G80's current possibilities?

[RingWraith]

All the new architectural features of the G80 are centralized around DX10. Does this mean we will not see these features utilized in DX9? Or can they be exposed at the Driver/Hardware level allowing current games to utilize CUDA and all the CPU-Offloading features? Or could a Patch be implemented to enable Physics running off the GPU in a game like Oblivion for example.

I have the means to get an 8800 GTX but the fact that I have to buy Vista to get DX10 benefits is a big turn-off. All the new bells and whistles are meaningless if I need to buy another OS to use them.

Opinions are welcome but anyone with first-hand info please enlighten me.

 

[MDolenc]

CUDA doesn't have anything with DirectX (9 or 10) or OpenGL...

 

[Rys]

CUDA doesn't have anything with DirectX (9 or 10) or OpenGL...

Well, that's not quite true. Yes, the CUDA API has nothing to do with either main 3D API, but there is some specific interop required, to make sure apps using CUDA don't trample on apps using the hardware via another API. Further, specific data sharing might be possible between CUDA and the main 3D APIs. Say you want to setup your app in something like MDX, and then push data to the hardware using CUDA, that should be OK in the end. So the APIs are disparate, but that doesn't mean they'll never work together.

 

[RingWraith]

Taking into account the fact that I won't be adopting Vista for a year or 2 is an 8800 worth it right now with DX9? Should I wait for R600?

 

[Rys]

GeForce 8800 GTX is very much the top of the tree right now, in terms of perf and IQ in D3D9. As for R600, nobody has measured its performance and ability in any kind of public fashion. So whether you wait or not is dependant on what you think AMD have coming.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Taking into account the fact that I won't be adopting Vista for a year or 2 is an 8800 worth it right now with DX9? Should I wait for R600?

What Rys said is all true, 8800 is the current bestest-o-the-bestest viddy card you can get.

We also don't know if the R600 will be better or not.

I can't tell you if you should wait or not yet. What card are you currently using, what are the rest of your system's specs, and what games are you playing at what resolutions right now?

Answer those and I can give you an opinion on if you should wait or not.

 

[Tim Murray]

Taking into account the fact that I won't be adopting Vista for a year or 2

On a gaming machine, why not? I don't understand this logic at all.

 

[Blazkowicz]

it depends how much you want to spend.
in my opinion 7950GT, 7900GTX, X1950XT etc. are dead, there's no real reason to consider them, you either get a x1950 pro, 7900GS or 8800GTS/GTX.

 

[Blazkowicz]

On a gaming machine, why not? I don't understand this logic at all.

it's expensive, OEM licenses might be enforced by their DRM and thus might no longer be an option (same for a warez version), some people don't care about the new UI and features (who gives a shit about flying 3D windows on a gaming machine?), might be better to wait for SP1 / better and more available drivers, money perhaps better spend on hardware or something else, etc.

 

[Tim Murray]

it's expensive, OEM licenses might be enforced by their DRM and thus might no longer be an option (same for a warez version), some people don't care about the new UI and features (who gives a shit about flying 3D windows on a gaming machine?), might be better to wait for SP1 / better and more available drivers, money perhaps better spend on hardware or something else, etc.

D3D10 suddenly isn't a feature? That's what I'm getting at. The OP's question is a lot like asking, should I buy a G80 and only use it under Linux? Well, if that's what you want to do, okay. It'll be nice and fast, but you're not going to be able to use the D3D10-oriented features of the card.

 

[Razor1]

All the new architectural features of the G80 are centralized around DX10. Does this mean we will not see these features utilized in DX9? Or can they be exposed at the Driver/Hardware level allowing current games to utilize CUDA and all the CPU-Offloading features? Or could a Patch be implemented to enable Physics running off the GPU in a game like Oblivion for example.

I have the means to get an 8800 GTX but the fact that I have to buy Vista to get DX10 benefits is a big turn-off. All the new bells and whistles are meaningless if I need to buy another OS to use them.

