Nv30 to have 10 pipelines?

[duncan36]

Well since the rumours are pretty heavy that the Nv30 could have been ready months earlier without a significant redesign from 6 pipelines, my question is this. If Nvidia took the time to redesign the card knowing that the 9700 would have 8 pipelines, why not leapfrog them and go to 10 pipelines.
Perhaps this would account for the higher transistor count?

Of course I come here because people would know if this is even feasible? Or has Nvidia definitively stated that the Nv30 would have 8 pipelines?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Reverend]

Why not 12 then? Or even 18?! I mean surely increasing pipelines isn't that hard to do and can be done while still meeting the target date!



NVIDIA has never stated publicly the pipeline configuration (except to developers and partners). MO is that they will think it is ludicrous to even think of increasing the pipeline and delay the product even more. Priority to them (and shareholders) is to get it out ASAP.

 

[duncan36]

So I'll read between the lines and assume its 8.

 

[KimB]

Besides the problems in just changing the number of pipelines this late in development, consider this. We've never seen a pipeline configuration that was not a power of two. It should be obvious that there are direct advantages to keep things in powers of two. The most easily-seen one is simply that since silicon-based microprocessors are base 2 systems, anything that is not a direct multiple of two would be wasting transistors, for example, for pipeline routing.

 

[BoardBonobo]

From NVMAX:

A story posted at digitimes about the NV30 being delayed due to a switch to eight pipelines in order to match the ATI 9700 is untrue. NVIDIA's Derek Perez told nvmax.com that the NV30 continues on target for Fall 2002 availability, however he would not clarify pipeline count models would have.

 

[epicstruggle]

My math might be a little off, but i think you (Chalnoth) might be wrong when you said:

We've never seen a pipeline configuration that was not a power of two.

assuming what duncan36 said here:

Well since the rumours are pretty heavy that the Nv30 could have been ready months earlier without a significant redesign from 6 pipelines

Im pretty sure 6 is not a power of 2, so either nv30 will have 8 pipelines which will confirm what Chalnoth said, or it has 6 pipelines voiding the power of 2 theory.

just my 2^1 cents. (couldnt resist the reference).

 

[Basic]

Well, have we seen a 6-pipelined NV30?

That's just a silly rumour.

 

[JF_Aidan_Pryde]

I think 5 and a half pipes must be the answer.
The four pipes work on pixels and the fifth one does the AA and the half can loopback twice to get a whole pixel!!

 

[T2k]

I think 5 and a half pipes must be the answer.
The four pipes work on pixels and the fifth one does the AA and the half can loopback twice to get a whole pixel!!

 

[Typedef Enum]

(edit)

 

[BRiT]

(edit)

Hrm... What was the goodness posted there?

--|BRiT|

 

[duncan36]

Well its not set in stone, and its not a totally ridiculous notion. Nvidia could have said early on: 'Look we tried this 8 pipeline thing and its too difficult to make work, so given our clout in the industry and the fact we believe ATi will not be able to do 8 pipelines, we're going to 6 pipelines.'

If you've forgotten ATi's first Radeon was 3 pipelines. So if everyone went to 6 pipelines, it would just be a minor change.

Given that Nvidia blew such a massive technology lead and seems to be scrambling like a bunch of headless chickens, something went seriously wrong somewhere. So why not a last minute(in graphics card terms) scramble to get 8 pipelines.

 

[Typedef Enum]

I was going to say something, but then realized that...

 

[Saem]

The first Radeon had 2 pixel pipes with 3 TMUs each.

 

[Basic]

Are you talking about the two pixel pipelines with three texture units each? That's different.

 

[duncan36]

Well ok i'm obviously mistaken. So could someone with some technical knowledge please explain why 6 pipelines isn't desireable and/or feasible.

 

[psurge]

AFAIK, the original Radeon had 3 texture units per pipeline, not 3 pipelines.

BTW - my sources (munchkins in rainbow colored outfits which float in the air and tell me interesting things, usually after i've picked up the crack pipe) tell me that NV30 is delayed because NVidia are investigating product withdrawal symptoms on it's long-time consumers. Apparently they want to collect a few more months worth of data to make their brand name more addictive than heroin. I would pass the pipe, but ya'll have clearly had enough

 

[nevidimka]

thats the funniest thing i've ever heard of b4..

* rolling on the floor laffing *


btw this board seriously need to improve on its emoticons.. apply emoticons like from ezboard.. the ones here are very dull

 

[Doomtrooper]

Did someone say emotions ??