Dual GeForce GTX 260 to be Officially Named GeForce GTX 295

[btarunr]

Come to think of it I'd like to see the power consumption too.

It should be lower than that of a HD 4870 X2. Below is a chart that shows a 65nm GTX 260 Core 216 to already have a lower average power consumption compared to a HD 4870. You can expect that to fall even further with the newer 55nm process.

http://i4.techpowerup.com/reviews/Leadtek/GeForce_GTX_260_Extreme_Plus/images/power_average.gif

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Leadtek/GeForce_GTX_260_Extreme_Plus/24.html

 

[DarkMatter]

Hope the price of this thing goes down as fast as the 9800GX2 though. hehe.

Anyways, quad SLI still has kinks. A single GTX295 would be good though.

But I somehow get the new nVidia naming scheme now.. you can somehow "feel" what kind of performance you will get when you compare em. look at GTX 260, 265, 280.. and now GTX 295. Im seeing that its performance gap from the GTX 280 is not that large compared to a GTX 260 vs GTX 280...

Hmm I don't think it works that way. I think it's more like they have three segments GT, GTS and GTX and probably 2-4 models per segment chosing between x20, x40, x60, x80 (where x is the generation, i.e GTX 260). Here the chosen number does indicate more or less the kind of performance you can expect in relation to each others. Then in the future they come the x30, x50, x70 and x90 which are refreshes of the others with probably some improvements but similar in performance and price or simply the specs sans clock speeds that could change. Just like 7800 and 7900 series. Then I think they have decided to use the +5 increment for dual cards, as opposed to using it as a further refresh like in 7950. Why? Because they don't need to (explained below). A clear example is the new name for the 8800 GT or 9800GT or GT 150 (AFAIK):

- GT 150 because it will be mainstream.
- GT 150 because it's one generation older than GT200 cards. I mean 2 comes after 1, not that the 1 means "1 generation older".
- GT 150 because it's like in the middle of the segment. EDIT: oh, I forgot to mention: 5 and not 4 or 6 because it's a refresh.
- GT 150 because it's single GPU.

Rumors say that the 55nm GT200 cards will get the GTX 290, GTX 270 and GTX 295 names and they match what I said. Now what will happen if they want to release another refresh of GT200? They don't have more numbers... or do they? Yes they have. By the time they'd make another refresh of the cards, G300 probably will be out, so GT200 cards will no longer be high-end. So what would be the name? Easy: GTS 240, GTS 270, GTS 295 or whatever other second numbers they choose, should they change the specs of the cards.

All in all the difference between GTX 295 and GTX 280 will be higher than between 280 and 260. The overall difference to HD4870 X2 is already higher AFAIK and the GTX 295 WILL be quite faster than the X2. The reason is simple, apparently the card will be released, so it must be faster, because Nvidia can't afford the bad publicity that would give them releasing a dual GPU card that doesn't outperform the X2. They have surely tested dual GT200 cards already, albeit with 65nm chip and impossible to implement in a consumer card, they surely have made some. The fact that they are releasing the GTX 295 is already enough proof that it will be considerably faster IMO.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Makes sense. Lets just wait and see

 

[GFC]

Hm.. i'm just wondering what kind of cooler will it have ? I mean if they put two PCB's they don't realy have alot of space. I hope they don't make the same mistake as with 9800GX2 which had problems for overheating it's NF200 chips..

 

[Hayder_Master]

216 sp , sure they can't beat the 4870x2

 

[DrunkenMafia]

I just don't see Six-L-I being realistic.

Is that the official name for it, what source did you get that from

 

[InnocentCriminal]

I look forward to reviews.

 

[HossHuge]

I can finally play pong at 10,000 fps

Tee Hee

 

[newtekie1]

216 sp , sure they can't beat the 4870x2

Why wouldn't it? The 216SP GTX260 beats a single 4870, why wouldn't two of them beat two 4870s?

