video card update

[hitznrunz]

The indirect war of words between the two major graphics players, on the run-up to the release of their latest products, is escalating. The "hot-topic" of the moment is the number of pipelines that nVidia's NV40 chip will utilize.

For most casual gamers the term pipelines is familiar but not comprehensible. The current dispute however, claims that the winner of the new graphics war will be decided on the number of pipelines. Pipelines in a graphics card are used to render pixels so, for example, eight pipelines are able to render eight pixels in a single texturing pass and can even do sixteen if you render two pixels/pipeline in the same pass using an 8x2 architecture.

nVidia claims that the NV40 will feature 16x1 architecture and that, in some cases, 32x0. ATI claim that their R420 product will feature 12x1 pipelines suggesting that, provided nVidia's claims hold, the NV40 will get to wear the performance crown.

Unfortunately the story does not end there since the latest reports on nVidia's NV40 chip claim that it will still have 8 physical pipelines but that it will, under certain conditions, mimic 16 pipelines providing better performance in very specific applications and in 3DMark. ATI's R420, so far, is accepted as having a 12x1 architecture, meaning that it will have 12 physical pipelines.

According to experts nVidia plans to use Vertex shader and Pixel Shader in imaginative ways in order to achieve the virtual doubling of the NV40's pipelines. If this is the case the NV40 is guaranteed the crown in Doom 3 and other games using the same engine but in non-compatible games that method would definitely have a negative impact on visual quality.

Since nVidia are not commenting on the issue and since anyone who knows has signed a Non-Dislosure Agreement the resolution to this issue will come when the product is revealed in less than a month. ATI's R420 will appear a couple of weeks after the NV40 and the latest news claims that the whole range of ATI's products will carry Counter-Strike 2 coupons.

Before things get emotional regarding the winner of the NV40/R420 war remember that the most important thing about new chips being released is that their presence makes the older ones i.e. FX5950 and RADEON 9800 more affordable.

[shockwave203 Profile]

There has been a lot of talk about how many pipes the Nvidia card will have, but don't believe any of it, because it's all speculation.

Nvidia says their current top of the line cards are 8x1, even though they're actually 4x2. Keep this in mind next time you hear that their next gen card is 16x1. it's most likely 8x2

[LordShard]

WHat is the differnce between 16x1 and 8x2?

is 8x2 pixel doubling?

[Mr. Slayer Profile]

I need some help. I am running a Nvidia Geforce 4 ti4200(128Mb) with AGP 8x. I am not that good with graphics cards but I prefer Nvidia chipsets. I want to upgrade my card to a 256Mb but all I really know to look for is the memory size and how big the model number is:P . Could someone tell me what the best things to look for are and maybe some cards that you reccomend.

[hitznrunz]

sure, you can find the geforce fx 5900xt for about 180 bucks....it beats the 9600xt and fx5700 ultra in every benchmark thrown at it.....but if your willing to spend 180....mine as well spend twenty more and get yourself a 9800 pro....can be found on ebay, pricewatch etc.stay away from the fx5600.....terrible card.Id wait til the new cards are unveiled next month.....price drop.

[shockwave203 Profile]

Originally posted by LordShard
WHat is the differnce between 16x1 and 8x2?

is 8x2 pixel doubling?

ya...I think it works by 1 pixel being rendered per pipe, with 8x2 it would be two pixels being rendered per pipe, but 8x2 would be a lot slower than 16x1. it's essentially 'faking' 16x1 and doesn't render as fast (to my knowledge..I'm not what you would call an expert on pipelines by any means )

last I read, some people say the Nvidia card will have 32x0 (meaning that it's 8x4 and it renders something called a 'zixel' instead of a pixel, though it's pure rumor)

[Jim0322 Profile]

Originally posted by slayer_1
I need some help. I am running a Nvidia Geforce 4 ti4200(128Mb) with AGP 8x. I am not that good with graphics cards but I prefer Nvidia chipsets. I want to upgrade my card to a 256Mb but all I really know to look for is the memory size and how big the model number is:P . Could someone tell me what the best things to look for are and maybe some cards that you reccomend.

I read a comparison between some cards that had 128MB and 256MB memory. (I just found this. It might be what I was thinking of - http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/20030604/radeon_9800-01.html ) The performance difference between 128MB card and the 256MB counterparts was practically nothing.

If you want to stay with Nvidia and want to get the best card for the money, get a 128MB card. You would be wasting your money getting a 256MB 5600, 5700 over a 128MB 5900. The 128MB 5900 will outperform the lower series cards. You can get a 5900XT 128MB for about $180. How much are you planning to spend on a card?

Jim

[Murgatroyd]

I recently upgraded from the same card that you have to a Radeon 9800pro with 128mb and there was a tremendous jump in performance.

[Mr. Slayer Profile]

So you upgraded from from a TI4200?? How much was your card?

I am looking at a GEFORCE FX 5700 256mb on eBay. It looks great. Good price. Is this a good card? Do you know about how well it will outperform my Geforce 4 ti4200??
Please reply soon.

slayer_1