Ok, so did I got it right now?, I created a picture..see it please, and tell me.
http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/8767/5809ao.jpg
Its just rough picture, don't laugh...lol.
As far as 7800GTX, its 16:1:1.5:1
So, most probably the chances are 16:1:3:1 for R580? .. but I am more inclined towards 24:1:3:2 or 32:1:3:1 ?.
The second Shader ALU can also have a full Vec? (element of 4)? with Texture Unit ofcourse?
Joe, thanks for clarrifying.
But if I am not mistaken the ALU arrangement on 7800GTX is 24:1:2:1? (vec3+scalar or vec4 class?) and on 110nm fabrication also?
XBOX 360 (R500) can carry out 96 billion shader instructions per sec? 16:1:3:2 ?
So, why R580 cannot have more three Shader...
Understand the matter, and then execute your words.
My point is there is no harm in making a hardware which supports SM-4.0, sooner or later it will be required. It would rather help ATI to produce a next generation card with SM-4.0, since Nvidia has still to achieve it, so by making a card...
Nobody put the same question to Nvidia when they released Geforce 6, and at that time I had hardly seen a game which is fully compliant with DX9C. I know what you are saying, all I am saying its better to be one step ahead rather than one step behind.