Anand has the details about r520,rv530,rv515

[trinibwoy]

If the top end R520s are all 512MB, we're 99% likely to see a response in kind from nVidia, and I think this would coincide nicely with an Ultra moniker (and pricetag).

Good point, didn't think of that. Although they could just leave it up to the AIB's to make GTX 512MB editions like they did with the Ultra. All depends on the performance of R520 I guess.

I expect to see Crossfire aplenty tomorrow. I'd be surprised if this shed light on R520. I'd be very surprised if we saw RV515 launched tomorrow, or just Avivo or Kaleidescope revealed.

Oh so you think that's what Dave was hinting at? I thought the Crossfire launch date was the 26th according to our reliable friends at L'Inq.

 

[Rys]

I expect to see Crossfire aplenty tomorrow. I'd be surprised if this shed light on R520. I'd be very surprised if we saw RV515 launched tomorrow, or just Avivo or Kaleidescope revealed.

No Crossfire I'm afraid. Maybe some of that other stuff though

 

[Ailuros]

Ail, I believe if Nvidia countered with a 90nm G70 part with ultra high clock speeds then I'd expect ATi to wait a bit and drop the R580 on it. I really dont know how ATi is going to play the R520 and R580 together, it seems so close to the R600 and G80, even though they are also so far away.

I don't think ATI is planning to replace the R520 with the R580 really; oh and there's plenty of time until late 2006 IMHO at least

 

[Ailuros]

By the way is there any particular reason why they shouldn't be any 256MB XTs?

 

[Arty]

No Crossfire I'm afraid. Maybe some of that other stuff though

.

Crossfire reviews will be out on 26th.

 

[Skrying]

Maybe ATi feels that 512MB is finally useful with these cards? Or that it will be a need when UE3 engine games come out? I'm not sure totall why, maybe its just easier for them to do this, or maybe the high speed memory is easier to get at a large amount?

Also, damn it, I cant wait to hear about all of this stuff, I cant wait for tomorrow!

 

[Pete]

Oh so you think that's what Dave was hinting at? I thought the Crossfire launch date was the 26th according to our reliable friends at L'Inq.

My bad. As Rys (and others) have pointed out, we get something else tomorrow--and more interesting than Crossfire (or SLI or the like), IMO.

I'll try to act "very surprised."

 

[Ailuros]

Maybe ATi feels that 512MB is finally useful with these cards? Or that it will be a need when UE3 engine games come out? I'm not sure totall why, maybe its just easier for them to do this, or maybe the high speed memory is easier to get at a large amount?

Also, damn it, I cant wait to hear about all of this stuff, I cant wait for tomorrow!

I'm just asking from a different perspective; while it makes sense that NV might release 512MB 7800's (especially since the 256MB models have dropped in price), I don't see why on the other hand ATI wouldn't release a 256MB model around the 7800/256MB price.

 

[Skrying]

I'm just asking from a different perspective; while it makes sense that NV might release 512MB 7800's (especially since the 256MB models have dropped in price), I don't see why on the other hand ATI wouldn't release a 256MB model around the 7800/256MB price.

I agree. I think it would be wise to release a cheaper version to really nail the 7800s. I'm still not clearly sold on all the final memory configurations listed by Anand, though Anand has certainly been the most solid straight out info.

 

[Arty]

I agree. I think it would be wise to release a cheaper version to really nail the 7800s. I'm still not clearly sold on all the final memory configurations listed by Anand, though Anand has certainly been the most solid straight out info.

As far as I know all of Anandtech's pre-NDA information was from an AIB partner.

 

[stevem]

No Crossfire I'm afraid. Maybe some of that other stuff though

Hmm, interesting "counter" to the purevideo slides, inc 2x dual link dvi for R520...

 

[Arty]

Something to chew on, till tomorrow.

 

[Skrying]

Something to chew on, till tomorrow.

Hmmmmm. Can we say, INTERESTING!!!!!!!! Though I was fairly certain Nvidia does have H.264 acceleration?

 

[SugarCoat]

I'm just asking from a different perspective; while it makes sense that NV might release 512MB 7800's (especially since the 256MB models have dropped in price), I don't see why on the other hand ATI wouldn't release a 256MB model around the 7800/256MB price.

why would they? The X1800XL is suppose to be $499.99 and the real competitor to the GTX/GT with 512mb ram. Are you suggesting they take some of those rare R520 high speed binned chips and drop them on 256mb equipped PCB boards? Dont forget they have to feed CrossFire edition cards too. Especially if we see real world advantage on these 512mb cards that ATI is putting serious stock into making them their main enthusiast launch cards. The XL and XT honostly cannot be that far apart in the end, not enough to matter anyway otherwise we may have a PE deja-vu. I dont want to hear it another year on the forums how ATI failed X poster with the slightly under clocked card so they HAD to go with Nvidia as if going with the lesser model would of caused their computer to explode and shatter their ego. But usually the ending to their story is they got a GT and overclocked it way past Ultra speeds, so in the end they make no sense in their argument but ATI is bad bad bad. Referring of course to the difference between the PE and XT of the X8 line and undoubtly the little real world performance difference between XL and XT of the coming.

there is also alot more stock being placed into the inq's comments lately then usual here, why is that?

