ATI fears Nvidia will pre-launch the NV30

[alexsok]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=5121

CANADIAN CHIP FIRM ATI is planning a grand jamboree at the ECTS show in London this week but is getting the heebie-jeebies about potential spoiling tactics from its biggest living nightmare, Nvidia Ink.
We are expecting to see some old and some new friends at the mysterious yet in some strange manner, military bash come Woden's Day.

The latest nightmare to haunt ATI executives' dreams is their suspicion that Nvidia might paper launch its NV30 graphics chip early – like on the 9th of September – just to throw dust in the face of the R300 technology.

NV30 only taped out on the 10th of August or thereabouts, so there's no conceivable way Nvidia could do much other than brief the world's press on its R300 killer.

But it's good to be out there napalming the opposition and Nvidia sure doesn't want ATI to have a straight run right the way through to Yuletide.

Don't forget that Nvidia's definition of the "holiday season" might extend slightly into the New Year, seeing as the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas according to the old Julian Calendar, a full thirteen days after chestnuts roast on an open fire, robins cavort in snow and yule logs get wassailed here in Ye Olde Blightie.

By the way, we're not saying that Nvidia will do this paper launch on the 9th of September, just that ATI suits fear that might happen...

So what do u guys think? How big of a possibility could that be?

 

[jb]

Should not make a difference. Everyone knows that the NV30 is coming. Questions is how long, how much and what the availiblity will be. Those types of questions may not be answered in the "launch"

Also it could back fire. If the specs dont show that big of an improvement over the R9700 then I can see some people getting the R9700 vrs waiting for the NV. and I said IF that was the case....

 

[alexsok]

Should not make a difference. Everyone knows that the NV30 is coming. Questions is how long, how much and what the availiblity will be. Those types of questions may not be answered in the "launch"

Also it could back fire. If the specs dont show that big of an improvement over the R9700 then I can see some people getting the R9700 vrs waiting for the NV. and I said IF that was the case....

Still, if the paper launch will indeed happen on that day, it would contradict the announcement date I know of...

But maybe the annoucement date I'm aware of is the date Nvidia will actually announce cards based on the chip... which would be better!

 

[John Reynolds]

Sigh.

Thread closed. B3D isn't exactly the forum for quoting the Inq. Or at least I hope not.