2007/12/28

World First 8800 GS Pics

Mydrivers.com has some world first 8800 GS Pics. This card is from YESTON, a graphic cards vender in CHINA.

Learnt from YESTON, GeForce 8800 GS have 112 stream processors, as same as GeForce 8800 GT, but the only difference between GeForce 8800 GT and GeForce 8800 GS is that GeForce 8800 GS only has 192-bit memory controller inside. GeForce 8800 GS graphics card will have 384MB or 768MB video memory. There'll be slight performance gap, compared with GeForce 8800 GT, and it will give enough pressure to AMD Radeon HD 3850.

GeForce 8800 GS 384MB graphics card will have 575MHz core speed and 1700MHz memoryspeed, GeForce 8800 GS 768MB graphics card will have 650Mz core speed and 1900MHz memory speed, the retail price are 1199 yuan($164) and 1499 yuan($205).

We will see these two graphics cards in CHINA market on this Sunday.












NV put additional new orders for the latest G92 products

We are told that, as an old version of GTS's successor, the new NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB recently fallen across the shortage issues, together with already GeForce 8800 GT shortage, a new generation of NVIDIA G92 graphics chip shortage is a growing problem.

Now, in order to solve this problem, NVIDIA has to continue increasing G92 orders to TSMC, in addition to meet the GeForce 8800 GT, GTS 512MB GeForce 8800 graphics needs, additional G92 orders will also meet the need from two G92 graphics chips D8E graphic card. NVIDIA hopes to prevent chip shortages of D8E in the near future.

We ar learnt that NVIDIA may raise GPU orders for about 15 per cent in next quarter, can basically meet market’s demand. Heard from graphics card makers, NVIDIA has been discussed second and third quarters GPU orders with TSMC.

2007/12/27

NVIDIA 8800GS Brief Test

Maskmoney from itocp.com release a brief test report of NVIDIA unannounced GeForce 8800 GS Graphics Card.

Base on NVIDIA G92 architecture, GeForce 8800 GS Graphics Card embraces 96 stream processors, 48 Texture Filtering Units and 48 Texture Addressing Units,12 ROPs and 192-bit 384MB GDDR3 video memory.

We learn that GeForce 8800 GS was pre-known as GeForce 8700,and NVIDIA didn’t want it to overlap with GeForce 8800GTS product line, thereby allows sufficient time for manufacturers to assimilate inventory, but faced with the steadily aggression from RV670, NVIDIA changed strategy, GeForce 8700 will actually to be GeForce 8800GS, and only for OEM market.

But AIC manufactures of NVIDIA will introduce GeForce 8800 GS graphics cards to retail market also; GeForce 8800 GS retail price will be $149-$179.










2007/12/26

Intel CPU+SB will challenge APU from AMD

We have learned that Intel will introduce 45nm Nehalem processor in 2009. Northbridge will be integrated in Nehalem, so Nehalem + Intel Southbridge combo will which challenge APU platform from AMD. So by introducing Nehalem, Intel will reduce the living space of chipsets from NVIDIA, VIA and SiS.

The first batch of Nehalem processor family will be Lynnfield -a desktop version and Clarksfield, a mobile version, they are four core designs, Northbridge chipw will be integrated in them, and they will support DDR3 memory. Lynnfield and Clarksfield will use PCH (Platform Control Hub) to connect the Southbridge, code-named Ibexpeak. Analysts believe that this is the real eukaryotic Intel processors + Northbridge chip integration products.

However, while Intel will also introduce dual-core processor m + Northbridge chip integration products, these dual-core processors are Havendale desktop processor and Auburndale mobile processor, the two products use MCP (multi-chip Package) mode, the processor core and Northbridge chip in a package on the substrate, above, the Southbridge chip will be Ibexpeak.

Mike Houston Joined AMD

We are told that, GPGPU expert Mike Houston from Stanford Graphics Lab of Stanford University has joined AMD.

Before joined AMD, Mike Houston worked in Stanford Graphics Lab, as the leader of programming language BrookGPU and distributed computing Folding @ home. Mike Houston is recognized as GPGPU expert.

