NVIDIA Unveils GeForce 8600 and GeForce 8500 Series

[malware]

NVIDIA Corporation, the worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies, today announced the extension of the award-winning NVIDIA GeForce 8 Series line-up to include three new graphics processing units (GPUs), bringing high-resolution gaming, stunning Microsoft Windows Vista graphics, and stellar HD DVD and Blu-ray video playback to virtually everyone regardless of budget. The new GPUs that complete the world's first top-to-bottom family of DirectX 10 GPUs include:
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS: $199-229
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT: $149-159
NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT: $89-129





These three GPUs join the previously announced NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX and GeForce 8800 GTS, rounding out the product family.

"With Windows Vista being the first operating system to require a GPU to fully realize its graphics potential and with the growing list of popular software applications that take advantage of a dedicated graphics processor, GPUs are no longer a luxury required only by hardcore gamers," said Jeff Fisher, senior vice president of the GPU business unit at NVIDIA. "These new GPUs extend the reach of our award-winning GeForce 8 Series and offer cutting-edge, next-generation features to everyone from the hardcore gamer to the casual PC user."

"DirectX 10 means higher performance and better looking PC graphics," said Chris Donahue, group manager, games for Windows at Microsoft. "We are thrilled to see that NVIDIA has taken the first step to help application developers and end users adopt the newest 3D graphics API, by making DirectX 10-compliant GPUs available from top-to-bottom for every type of desktop PC user."

All three new cards feature PureVideo HD technology which leverages the revolutionary second-generation video-processing engine in the GeForce 8500 and GeForce 8600 GPUs to deliver the highest-quality playback of HD DVD and Blu-ray movies on everyday PCs.i The new programmable video processing engine takes on all of the high definition H.264 HD video decoding, freeing the CPU to perform other tasks and significantly reducing power consumption, heat, and noise. "Sony Pictures is enthusiastic about the ability to play Blu-ray movies on the PC," said Don Eklund, executive vice president, advanced technologies at Sony Pictures. "The new state-of-the-art NVIDIA GeForce 8500 and GeForce 8600 cards will enable consumers to enjoy Blu-ray movies on mainstream PCs."

With GeForce 8600 GTS and GeForce 8600 GT-based graphic cards, NVIDIA is enabling exceptional performance at price points PC gamers love. The GeForce 8600 GPUs are ideal graphics solutions for the latest NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI-based motherboards, which are designed to deliver maximum performance to gamers. The combination of the nForce 650i motherboard and the GeForce 8600 GPU forms a hardware foundation that allows consumers to build their own killer, PC-gaming platforms, enabling high-resolution and high-performance gaming, plus stellar high-definition visuals, at prices that don't break the bank.

Built for Windows Vista, GeForce 8500 GT cards are designed for both casual gamers and for non-gamers, delivering the ultimate in HD video playback along with unprecedented levels of graphics realism and gaming performance for around $100.

GeForce 8 Series GPUs are the only DirectX 10 GPUs currently available and are the reference GPUs for DirectX 10 API development and certification. GeForce 8 Series GPUs include all required hardware functionality defined in the Microsoft Direct3D 10 specification, with full support for the DirectX 10 unified shader instruction set and Shader Model 4 capabilities. In addition, every GeForce 8 Series GPU features the NVIDIA PureVideo HD video processor, the NVIDIA Lumenex engine for superior image quality, and the NVIDIA Quantum Effects technology for simulation and rendering of stunning visual effects in games.

Graphics cards based on GeForce 8600 GTS GPUs are available now from leading retail outlets, system builders, and OEMs. Graphics cards based on GeForce 8600 GT and GeForce 8500 GT will be available on or before May 1, 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.nvidia.com.

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[Jimmy 2004]

$200 isn't too bad for the GTS, considering it should perform quite nicely - although in reality they are about the equivalent of $280 over here in the UK. I wish NVIDIA would give some concrete details about the specification rather than going on about the fancy features, but I guess we'll have to rely on third party manufacturers like ASUS for that

Looks like they're all PCI-E (which can be expected). AGP FTW!!! It would be nice if they did make a version...

 

[WarEagleAU]

From what Darksaber posted, its 200 bucks for 128bit memory interface. They need to drop that and stay with 256 and above. I do agree, Jimmy, that is should perform quite well.

 

[Darkrealms]

Dang, I remember when I payed about $400 for my first 6800 and that was a good price!

 

[Conti027]

you got to love tho prices

 

[D007]

cool, im glad they didn't completely rape the consumers lol..

 

[rikuete]

We have had these cards sold many days in Finland :/ 199€ for 8600GTS

 

[Tatty_Two]

$200 isn't too bad for the GTS, considering it should perform quite nicely - although in reality they are about the equivalent of $280 over here in the UK. I wish NVIDIA would give some concrete details about the specification rather than going on about the fancy features, but I guess we'll have to rely on third party manufacturers like ASUS for that

Looks like they're all PCI-E (which can be expected). AGP FTW!!! It would be nice if they did make a version...

So you reckon about £150 over here on release? Damn I am gonna have to go for 2 of the GT's then I read a review on the 8600 earlier today, it showed that the 8600 will be a Monster overclocker, probably the best that NVidia has ever produced, you know what some got out of voltmodding a 7900Gt, well supposidly the 8600 will surpass that.

 

[Darkrealms]

So you reckon about £150 over here on release? Damn I am gonna have to go for 2 of the GT's then I read a review on the 8600 earlier today, it showed that the 8600 will be a Monster overclocker, probably the best that NVidia has ever produced, you know what some got out of voltmodding a 7900Gt, well supposidly the 8600 will surpass that.

If you look at the spec differences on them, you will notice the 8600 GT and GTS are almost the same. The clock speeds are the primary differences. So if your not going hardcore on them you probably won't notice the difference.

I was all about the GTS till I looked them over now I'm not sure dual GTS will be worth the $$ over dual GT

 

[Tatty_Two]

If you look at the spec differences on them, you will notice the 8600 GT and GTS are almost the same. The clock speeds are the primary differences. So if your not going hardcore on them you probably won't notice the difference.

I was all about the GTS till I looked them over now I'm not sure dual GTS will be worth the $$ over dual GT

It will be interesting to see some benches/comparisons when released, say 2 in sli and how they compare with say a single 8800GTS or GTX.

 

[Darkrealms]

It will be interesting to see some benches/comparisons when released, say 2 in sli and how they compare with say a single 8800GTS or GTX.

Yes I will be very interested in the benchmarks, hopefully some will be on here by next week.

 

[magibeg]

Well the single cards from the reviews already released pits them a little worse than a 7900gs, which is kinda disappointing

 

[Tatty_Two]

Well the single cards from the reviews already released pits them a little worse than a 7900gs, which is kinda disappointing

I assume you are not talking about the 8600GTS tho as I read a review, I think it was Techgage who got a pre release to test and It bbeat a 7900GT and overclocked even better, I can beleive it maybe for the GT tho.