 

[Skrying]

Uhh, why not have an X1800XT 512 at $600, 256 at $550, X1800Xl at $500, 256 at $450, X1800 Pro at $400, and X1800LE at $300? I dont see the issue really with that. And it could be up the the user to deem if the extra amount of memory is needed or not.

 

[IgnorancePersonified]

If Support(h.264) then 
"driver spolier"
else
"marketing-feature downplay"
end if

To be honest that one feature is what made me hold back on a pci-e card. Soon as it is sorted i'm buying.

 

[wireframe]

Uhh, why not have an X1800XT 512 at $600, 256 at $550, X1800Xl at $500, 256 at $450, X1800 Pro at $400, and X1800LE at $300? I dont see the issue really with that. And it could be up the the user to deem if the extra amount of memory is needed or not.

That would be 6 SKUs for the X1800 line alone and that's not even counting CrossFire. Very messy.

 

[SugarCoat]

Uhh, why not have an X1800XT 512 at $600, 256 at $550, X1800Xl at $500, 256 at $450, X1800 Pro at $400, and X1800LE at $300? I dont see the issue really with that. And it could be up the the user to deem if the extra amount of memory is needed or not.

because there may not be enough cores to go around at launch. As far as what i understand is that the CrossFire edition cards will esentially be using XT binned cores (obviously you dont want your primary card slowing down because of the second master card you got later), so 2 cards will be sharing these cores already, you want a third on something that is already rumored to be bad yields? Doesnt make sense. XL is going to have to take the real heat in terms of GTX comparison i think.

And besides, the CrossFire edition is going to fill the area you just said to begin with. It will be an XT core with XT memory speeds however the memory amount is looking to only be 256 for some reason.

I just dont see logic in binning bad yielding cores for 3 cards when its highly possible the XL is already going to back the stock GTX in a corner (yet to be seen).

edit: lets face it, if the XL cant hold its own, just loses a bit, against the GTX, the the XT is going to be paired very well with it at poor yields and a higher cost to manufacture and thus keeping up the costs on the consumer. So the GTX would win hands down due to cost and availability. I hope ATI would of realized this and made the XL the serious fighter and the XT just to increase the speed crown. The clocks should not be that far off, we're talking maybe 50-100MHz tops on the memory and i doubt they'd spread more then 50 on the cores. It makes zero marketing sense to have the equal to the GTX a higher cost card with bad yields. Can you imagine the launch?

Well guys we have no XT's which is faster by about 10 frames per second in most benchmarks, but you can have this nice XL! It almost performs just as well as this GTX and costs more!

Successful Launch:

X1800XL Beats GTX by worthwhile amount, sells for $500.00, in decent quantity
X1800XT Beats GTX by very noticable amount, sells for $600, in low quantity

Failed Launch:

X1800XL Loses to GTX by worthwhile amount, sells for $500.00, in decent quantity
X1800XT Just edges over GTX, sells for $600.00, in low quantity

Note: Prices for all cards are pretty much stuck do to high manufacturing costs.


I think i made my point here. I think we should focus less on how much the XT is going to win/lose against the GTX and more on the XL model, which will be launching at what the actual price is of the GTX and should be in decent quantity unlike the XTs. (unless someone disagrees and thinks XT's will be everywhere)

If ATI is running correctly, and going for the win, there should be no question that the XT will top the GTX very well. And the XL should put up a serious fight. Any other way and this launch is major failure for ATI as far as the little "war" goes.

 

[Geo]

Something to chew on, till tomorrow.

Double dual-link dvi? Let's see, where do I recall reading about problems associated with single dual-link dvi recently. It seems to me it was around here somewhere. . . Tho come to think of it, Fuad assures us that particular issue is still a problem for R520, so I must be jumping to conclusions.

 

[Ailuros]

why would they? The X1800XL is suppose to be $499.99 and the real competitor to the GTX/GT with 512mb ram.

That's your assumption; I'd prefer to wait this one out until I see independent 3rd party performance evalutions/analysis and preferably from more than one side.

Are you suggesting they take some of those rare R520 high speed binned chips and drop them on 256mb equipped PCB boards?

I'm not suggesting anything I'm wondering if there are going to be 256MB versions.

Dont forget they have to feed CrossFire edition cards too. Especially if we see real world advantage on these 512mb cards that ATI is putting serious stock into making them their main enthusiast launch cards.

Like there's a gigantic need right now for 512MB framebuffers, multi-GPU or not?

The XL and XT honostly cannot be that far apart in the end, not enough to matter anyway otherwise we may have a PE deja-vu. I dont want to hear it another year on the forums how ATI failed X poster with the slightly under clocked card so they HAD to go with Nvidia as if going with the lesser model would of caused their computer to explode and shatter their ego. But usually the ending to their story is they got a GT and overclocked it way past Ultra speeds, so in the end they make no sense in their argument but ATI is bad bad bad. Referring of course to the difference between the PE and XT of the X8 line and undoubtly the little real world performance difference between XL and XT of the coming.

I don't have the slightest idea where all that originated from or what it has to do with my quite simple assumption.

there is also alot more stock being placed into the inq's comments lately then usual here, why is that?

Here you definitely have the wrong address. That is if ever really paid attention in the past what I had to say about the Inquirer and it's newsblurbs.