 

[TooFast]

Why wouldn't it? The 216SP GTX260 beats a single 4870, why wouldn't two of them beat two 4870s?

because x-fire scales better than sli. dont forget ati will have a refresh of the x2 4 sure.

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

Is that the official name for it, what source did you get that from

Sure is, this is the hierarchy of sli.

Single card
SLi
S-L-Tri
Different type of spider-L-i
S-L-five (yes, it works. Trust me )
Six-L-i
Seven-L-i
Holy shit where did you get a capable PSU-L-i

Sheesh, I thought everyone knew that!

 

[btarunr]

because x-fire scales better than sli. dont forget ati will have a refresh of the x2 4 sure.

Even a SLI of two 192 SP cards goes neck and neck with a R700.

 

[newtekie1]

because x-fire scales better than sli. dont forget ati will have a refresh of the x2 4 sure.

How will they? What will they do to it? The HD4870x2 is already pretty much the best ATi has. All they can do is raise clock speeds, which isn't likely to improve performance all that much.

Even a SLI of two 192 SP cards goes neck and neck with a R700.

Exactly.

 

[Skillz]

Knowing these morons with their price exploit, it's going to cost an arm and 2 legs plus a penis just to get them... so i won't even bother to get my hopes up cause i'm not losing a penis over a damn vid card.

 

[Megasty]

I haven't even put my 4870x2 in a rig yet & nv is already coming out with the impossible, although its a little watered down. It still great to see that they overcame that hump. Hopefully it won't cost $600+. Hell, I'm still using only one 4870 anyway so I probably won't get one (lying terribly )

 

[Binge]

The only thing that might stand a chance is crossfired 4870 1gbs that are overclocked to perfection. This is assuming that the 295 isn't a watered down version of the 260 216 like the 4870x2 is two watered down 4870 1gb. The 4870x2 uses ram that won't clock as high as the every day 4870 1gb cards, and they can't clock nearly as high on the cores.

 

[mdm-adph]

How will they? What will they do to it? The HD4870x2 is already pretty much the best ATi has. All they can do is raise clock speeds, which isn't likely to improve performance all that much.

Nope -- four chips on one card. It's been done before.

 

[DarkMatter]

because x-fire scales better than sli. dont forget ati will have a refresh of the x2 4 sure.

That's the most falaceous meme appeared in the recent IT history. Crossfire scaled better somewhere between G80 and G94's launch. Primarily based on the fact that Crossfired R6xx scaled better than SLI back then. Ever since the adjustments made for the G94 Aka 9600 GT (on drivers) SLI scaling is as efficient as Crossfire and sometimes faster (and sometimes slower, of course). To the point where 9600 GT SLI is significantly faster than HD3870 crossfire, even when single cards are comparable. Today we have 9800 GT dangerously close to Crossfired HD4850's in many cases, which is a clear sign SLI is scaling better there. On the other hand 9800GTX SLI seems to loose ground and is usually not faster than HDs. AFAIK GTX260 SLI is again faster than Crossfired HD4870's, again showing SLI being superior in thet particular case, as single HD's are faster. GTX280 scales much better than the X2 and so on.

Anyway all of the above pretty much only applies to Core2 systems. X58 and/or Nehalem has made SLI much much faster than Crossfire. X58 has clearly destroyed some bottlenecks and even Tri-SLI GTX280's scale almost t perfection. Whether it's because of the drivers that this does not happen to Crossfire is just to be seen. Up unitl now two driver releases and many hotfixes haven't changed that, but we'll see.

Part of the problem for SLI in the past was that no Nvidia chipset (nor Ati's anyway) was as fast as Intel chipsets to begin with, so SLI already started with a disadvantage against Crossfire in Intel chipsets. X58 has evened the field and that's why SLI is doing better now IMHO.

 

[Megasty]

Nope -- four chips on one card. It's been done before.

Bah, I have that card; the 3DFX whatcamagig. Once I cleaned all the dust off of it, it looked like a museum piece. Just thinking of something like that made with today's high end technology, the thing would need 1000 watts just to power up. I wouldn't mind seeing that but I know my psu would.

