Cnet Preview: Upcoming graphics chips from ATI, Nvidia

AMD-ATI and Nvidia are preparing for the next graphics chip showdown. And there is already a good deal of information (and rumor) on the two chips due in June.

[Cyb3r]

Whats the point in buying one of these new cards when hardly any PC games get released.

[fermcr]

Hardly any game... you must be kidding???

Here you have a list... games for 2008 on the PC.

http://www.adrenaline.com.b...

There will prob be more games on the PC then the consoles.

[DJ]

Gotta get me one of those.

[Kakkoii]

Not to mention the GT200 will also have over 1MILLION transistors....

The highest amount of transistors on current gen graphics cards is 754 million.

[moses]

you mean billion? :P

[GIJeff]

has 640 of them, and its been out for a while... I will look at real world performance. By the times these new cards come out, it still might be best to run dual 8800gts/gt 512.

[moses]

Sadly the best way to go has been the Newer 8800 GTS 512 MB, choosing it over the 9800 GTX is sometimes even a good idea. I think Nvidia should really get their crap together instead of basking in the sun since they're on top of the GPU market :|.

[Kakkoii]

Yes, I mean't 1 Billion =/, hate when I miss spell things like that lol.

GIJeff: No. It won't be best.

The 8800GT is the one with the most transistors right now, 754Million.

The upcoming GT200 is a SINGLE chip card with over 1Billion transistors..

2 8800's might be a little better.. But then you could always use 2 GT200's instead.

If you just mean price wise.. Yeah initially it's going to be expensive, but the price will drop in time of course and it will rise to be the best choice.

[GIJeff]

of course i meant 8800GTS 512 SLI vs. GT200(single) on launch when it comes to price performance. Of course 1 GT200 is faster than an 8800GTS, im no fool. nVidia is very confused with its price/performance ratios though as of late. It was never a good idea to get a single 8800gtx. Just like it will probably never be a good idea to get a single GT200. I am leaning towards an ATI system this time around.

[Cyb3r]

Yeah but half of those games arent worth upgrading to the geforce 9900

[Kakkoii]

And 80% of console games aren't worth buying the console for. So what's your point?

[GIJeff]

......most PC games are casual. I KNOW THIS AS A FACT. Upgrading from a 8800 to a 9900 isn't going to do anything for someone who plays 99% of PC games. Now, someone who is interested in playing the 5 games that hit this year that require an upgrade, its a tough call. Especially when they are able to get dual 8800's for less than 300(or just 150 or less for the second 8800). Whats the point? I don't really see any games for PC that are stretching the limits of a sli/crossfire system out today(unless you count the BS crysis). The vast majority of PC users are casual gamers playing solitaire, pogo.com, yahoo games, AOL, etc... I honestly dont think starcraft 2 is going to tax a current gamer's system too much or warrant a 400 dollar upgrade. As for console, you pay 400 bucks, and you get the next 3 years to play games worry free(if you get a sony, its the next 7 years).