NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 Spotted

[malware]

VR-Zone scored the first photo of the upcoming GeForce GTX 295 card that's reported to make first appearance at next year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Unlike previous reports, the card will feature a sandwich design, like most dual GPU cards released by NVIDIA. Two 55nm GT200 CPUs will be incorporated in this card. From the picture we also see two DVI and one Display ports. The source also reports the card is using 8+6 pin connector combo to deliver external power. The pricing is yet to be disclosed, but card makers are speculating that NVIDIA will price it competitively against AMD 4870X2.



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[Fitseries3]

no word on SLI support?

 

[Binge]

That just makes my day worse... That card looks like poo. I hope they iron out the aesthetics before release.

 

[Error 404]

That just makes my day worse... That card looks like poo. I hope they iron out the aesthetics before release.

Of course it looks awful, its a pre-release work-in-progress. I think. (I hope)
Its basically like the 9800 GX2 but without the metal cover, and much more power!

 

[Binge]

But it looks like it will have less power than 2xGTX 260

 

[GFC]

But it looks like it will have less power than 2xGTX 260

How can it have less power ? It's built on 55nm process, unless they down-clock it because of the heat - it's going to be faster.
The main concern for me is, why the hell did they use dual-PCB setup like last time? Because of that, there's barely any place for the fan, which means it's going to be a really hot card.

 

[DarkMatter]

I don't know what makes you think it will draw more power than the 9800 GX2, they have both the same 6-pin + 8-pin conectors.

I don't know why it would be really hot neither. The single PCB design of the HD3870 X2 didn't help out too much, the GX2 was cooler and quieter and indeed the temps were about the same as in single 9800s. Everything else were memes created long before the card even launched that continued existing thanks to the internets pop culture.

Rememer it's 55nm GT200 being used, we don't know anything about it yet. I say it's going to draw less power than the HD4870 X2 and have lower temps. Specilating like anyone else of course.

 

[Error 404]

Yeah, the GX2 uses exactly the same setup as this dual-PCB card, and considering how powerful the GX2 is it should be interesting to see how well this performs.
The real question will be whether this supports Tri-SLI: 6 cores of POWAH!

 

[DarkMatter]

Yeah, the GX2 uses exactly the same setup as this dual-PCB card, and considering how powerful the GX2 is it should be interesting to see how well this performs.
The real question will be whether this supports Tri-SLI: 6 cores of POWAH!

I can almost answr that for you already. NO.

Just a speculation based on past communicates, but according to what I said IIRC, nothing more than Quad SLI will be ever supported. Never say never, but...

 

[Binge]

How can it have less power ? It's built on 55nm process, unless they down-clock it because of the heat - it's going to be faster.
The main concern for me is, why the hell did they use dual-PCB setup like last time? Because of that, there's barely any place for the fan, which means it's going to be a really hot card.

You forget that they are selling the GTX260 as 55nm as well, so 2x GTX260 will be faster than this dual card solution. Just look at 2x4870 vs 4870x2.

 

[DarkMatter]

Just look at 2x4870 vs 4870x2.

I wouldn't draw up any conclusions based on that. Different architectures and last I checked GTX260 SLI is slightly faster than 2xHD4870, while at the same time a GTX260 is slower when alone. It's too soon to conclude anything IMO.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

But it looks like it will have less power than 2xGTX 260

Doubt it. Its a 55nm 260 with 448bit memory bandwidth on each, and a full 240 shader units on each core. Kinda like 2 beefed up 260.

Source:
http://en.expreview.com/2008/12/09/geforce-gtx295-with-480sp-surely-to-come-in-ces-09.html

Reason for it was obvious.. they wanted to outperform 4870x2 for a competitive price point. No sense in releasing a card that has the same performance as 2x GTX260 216s since 2x GTX 260 216s is more or less equivalent (averaging) vs a 4870x2.

 

[DarkMatter]

Doubt it. Its a 55nm 260 with 448bit memory bandwidth on each, and a full 240 shader units on each core. Kinda like 2 beefed up 260.

Source:
http://www.firingsquad.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=21080

Interesting! Yeah, definately interesting. It makes me happy when companies decide to make the things I think are the best option, and it's common sense TBH, is not that I have bright ideas. You definately don't need 1024 bits interface, even in 2x512 bits config, neither you need 64 ROPs churning out pixels like mad and this way you have much less routing on the PCBs. In my view the cards should have 2x384 bits and 1.5 GB of memory, enough IMO to have stellar performance on a cheaper config.

Reason for it was obvious.. they wanted to outperform 4870x2 for a competitive price point. No sense in releasing a card that has the same performance as 2x GTX260 216s since 2x GTX 260 216s is more or less equivalent (averaging) vs a 4870x2.

EH? Last time I saw a comparison 2x260 were significanty faster than an X2, by a fair ammount, in fact, prior to 180.xx drivers that improved SLI a lot. 240 shaders can only improve upon that, IF the hypothetical 216SP 295 was to perform like 2x260, of course.