Opinions are welcome but anyone with first-hand info please enlighten me.

Most of the sm 4.0 features are exposed in OGL

NVIDIA OpenGL Extensions
NVIDIA OpenGL Language Release Notes
NVemulate

 

[RingWraith]

D3D10 suddenly isn't a feature? That's what I'm getting at. The OP's question is a lot like asking, should I buy a G80 and only use it under Linux? Well, if that's what you want to do, okay. It'll be nice and fast, but you're not going to be able to use the D3D10-oriented features of the card.

DX10 would be the ONLY reason to get Vista. But games using it won't be out for another 6+/- months or so. Those games will fall back to DX9 and when there is a good selection of DX10 games out there, (propably a year or more) I can always go back and play them when I do get Vista.

It was hard enough convincing my wife that I wasn't insane when she found out it would cost $600. LOL I would be on a one way trip to the Funny Farm if I told her I needed to spend another $500+ on an OS. ROTFLMAO

As for my specs: AMD64 X2 CPU, 7800 GTX, 2 GB RAM ~ Obviously an easy 50% increase in 3D performance can be expected. I currently play at 1600x1200 with everything maxxed when possible. (which is most of the time!)

Was I lying to my wife when I said the 8800 GTX would last us 2 - 3 years??? :-0

 

[Nitz Walsh]

It was hard enough convincing my wife that I wasn't insane when she found out it would cost $600. LOL I would be on a one way trip to the Funny Farm if I told her I needed to spend another $500+ on an OS. ROTFLMAO

Don't blame her. You would be insane to spend $500 on Vista when the home premium upgrade is $150.

 

[trinibwoy]

This whole wife-controlling budget dynamic is very intriguing It will really be strange if one day a woman stands between me and my money!

 

[digitalwanderer]

As for my specs: AMD64 X2 CPU, 7800 GTX, 2 GB RAM ~ Obviously an easy 50% increase in 3D performance can be expected. I currently play at 1600x1200 with everything maxxed when possible. (which is most of the time!)

If you can get that right now I would hold off. Once the R600 is released you'll be able to compare which is better, and the 8800 will probably either have a refresh out by then or be much cheaper.

If you're not happy with your gaming currently though, that's another story...

Was I lying to my wife when I said the 8800 GTX would last us 2 - 3 years??? :-0

If you're already unhappy with a 7800GTX, yes.

I've always found it's better to put off getting a new card for as long as possible, then your next one will last you longer too.

 

[zsouthboy]

This whole wife-controlling budget dynamic is very intriguing It will really be strange if one day a woman stands between me and my money!

I've found that simply paying the hooker allows her to leave.

 

[trinibwoy]

Why pay for what you can get for free? Legally too !

 

[RingWraith]

This whole wife-controlling budget dynamic is very intriguing It will really be strange if one day a woman stands between me and my money!

LOL No, she doesn't control the money, but having children adds another dynamic which makes it necessary to keep track of our spending habits.

If you're already unhappy with a 7800GTX, yes.

I've always found it's better to put off getting a new card for as long as possible, then your next one will last you longer too.

i am not unhappy with this card, as a matter of fact it will be a nice upgrade for my wifes computer. Normally I play the waiting game, I don't usually splurge on the latest and greatest, it would be nice to have the fastest card in the world.

 

[digitalwanderer]

There's a real good chance though that it'll only be the fastest for a few months, then it's refresh and the R600 will be out and it'll be old news.

I vote for the wait, save your money until you know your choices and can get a bit better bang for your buck.

 

[Bobbler]

There's a real good chance though that it'll only be the fastest for a few months, then it's refresh and the R600 will be out and it'll be old news.

I vote for the wait, save your money until you know your choices and can get a bit better bang for your buck.

Figured I'd chime in...

I'd say this is the smartest choice. A 7800GTX should do fine until then. =o