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Rumour control: Is this Nvidia's GeForce 9900?
Leaked mechanical drawing could be GT200-based 9900 GTS and GTX
With the launch of ATI’s new Radeon HD 4000 series imminent, the cracks are beginning to show on NVIDIA’s veil of secrecy over its own next generation GPU. A mechanical drawing has been posted to the Xtreme Systems forum, purporting to show the first cards based on GT200, possibly the Geforce 9900 GTS and GTX.
The drawings don’t look like any current model of Nvidia graphics card. The GPU die appears to be huge, and 16 memory chips are clearly visible on the board, eight on each side, for a potential 1GB total, via a rumoured 512 bit memory interface. Two SLI connectors can also be seen. The leaked photos appear to have been created using the viewer of SolidWorks, a 3D mechanical CAD application popular with engineering designers.
That said, the jury is very much still out whether these drawings are really GT200 – or of a completely different card. However, an NVIDIA spokesperson denied the drawings were kosher, arguing that the ‘power connectors are wrong’. With an official launch rumoured for just a few weeks’ time, we could be finding out for sure sooner rather than later.
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I don't think we should be saying stuff like "every new generation card should outperform the outgoing one by x%" Power consumption/heat/overclocking are also important, if not more important in these envirnmentally concious times. If a new gen graphics card can give 20% better performance than the old equivalent but produce 20% less heat and use 20% less power then that just as good and companies do need to make these shifts, not just in graphics, there have been similar shifts in CPU manufacturing and let's not forget the big shift from CRT's to TFT's - I shifted from a 17" CRT to a 19" TFT and came out using 89W less electricity. I had a single core CPU that used 89W, now I have a dual-core that is 50% faster and uses 2/3 the electricity. That's why I can kind of see why nVidia released the 9800 cards - same power, lower heat and running costs and given that the 9800 GTX offered the same power as the 8800GTX then this should pack more punch (and better framerates if the 1GB RAM is true) then the 8800 Ultra while using less of our good british overpriced electricity.
Comment by EdArch at 1:58pm 17th May 2008
the race to the top of the graphics totem pole is boring me. nvidia are boring me. each generation of card should at least outperform the latter generation by at least 40% max. but truth be told, i have a feeling that nvidia already have the new cards made quite a long time ago. they are waiting for ati to bring something better to the table before they introduce it. and i hope intel bring some pain to both nvidia and ati. we need more competition. we need something new. not rehash cards with different code names.
Comment by dshantalla at 3:59am 17th May 2008
I agree with you my friend. Just look at the CPU battle 5 years ago when AMD stompped all over Intel's 'faster' clocked NetBurst archituecture. I have just used the key word there, Architecture. I have said it before and I'm sure I will have to say it again. I don't care about the stats and specs. All I really care about is a 'single' gaming card that can run the latest games with high and smooth frame rates for sub £200. when that happens I will jump up and down. Oh, and P.S. I wouls also like to see a bit of brains going in to the layouts as well. My friend just purchased (among other things) the CPC recommended ASUS premium board and an NVidia 8800GTS. The problem is that when the card is inserted you can not access half of the onboard S-ATA ports! Now thats just dumb. From both parties involved.
Comment by PokerMuppet at 3:55pm 15th May 2008
Something is definately wrong with the power connectors there - the left card has one on the pci bracket! My guess is it's the result of a dodgy photoshop.
Comment by TWeaKoR at 3:01pm 15th May 2008
I just want to make a small comment, I wish people would stop judging the quality of new hardware by the pace of the clock speed. Its like judging the quality of an orchesta by measuring how fast the conductor can wave his wand. It shows a distinct lack of understanding of how hardware is designed and built
Comment by KoopaKingTurtle at 10:32am 15th May 2008
Dont you think they have just modified the 2900 to look slightly different, an then said its a Nvidia GPU?
Comment by NikoBellic at 11:02pm 14th May 2008
For the moment Nvidia arent going past GDDR3 simply because its so refined to their current production, and how cheap these are in comparison to GDDR4 AND 5 with little or no gain in the latter being used. Ati used GDDR4 to try and edge over Nvidia... It failed... and with a stupidly high price tag on top... The power connector idea would be a good concept putting them on top, as getting them down the side of such a large card in a not so large case is a pain in the backside. I would think it would follow suit with 1GB memory with the GX2, or 512mb at least. The clock will be determined (presuming its dualGPU) on high it goes before the nvidia sentinel and temperature readings hit the recommended threshhold and safety levels. I want them to use at least 48 ROP's in this model... these are things that arent big news, but is if you want some high texture frapping glory. Lets just hold back and see shall we ;)
Comment by Lightning_Pete at 3:51pm 14th May 2008
If it is right then 1GB memory will be nice lets hope its GDDR4 or GDDR5 with FINALLY a 512-bit interface will be very welcome. Also if the it has 256 shaders lets hope they are clocked at least at 2.0GHz and the GPU clock at 1GHz with memory running at 3.0GHz. Its wishful thinking but that would be a complete monster! It would eat up Crysis for breakfast!
Comment by CPC_RedDawn at 3:20pm 14th May 2008
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