 

[mdm-adph]

Bah, I have that card; the 3DFX whatcamagig. Once I cleaned all the dust off of it, it looked like a museum piece. Just thinking of something like that made with today's high end technology, the thing would need 1000 watts just to power up. I wouldn't mind seeing that but I know my psu would.

Mark my words -- it will be done.

Say... two dual-core R800's.

 

[Solaris17]

That's the most falaceous meme appeared in the recent IT history. Crossfire scaled better somewhere between G80 and G94's launch. Primarily based on the fact that Crossfired R6xx scaled better than SLI back then. Ever since the adjustments made for the G94 Aka 9600 GT (on drivers) SLI scaling is as efficient as Crossfire and sometimes faster (and sometimes slower, of course). To the point where 9600 GT SLI is significantly faster than HD3870 crossfire, even when single cards are comparable. Today we have 9800 GT dangerously close to Crossfired HD4850's in many cases, which is a clear sign SLI is scaling better there. On the other hand 9800GTX SLI seems to loose ground and is usually not faster than HDs. AFAIK GTX260 SLI is again faster than Crossfired HD4870's, again showing SLI being superior in thet particular case, as single HD's are faster. GTX280 scales much better than the X2 and so on.

Anyway all of the above pretty much only applies to Core2 systems. X58 and/or Nehalem has made SLI much much faster than Crossfire. X58 has clearly destroyed some bottlenecks and even Tri-SLI GTX280's scale almost t perfection. Whether it's because of the drivers that this does not happen to Crossfire is just to be seen. Up unitl now two driver releases and many hotfixes haven't changed that, but we'll see.

Part of the problem for SLI in the past was that no Nvidia chipset (nor Ati's anyway) was as fast as Intel chipsets to begin with, so SLI already started with a disadvantage against Crossfire in Intel chipsets. X58 has evened the field and that's why SLI is doing better now IMHO.

i owned them and i can support this the 8600's and 9600GT's spacifically the 9600GT's are imo by far to this date the best scalling nvidia card...the 8600 imo starte it but the 9600GT's were terribly efficent

 

[wolf]

nvidia SLi scaling has come a long way +1, i had 8600GT's in SLi and they scaled B-E-A-utifully, and weve all seen what 9600GT's can do, GTX260's compete very well so it will be interesting.

remember im not saying that either one is better, because neither can decisively be called better.

and as for it not beating an X2, i think DarkMatter has a point, the fact that nvidia are definitly going ahead means it has to take the crown, they wouldnt release it if it didn't.

that doesn't mean ATi wont counter right back with a newer revision R700 with faster cores and faster GDDR5....but i believe, for at least a short time, this new card will be the king.

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

nvidia SLi scaling has come a long way +1, i had 8600GT's in SLi and they scaled B-E-A-utifully, and weve all seen what 9600GT's can do, GTX260's compete very well so it will be interesting.

remember im not saying that either one is better, because neither can decisively be called better.

and as for it not beating an X2, i think DarkMatter has a point, the fact that nvidia are definitly going ahead means it has to take the crown, they wouldnt release it if it didn't.

that doesn't mean ATi wont counter right back with a newer revision R700 with faster cores and faster GDDR5....but i believe, for at least a short time, this new card will be the king.

This is what the market needs, the back and fourth battle keeps the market competetive and us consumers walk out winning.

I'm happy ATi found a way to stop NV from just re-releasing the g92 over and over with different names.

 

[wolf]

This is what the market needs, the back and fourth battle keeps the market competetive and us consumers walk out winning.

I'm happy ATi found a way to stop NV from just re-releasing the g92 over and over with different names.

amen to that, RV770 has been a godsend even if you didn't buy one.

having said that, 45nm processes aren't far away, whats the bet GT200 AND G9X are both re-released in this form too.

 

[Binge]

nV only really has to do a die shrink. The dual gpu card is just a solution to stir the market a little. I really wanted a GTX280 55nm but it is coming too slowly.