IMO if that ends up being true, they did it just because they have learnt half the way that they simply can. Maybe they had many chips with faulty ROPs, but intact SP cores (considering that they moved to GTX260 216 it makes sense*), that had to go to GTX260 cards, but now they decided this. They will never try to slightly win over Ati cards anymore. IMO They learnt the lesson and won't commit the same errors at least in a while...

* Explanation to profanes: GT200 has 8 raster processors with 4 "ROPs" and 64 bit memory controler each, for a total 32 ROPS and 512bit, it also has 10 SP/TMU clusters with 24 SP each for a total of 240. In order to improve yields, if one of the clusters fails they use that chip for the lesser card, the GTX260. Right now Nvidia has to sell as GTX260 216 ANY card that has either a defective ROP cluster or a SP cluster, but not necessarily both at the same time. With this move they can use those with only 1 faulty raster processor, which by pure statistics can be more than the ones with 1 SP cluster disabled. WIN WIN.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

kinda like that hare and turtle race eh hehe.

EH? Last time I saw a comparison 2x260 were significanty faster than an X2, by a fair ammount, in fact, prior to 180.xx drivers that improved SLI a lot. 240 shaders can only improve upon that, IF the hypothetical 216SP 295 was to perform like 2x260, of course.

plus minus actually.. some games lean more on the 4870x2 and some on the GTX260 SLI.

 

[human_error]

is it me or does the picture look like it's 3 slots wide?
(there is enough space between the displayport and the dual dvi ports for a single slot sized grill for heat output).

If so we'll be needing new BFG ultra full towers FTW for the new GTXATX motherboard size spec to be able to run SLI

 

[Binge]

I wouldn't draw up any conclusions based on that. Different architectures and last I checked GTX260 SLI is slightly faster than 2xHD4870, while at the same time a GTX260 is slower when alone. It's too soon to conclude anything IMO.

Tell that to dark2099

Doubt it. Its a 55nm 260 with 448bit memory bandwidth on each, and a full 240 shader units on each core. Kinda like 2 beefed up 260.

Source:
http://en.expreview.com/2008/12/09/geforce-gtx295-with-480sp-surely-to-come-in-ces-09.html

Reason for it was obvious.. they wanted to outperform 4870x2 for a competitive price point. No sense in releasing a card that has the same performance as 2x GTX260 216s since 2x GTX 260 216s is more or less equivalent (averaging) vs a 4870x2.

And then why is it that Tatty's 260 that had a soft-volt mod owns any GTX280 under the sun? The GTX200 series is more or less bogged down by shader cores... it never needed more than say 192 or 216.

 

[DarkMatter]

Tell that to dark2099

WoOt? I don't get it.

And then why is it that Tatty's 260 that had a soft-volt mod owns any GTX280 under the sun? The GTX200 series is more or less bogged down by shader cores... it never needed more than say 192 or 216.

You can't dismiss the fact that GTX260 216 is faster than GTX260 192...

And almost by the same percentage as SP increase for more signs.

 

[lemonadesoda]

SHOCK HORROR

This is a twin PCB GPU on one slot. It's practically an SLI pre-prepared for one socket.

They DIDNT MANAGE to get two 206b GPU's onto one PCB. Shame.

 

[DarkMatter]

SHOCK HORROR

This is a twin PCB GPU on one slot. It's practically an SLI pre-prepared for one socket.

They DIDNT MANAGE to get two 206b GPU's onto one PCB. Shame.

O my god. Are we going to return to the same debate once again??

 

[HossHuge]

I hope it does beat a 4870x2 so maybe they will drop the price!!

 

[cdawall]

look at his picture is that a 3rd PCB? and i found the quad SLi connector they just dont have it as a plug on the PCB yet

 

[DarkMatter]

look at his picture is that a 3rd PCB? and i found the quad SLi connector they just dont have it as a plug on the PCB yet

Good call. Although I think it's just a little piece, not an entire PCB. IMO it's a dual slot card, it might be the perspective but I don't see enough space between the PCBs for it being 3-slot and I certainly don't see anything between them.

And don't get offense, but I'd think everybody had seen the connector already.

 

[cdawall]

Good call. Although I think it's just a little piece, not an entire PCB. IMO it's a dual slot card, it might be the perspective but I don't see enough space between the PCBs for it being 3-slot and I certainly don't see anything between them.

And don't get offense, but I'd think everybody had seen the connector already.

i would think so to but check towards the top someone asks about sli

 

[zOaib]

more sandwich , wooot ..... jesus christ !!!!!

 

[phanbuey]

this card will rock... the 4870X2 will get beat, its just a question of by how much... and that depends on clockspeed. Don't get ur panties in a wad thats just my speculation hopefully someone in far east leaks a review soon.