G81 is 65nm?

[Jawed]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37199

The G80 replacement looks like it might be known as G81, and it appears that Nvidia will take the radical step of making it at 65 nanometre. That is what's been rumoured in China and Taiwan and according to sources close to or inside TSMC.

Fun for the next 6 months

Jawed

 

[Arty]

Fuad is going off the same source that also said 8600 was 256bit, which was shot down to be false.

Still its a possibility considering they're expecting it to be a response to R650 or R680 (3Q '07).

 

[Twinkie]

Doesnt the shrink to 65nm need redesigning of the G80 chip?

IF this is true, could we potentially see more than just a increased clockspeed refresh? 90nm to 65nm sounds abit radical and doesnt line up with nVIDIAs latest decisions at all.

 

[Osamar]

If that is true we should see a than just a increased clockspeed refresh. And shows that Nvidia is scared of R600 or so confident to jump directly to 65nm.

But probably all is a "mental handjob" from me and Faud

 

[Arun]

Too bad G81 doesn't exist afaik... (unless it's the 80nm optical shrink, but I doubt that has a codename of its own)
But yes, AFAIK, NVIDIA is working on some 65nm stuff for Q2. Remains to be seen what it actually is.


Uttar

 

[Blazkowicz]

the 65nm geforce 7300?

 

[INKster]

Too bad G81 doesn't exist afaik... (unless it's the 80nm optical shrink, but I doubt that has a codename of its own)
But yes, AFAIK, NVIDIA is working on some 65nm stuff for Q2. Remains to be seen what it actually is.


Uttar

How about G80-B1 ?

 

[turtle]

Well, putting it together it seems possible.

1. Reports have been out since last October that Nvidia was sampling 65nm. Contained within some of these articles were hints that Nvidia was anxious to see if TSMC was really capable of producing 65nm in bulk this early (early 07) for high-end parts. TSMC according to these reports, gave the high sign.

2. The roadmaps VR-ZONE amongst others have put up have always shown the G80 refresh to be in H207. This seems pretty late to be transitioning to 80nm, but anytime past mid-year seems right for release of a high-end 65nm part. While many (including myself) have speculated on an 80nm part as a refresh to compete with R600, signs have pointed to a 65nm part coming slightly later. If a 80nm G80 part existed, I would hope we would have heard more about it by now.

3. Nvidia did the hard transition last gen to 90nm on a refresh, and then released G80 on that same proven process. It's not insane to believe they will do the same with the G80 refresh -> G90 both on 65nm. I still believe G90 is essentially G80 with a 512-bit bus and some more shaders, so while a new chip, it could be easy to transition to on a proven process early (perhaps late 07).

4. We've all expected a 65nm refresh at some point, what's so inconceivable about skipping the supposed 80nm shrink? I always thought two refreshes sounded odd. Sure, it'd be quick because it's an optical shrink...But why waste the time/resources on a small production run at 80nm if you can already produce on 65nm, which plainly they can (as testament to the soon-to-be released Rv610/Rv630 and news of Nvidia sampling 65nm?). If it's true it is coming early H2, an 80nm G80 may compete better/worse than they want it to, and/or quickly be lost in the shuffle with impending 65nm part.