Nvidia, anyone?

[Flyby]

thanks for the tech info, PA_Willy. I must admit I haven't really been a fan of either Crossfire or SLi because of the low return on the investment for the sims I like (having read the reports of others who have tried two video cards and not been satisfied with the scaling in sims like IL2 and LockOn).

Still, 40% improvement might be acceptable if one were to see that in SoW using two 5850s in Crossfire as Flanker35M suggested. The cost of that setup might be worthwhile!

Captn_Stubbing, I agree with you about Nvidia. The what-ifs are something to dream for: a 512bit bus, lower power consumption, and lower heat signatures. That would have made it a killer single-GPU card, far and away better than the 5870. But it just wasn't so. Maybe next time. Meanwhile I'm reading that ATI/AMD is in no hurry to lower the prices of their top 5xxxx series. They are just waiting to see how the demand for Nvidia's new cards come to pass. I imagine if that demand is underwhelming then people won't get much of a price break from ATI. I was looking forward to some friendly competition making the 5870 more affordable for me.
Flyby out

[Flanker35M]

S!

Some healthy competition would do good for the industry. Seems that these 2 rivals are too concentrated on their "GPU crown hunt" that the average buyer is left out. What use is of any kind of technical gimmick or feature if the average joe can not afford nor get their hands on these new cards?

I could get a 5870HD here for less than 400€ and the estimated price for 480GTX for example is 500-600€, in the range of the 5970HD. Add to this I would have to buy a new GOOD and quality PSU for the Fermi, talking about 100€ or even more and possibly a new case with wind tunnel built in for 200€..hmm..not very appealing for me for the meager FPS gain I would get. Not everyone has the money tree growing in the backyard

[Flyby]

Flanker35M, I read you loud and clear. If I narrow my GPU focus to SoW, as I assume many here will do, I am always wondering how much GPU will be required. Many have asked Oleg this question. One day we will know the answer. For the sake of the many I hope something no more powerful than the 5850 is required to render it in all it's Glory. I'm sure that card is more agreeable to many more budgets than the 5870 or the GTX480. Further still, I'm hopeful SoW scales well enough to played satisfactorily on much lesser cards. I personally prefer a card that supports DX11, though I am not sure that DX11 will be a huge factor in SoW, at least not in the sort run of that graphics engine. (who knows? Maybe by the time SoW_Korea or SoW_VietNam DX11 will finally dazzle our socks off.) ATI has several less powerful DX11-capable cards. Time will reveal Nvidia's competitive reply. Let's hope so
Flyby out

[Thunderbolt56]

Higher power consumption wouldn't be an issue for me if the performance payoffs were there. The wacky temps? a definite no go for me. It's already hot enough here in Florida.

Hopefully a refresh will bring the temps down a bit and make all the other stuff (i.e. power consumption, Vram frequency and overall performance) better as well (Just like G92 did for G80).

Even with the somewhat lateral performance comparison with the 5870, I'd take the NV offering if those other things weren't there.

[Flyby]

Here's hoping Nvidia has something up it's sleeve that will unleash the 480's full 512 bus as well as bring it's heat signature down. I think if it can accomplish those two things I would not worry too much about power consumption either.
Flyby out

[PA_Willy]

You will have to wait for 28nm process to get better Nvidia cards (lower temps and power consumption).

ATI and Nvidia are manufacturing in 40nm at this moment. I hope 28nm will be available in Q4 2010 or maybe 2011.

Regards.

[Flanker35M]

S!

We have to wait for this new 28nm process for a bit it seems, there are difficulties with it. Intel has it's own 32nm plants, but you can guess they do not give them for ATI/nVidia

When scouring the net it seems this nVidia chip has very low yield from the production, various sources say 20% to less than 50% which is not good concerning price and availability.

Let's see what these "GPU crown hunters" come up with this year. Some kind of refresh is coming from both to spice up the race even more. But as it seems ATI is quite confident thus they have not lowered prices that much even nVidia has published the new cards.

Only one thing is sure..whatever oompah and performance these cards from both brands promise and PR agencies tout..we are the ones paying for this