RSX GPU:
I think the PS3 will either contain a dual core RSX GPU die design, or have dual RSX GPUs.
Think about this:
A simple speed increase (550MHz RSX) will not outperform a dual 430MHz 7800 GTX setup. A dual 7800 GTX setup is able to utilize all the pipelines (24 + 24 = 48 total pipelines) for better performance than a single 550MHz RSX GPU. Simply put a dual 7800 GTX graphic setup has the potential to output more data. Please don’t factor in PC bottlenecks that stop dual 7800 GTX cards from outperforming the PS3 as a whole. Imagine the PC or PS3 Alpha Kit without the current bottlenecks and having dual 7800 cards. This rant of mine deals with future games needing more GPU power rather than system throughput. Hell, Nvidia or ATI can release a GPU in late 2006 or Mid 2007 with enough GPU throughput power to overcome the PC bottlenecks.
Remember E3:
It’s well known that the PS3 demos (Unreal 3.0 Engine, ECT…) were running off PS3 Alpha Kits, that didn’t contain the RSX GPU, but rather dual NVIDIA graphic boards. Many thought it was dual 6800’s graphic cards, however that wasn’t the case. Actually the overall consensus is that they were (unannounced at that time) Dual 7800 GTX graphic cards. Why dual 7800s rather than dual 6800s graphic cards? Because the PS3 demos shown, more specifically the Unreal Engine 3.0 Demo will not/could not run that smooth on dual 6800 based cards. Remember Mark Rein stated and showed the Unreal 3.0 Engine on a dual 6800 rig running at 15-20fps (the first time Unreal 3 Engine was ever shown last year). Even at E3 Mark hinted or let slip out on the Alpha Kits containing newer cards. My point is being …dual 6800s would not have ran those demos very smoothly at those hi-setting. Leading one to believe that the 7800’s GTX where involved.
Old Article Proof:
Quote:
When Sony unveiled the PlayStation 3 at their pre-Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference, the company appeared confident in its hardware, but like rumors surrounding the supposedly real-time technology demonstrations, it appears the hardware isn't completely set in stone yet, either.
At a J.P. Morgan technology conference, NVIDIA's CFO Marv Burkett said the PlayStation 3's RSX (the hardware's GPU) isn't finished, still remains in development, and no silicon of the chip is available yet, reports Bit-Tech. Incomplete hardware comes as no surprise, but it does raise questions about what was powering the demonstrations on-hand at Sony's press conference.
Burkett says the RSX demonstrations weren't actually running on the RSX, but an upcoming NVIDIA high-end desktop product in SLI mode. NVIDIA was not more specific about what type of hardware this entailed.
So what I’m getting at:
For the RSX to be able to handle games like Killzone 3, Unreal Engine 3 based games, and so fourth. The PS3 must have a dual RSX GPU setup or a RSX GPU design containing multiple graphic chips. Because a simple overclock G70 (RSX) can’t handle that amount data without graphic frame-rate issues. 48 pipelines (Dual 7800 GTX) beat’s a simple 120MHz overclock (RSX) in data processing.
Last Word:
I simply don’t believe the RSX GPU is just an overclock G70 based processor. Even if the PS3 doesn’t come with a dual-core RSX anything, the RSX in my opinion must contain at least 40 or more pipelines to handle the data Sony is claiming. Yes the Cell will play a big part in helping out, but that doesn’t rectify possible future game issues. In the-end the RSX GPU must be equal or better than two 7800 GTX cards rather than dual 6800's...IMO!
