you enjoy playing - If you'd rather crash on the couch and kill a few hours playing a sports/platfor/action-adventur e game then its gotta be a console. For the hardcore FPS/strategy/non-action rpg/simulator player, enjoy mods and are a bit of a graphics whore, then the PC/keyboard-mouse is the only real option.

Horses for courses and all ;-)

[Rageanitus]

Your comment is a true example of an Ignorant Console player. I've heard it TOO many times from ps/xbox fan's

I own consoles and I also own a pc gaming rig, and know that your statement is missing one major point. Each iteration of videocard has an increase in raw power and features.

With the increase of raww power it allows games to run FASTER and at higher res.

Already its year 2 of these next gen console games and we already see constraints from the console. This is why you dont see consoles games at NATIVE 1080 p ( most of them float around 720 p.

A good example is a Gears of War on PC.... not the best graphics but does beat out the best looking graphics on ps3 and xbox (Gears of war & uncharted) ON top of that it runs better and at higher resolution on a gaming rig that is based of the same generation video card as these consoles (x1900 series for ati, and 7900 series for nvidia).

@xboxftw
you only change video card like underwear if you buy videocards that are sub 150$. I can tell you through experience that a card thats costs 500-600 dollars will last a good solid 4 years. Yes its more expensive but the gain is that much better

In conclusion I understand where console gamers are coming from (I own many consoles also) but to bash PC gaming for what its worht is simply an putting a blind eye on the whole picture.

Bare in mind the evolution of video cards is great for future consoles, bare in mind the video cards found in consoles are modified pc vid cards . IT is what really drive the industry.

[fermcr]

there is a great card for 200€, 8800GT... or 160€, 9600GT... and it will last you the next 2 years.

[Baliw]

ripping of comsumers.

Is a shame they can keep doing this...
3-4 series or upgrades in one year is a no-no.

-1 to Nvidia and ATI.

[funkeystu]

While theres the demand for it they'll keep doing it - the problem lies with the consumer. Also the constant waring drives the technology forwards as well, just look at what the cold war did for military development.

[Kakkoii]

It's not 3 to 4 new series..

9 Series came this year.. 8 Series came last year.

9 series is a refresh of 8 except for this new high-end card coming for the 9 series.

There just making cards available for people who want em. People aren't forced to buy them. But it is pretty bad of them to make this one a whole new series. When it's the same cards as the 8 series pretty much.

Anyways, Has nothing to do with this card. This is a whole new GPU. Way faster then any other card.

[Bolts]

3 or 4 upgrades in one year? Thats like saying people are forced to upgrade their LCDs TVs as soon as the latest model come out. The stupidity of these console fanboys knows no bounds.

If you're gonna bash Nvidia or PC gaming in general then at least know WTF you're talking about.

[GIJeff]

am a pc gamer, so dont try to judge me as otherwise. But honestly, right now, with the ps3, there isnt a whole lot driving me to play PC... the only game right now thats worth my time is COD4. And yes, it looks far better on PC (was designed for PC first) but I have several friends from work who cant afford to run SLI and get a solid >60fps on the game to make it worth it. So they all have PS3's. So i also have the ps3 version to play with my friends. The point im trying to make(and i did a bad job) is that there are a LOT of great games in the mix for the PS3 that a lot of peoples computers cant run. For instance, my PC is a mid range rig (AM2 FX-62, 4GB DDR2 6400, 7950gx2) and my pc would NOT be able to run Gran Turismo 5(not to mention there is no gt5 for pc). Right now, the devs see money in console games and MMOs. If your not an MMO fan theres almost no reason to get a high end gaming machine other than a PS3.

[fermcr]

It's just SAD to be a ignorant console fan boy. Why do you guys even bother explaining PC hardware to them... they just don't get it.

[solar]

my favorite argument is "well i can buy this this and this" for how much you spent upgrading your computer. shut up. we love upgrading. we do it because its our hobby. dont tell me what to spend my money on.

[bootsielon]

Dual core GeForce 9950 GX2? What comes after that? Will nVidia start using 10000 or will they change the names of the cards?

[Kakkoii]

They'll most likely come up with a new naming scheme after that. So that they can give the next line of a cards a fresh look.

[trancefreak]

i built my gaming rig in march 07 and this is the first time in my pc history that my pc is still great 1 year later. Intel e6600 nvidia 8800gtx 768 4 gigs ocz. runs great still except for crysis kicks its azz. that game is a pc killer

[solar]

yeah crytek released it way ahead of technology to flex their muscles :D it can still be ran decently...but not to its potential.

[GIJeff]

what they did with crysis was make a bunch of DX10/9 tech demos and put them into a game. The game is a$$ in my opinion. not because it doesnt look amazing or isnt fun to play, but because it runs a lot worse than it looks.

[solar]

which is exactly my point. the engine is far infront of the technology to play it :D

[zonetrooper5]

The Geforce 8800GTS 512mb G92 core is a great graphics card to get atm but its quite big so may sure you have the space.

[xplosneer]

A TRUE next gen video card...unlike the GX2, which was just two 8800's stuck together, this a real upgrade. I'm not going to get it straight off but it's something to look at for sure.

[Guardian0fPeace]

Are these guys on drugs? since when does something that IMPROVES performance kill the computer? psh, imbeciles.

Well, guess I'll be gettin 2 o these beasts when they hit the 200$ range, in like, 3 yrs (hopefully)...

Anyone got the evga 790i ultra motherboard, running xp? I'm lookin into it for my gaming and hardcore video editing rig (do a lot of after effects and stuff, and also need the system ready to take on HD editing). this motherboard is the first one available to pc's that matches the mac pros' motherboard sb speeds of 1600mhz, so apparently, for the first time, pc can match or even outdo mac in performance...(maybe, but ppl, please share thoughts)

[GIJeff]

that was supposed to be a joke. oh, and PCs have always been faster than macs, unless your a white supremist who thinks everything should be white, buy a PC.

[zonetrooper5]

PC's can outperform a Mac easily if you get the rights parts for a good price.

[BludoTheSmelly]

Only way I would consider a newer card unless its vastly faster than what i got, which is a 8800gtx

[Kakkoii]

No one knows for sure right now.

But with an atleast 33% increase in transistors. I'd say it's safe to assume this card will be able to conquer Crysis.

[JoelR]

More circuits does not mean better or faster in many cases

Cisc vs Risc design
pipeline design
cache style
etc can all increase circuit count without a corresponding increase in performance.

then there is total design change - want to change how you process an element? you may need an entirely new circuit design that uses more circuits for the same speed or slower - but the method of using that element is improved...

Of course you hope that they use the most efficient design but it's sometimes much cheaper or much more easily understood and designed the lesser method.

which in the end means... circuit count != faster

[Tyrael]

Lookin good, i got a setup coming this summer and i think i just might have to work this into the budget

[f789790]

In the effort for Nvidia and ATI/AMD to have the most powerful card everyone sees news like this and think all cards cost this much and you must have it to play Crysis. They are going to end up destroying themselves with this technology war.

[Kakkoii]

It's a never ending war that been going on for years..

There not going to destroy themselves for bringing out better cards.

If there wasn't any competition. Companies wouldn't care as much about bringing out better and better graphics cards to advance our technology at an amazing pace.

[flappo]

so what happens next with the numbering ?

the 9999

after that it's the 10 thousand series , not quite as much impact as the old days eh ?

[zonetrooper5]

They may go back to the 1000 series and add in HD into the name like the ATI cards.