View Full Version : G71: GeForce 7900 GT, GTX, and GX2 Preview
<a href="http://www.beyond3d.com/previews/nvidia/g71/"><img border="1" src="http://www.beyond3d.com/previews/nvidia/g71/focus.png" align="right" width="120" height="75"></a> Over 12 months ago in June 2005, NVIDIA launched the first model within their GeForce 7 series of graphics processing units - the GeForce 7800 GTX. It boasted several new ideas and features over the previous range, including transparency antialiasing, multiple clock speeds within the core and a non-1:1 ratio of fragment shaders to ROPs. Nearly 3 months later, NVIDIA then released the 7800 GT, a typical lower-spec model that used defect-binned chips initially made for the GTX model, with the GT version dropping one fragment shader quad and some clock speed.
From this release, there was a slightly longer gap before NVIDIA moved to expand the 7 series model range, starting with the 7300 GS in January of this year, the 7800 GS a month later and then a clutch of 5 boards in March: the 7300 LE, 7600 GS, 7600 GT, 7900 GT and 7900 GTX. Many people would expect 9 new releases in 12 months to be the full list before moving on to another generation of processors but NVIDIA waited until a full year had passed, from the launch of the initial GeForce 7 model, before announcing the 7950 GX2. In this somewhat belated preview, we shall look at the GeForce 7950 GX2, along with its GeForce 7900 GT and 7900 GTX stablemates.
<a href="http://www.beyond3d.com/previews/nvidia/g71/">Our Nick Evanson has an indepth look here</a>.
digitalwanderer
22-Aug-2006, 02:11
Nice one Neeyik, very nice. :)
I very much enjoyed the SLI Bridge vs Bridgeless comparisons, and the "core scaling" comparisons vs BW. That was nifty. :grin:
Re the introduction, tho. . . . 7800 GTX 512 slipped your memory? You're not the type to make a political statement. :lol:
digitalwanderer
22-Aug-2006, 02:19
Yeah, 16%. I didn't think it would be that much.
If nothing else your article sure got me interested in the 7900GT, I'm itching to get my hands on one to see what it can do as it seems like the "bleeding edge" gamer's card.
Hanners
22-Aug-2006, 11:48
The core scaling stuff was awesome, and it was indeed nice to see some bridged versus bridgeless SLI comparisons, it's been a while since I last saw that done.
All in all, I don't think you could hope to find a more thorough review of the boards on tests here anywhere!
PeterAce
22-Aug-2006, 13:31
Great one, I agree with what the others said - during the article when I read thoughs the parts (about the core/mem scalings and SLI bridge removal) 'cool' was the feeling!
Can't wait for B3D's X1950 article!
trinibwoy
22-Aug-2006, 15:32
Any reason why the article is deemed a preview? Just curioius...
Any reason why the article is deemed a preview? Just curioius...
In B3D-speak, reference reviews are "previews", and retail package reviews are "reviews". The sensibility being served there, of course, is highlighting what a consumer can actually buy on the street.
This is under active consideration for changing in the near term.
Well, okay, it will be terminated with extreme prejudice sooner rather than later, I suspect. :razz:
Actually, Wavey had already decided in principal to ditch that distinction, but just hadn't gotten around yet to replacing it with a new paradigm.
I kinda like "Reference" vs "Retail" myself. Pretty straightfoward. Tho that's a personal observation, rather than a hint on where the site will come out on the question.
Re the introduction, tho. . . . 7800 GTX 512 slipped your memory? You're not the type to make a political statement. :lol:
Nooo, 'course it didn't slip my memory......oops :oops:. Thanks for all the kind comments folks.
trinibwoy
22-Aug-2006, 20:28
In B3D-speak, reference reviews are "previews", and retail package reviews are "reviews". The sensibility being served there, of course, is highlighting what a consumer can actually buy on the street.
Oh, thanks for the clarification :smile:
Good job Nick - looks like B3D will do just fine.
Sorry been a little late in reading this article Nick - it is really well done, incredibly thorough, with effective screenshots and graphs. I am really impressed mate. I hope to read more of your reviews soon on Beyond3D!
IgnorancePersonified
09-Sep-2006, 04:08
The Clock Scaling section is excellant and very interesting reading. Same goes for the Bridge/No Bridge part.
the 7300 LE, 7600 GS, 7600 GT, 7900 GT
why so many letters and low-end models that seem not to perform well anyway.
wouldn't it be cheaper for the videocard manufacturer to simply adopt a single line of production, concentrate all efforts into one single pcb/design and thus save costs?
Skrying
11-Sep-2006, 06:09
Quick question: How do you guys grab such nice shots of the cards? I'm mainly talking about the "God" view shots from above. Do you use some type of device to do this or is it done by hand? They're beautiful shots, for a graphics card anyway.
As always, amazing preview/review.
Reverend
11-Sep-2006, 06:11
The core scaling stuff was awesome,
Yep, and it would be great if this appeared in every p/review. Nice work, Nick :)
Quick question: How do you guys grab such nice shots of the cards? I'm mainly talking about the "God" view shots from above. Do you use some type of device to do this or is it done by hand? They're beautiful shots, for a graphics card anyway.
I always figured they just used a scanner...
Yes, it's just done with a scanner but I need to get a better one (or jig a box around it) so that I can get more even/consistent lighting across consecutive board shots. The core/memory scaling seems more useful than just straight overclocking, hence its inclusion, but in future I'll expand the range of tests to include some AA and AF work to see how memory limited those functions are.
I'd like to add my "excellent review" to the echo chamber, Nick. Someone get this man an X1900GT!
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