We learnt that before joined AMD, Mike Houston’s work was not confined to GPGPU, for example, he was responsible for the "Sequoia" projects, targeting large enterprises, that is, programming language processing model for the processor memory grading system research and development, which can be handled by CPU, GPU and Cell.

After joining AND, Mike Houston will be responsible for the development of Instruction Set Architecture of APU. Mike Houston’s join will greatly enhanced AMD’s power in Fusion project, although it’s not easy for the Sequoia project transplant to AMD Fusion processor which is not easy.

AMD’s rival NVIDIA, has got Ian Buck from the Stanford Graphics Lab, who now works as software manager in NVIDIA CUDA Department.

AMD Will Show R700 on Cebit08

We are told that, when ATI was acquired by AMD in the last year, it had completed R700 graphics chip design, and produced R700 samples, but after the acquisition of ATI, the R700 may has been experienced redesigned.

Now, we have the latest news, R700 graphics chip will use TSMC 55nm process production, as same as RV670 and R680. AMD and ATI will begin testing production of R700 in February 2008 , AMD will bring forth R700 card sample at CeBIT08 next march which will be hold in Hanoverian, Germany.

In addition, we have been told, NVIDIA, will announce next flagship product-D8E next month, D8E graphics chips continue to use TSMC's 65nm process. At the same time, NVIDIA’s D9P will be in volume production using TSMC 65 nm production process next month.

We learnt that the R680, R700, D9P will support Microsoft DirectX 10.1 graphics technology, which will be integrated in Windows Vista SP1 announced at next February. These DX10.1 GPUs will stimulate the DX10.1 graphics cards adoptions from Dell, Hewlett-Packard and other PC makers. AMD/ATI and NVIDIA will both see 20% growth of their GPUs in the first half year of 2008.

2007/12/25

Catalyst 7.12 is a special driver only for World In Conflict

Expreview.com has done a Catalyst 7.12 brief test. They used Catalyst 7.11 to compared with Catalyst 7.12. They found out that Catalyst 7.12 was only dramatically improve the performance of World In Conflict V1.0.0.3b.

At 1280x1024 noAA noAF , the Catalyst 7.12’s performance led the Catalyst 7.11 by 55.6%, at 1600x1200 noAA noAF, the Catalyst 7.12’s performance led the Catalyst 7.11 by 60%.









Catalyst 7.12 is a special driver only for World In Conflict

Expreview.com has done a Catalyst 7.12 brief test. They used Catalyst 7.11 to compared with Catalyst 7.12. They found out that Catalyst 7.12 was only dramatically improve the performance of World In Conflict V1.0.0.3b.

At 1280x1024 noAA noAF , the Catalyst 7.12’s performance led the Catalyst 7.11 by 55.6%, at 1600x1200 noAA noAF, the Catalyst 7.12’s performance led the Catalyst 7.11 by 60%.

[img]http://www.expreview.com/img/news/071225/3dmark05.png[/img]


2007/12/24

3DMARK Vantage Brief Test

nApoleon from The hardware website CHIPHELL has done a brief 3DMARK Vantage test. The test uses Build 23 version and Radeon HD 3850 512MB Crossfire. From pictures below, we can see that 3 DMARK Vantage Build 23 full installations require 665.25 MB disk space. Now 3 DMARK Vantage Build 23 includes Game Test1 Test, the name is Jane Nash, Game Test 2, the name is New Calico, and CPU Test1, the name is AI, and CPU Test2, the name is Physics, these two test CPU’s AI and physics acceleration performance.

From the fps and the quality shown in the pictures , we can say 3 DMARK Vantage is still in the beta stage, screen quality is not perfect, the picture is rather vague, at the same time, under the 1280 x1024 resolution, Radeon HD 3850 512MB Crossfire didn’t run very well.

Heard from other testers, that GeForce 8800GTX cannot run Game Test 2, compared with the fact that Radeon HD 3850 512MB Crossfire can run Game Test 2, it suggests that Game Test 2 -New Calico tests the DX10.1 capability of graphics cards. What a pitty for NVIDIA, when 3 DMARK Vantage comes out at next February, NVIDIA can only get GeForce 9600 GT out for 3 DMARK Vantage if D9E cannot support DX10.1.