ATI's "Fudo" to have Shader 3.0

[hstewarth]

I think the fact that NVidia's low end 6600's support 3.0 shaders have got ATI worry.

6600 isn't low-end. It's mid-range. Low-end should be coming by the end of the year.

Is there any thing in 3.0 spec that the 6800 series does not support? If so I believe that will be next. Not stuff added in in 2.0b stuff which is not part of 3.0.

Yes. It could support longer shaders (at least, longer than current drivers: nVidia's website states that the hardware supports more than is currently exposed in the drivers). It could also support FP32 blending. But all in all, no, there's not a whole lot more that ATI could do that nVidia is not currently doing, not without a significant change to the API.

And by the way, PS 2.0b is not an extension. It's a separate PS 2.x profile that compiles to the R4xx's specific hardware, much like the PS 2.0a profile compiles to the NV3x's specific hardware.

If ATI finally releases a PS 3.0 GPU, it is unlikely that it will both support the exact same limits and have the exact same optimization characteristics, so I would expect to see a PS 3.0a profile around the time of release. This doesn't have anything to do with extending the API: it has to do with the fact that the HLSL compiler is within the API, and thus must be updated any time you want to support a new piece of hardware.

First of all, $150 for non GT version of 6600 seems pretty low end to me.

If there are changes to 3.0, like 3.0a - unless its done by an extension then it would like would require a new release of Direct X - like Direct X 9.0d. I would also expect that NVidia would make enhancements for NV50 series so they would also have some enhancements.

 

[Unit01]

I heard that Microsoft is coming out with SM3.1, at least that's what TeamDX is saying.

hehe a classic
it will bring 60% performance improvement too!!!!

 

[digitalwanderer]

I heard that Microsoft is coming out with SM3.1, at least that's what TeamDX is saying.

hehe a classic
it will bring 60% performance improvement too!!!!

Yes, but only on benchmarks.

Wait a minute, didn't that Inq guy say that ATi ain't gonna never support SM3.0? How can this be true then? :|

 

[PatrickL]

Well in fact if they support directly 3.1 they will never support just 3.0

You know now the Inq's How to make news: Add 2 craps together and post the result.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Well in fact if they support directly 3.1 they will never support just 3.0

Ok, but this is all gonna be your fault when it's on the front page of the Inq about SM3.1 tomorrow...

 

[trinibwoy]

First of all, $150 for non GT version of 6600 seems pretty low end to me.

No, it's low-end of the midrange

 

[KimB]

Yes, low-end is typically the sub-$100 range.

 

[The549]

Yeah for me, low end is about $50 for an r8500/gf5200.

 

[hstewarth]

Yes, low-end is typically the sub-$100 range.

I guess that would be X300 generation type, currently for NVidia its the 5200 series but that that is older generation. I be curious if NVidia's 5200 replacement will support Shader 3.0 stuff.

My work machine has GF2 MX because graphics needs are not important at work. So for the <$100 range cards is probably not that important to support higher end shaders.

 

[Fodder]

I be curious if NVidia's 5200 replacement will support Shader 3.0 stuff.

That'd be NV44 in Q4, and I'm pretty sure I've read words from Kirk or Huang to the effect of "SM3.0 from top to bottom".

 

[BRiT]

I be curious if NVidia's 5200 replacement will support Shader 3.0 stuff.

That'd be NV44 in Q4, and I'm pretty sure I've read words from Kirk or Huang to the effect of "SM3.0 from top to bottom".

I hope there's more truth to that statement than the GF-4 MX is a DX8 card or the NV30 will be out in time for the holiday season.

 

[Smurfie]

Didn't XGI come up with a SM3.0 capable part. Could this SM3.1 be for this XGI part?

 

[digitalwanderer]

Didn't XGI come up with a SM3.0 capable part. Could this SM3.1 be for this XGI part?

Please forgive me, I find humor in strange places.

Yeah, I guess that could be a reason for SM3.1.

 

[Smurfie]

Didn't XGI come up with a SM3.0 capable part. Could this SM3.1 be for this XGI part?

Please forgive me, I find humor in strange places.

Yeah, I guess that could be a reason for SM3.1.

I'm stabbing in the dark too.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

From what I understood there's gonna be the R480 part before the R520.

R480 getting released by October/November and the R520 to be released by March/April/May(Spring) 2005.

The next ATI part is only gonna be a speedbinned R42x.

At least that's what I understood.

US

 

[jvd]

From what I understood there's gonna be the R480 part before the R520.

R480 getting released by October/November and the R520 to be released by March/April/May(Spring) 2005.

The next ATI part is only gonna be a speedbinned R42x.

At least that's what I understood.

US

same would be with the nv40 . The next part will most likely be a 450mhz part , mabye 475 . The r420 would most likely be around 600-650 mhz .

 

[hovz]

From what I understood there's gonna be the R480 part before the R520.

R480 getting released by October/November and the R520 to be released by March/April/May(Spring) 2005.

The next ATI part is only gonna be a speedbinned R42x.

At least that's what I understood.

US

same would be with the nv40 . The next part will most likely be a 450mhz part , mabye 475 . The r420 would most likely be around 600-650 mhz .

650??? HIGHLY doubtful. id be suprised if it was even 600.

 

[DegustatoR]

I wouldn't count on the spring'05 release of R520 guys...

 

[max-pain]

Didn't XGI come up with a SM3.0 capable part.

http://hkepc.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=188647

 

[RejZoR]

Hm very interesting. Lots of question and exclamantion marks,few XGI,NVIDIA and ATI words and thats it. O and i found a 3 smiley animation