NVIDIA to Change GPU Nomenclature

[btarunr]

Industry sources report, NVIDIA could be bringing about a massive nomenclature change, departing from its current GeForce 9000 series, to a newer naming system. And we're talking about the brand name here, not the GPU code name (such as G80, G92, G200, etc.) On October 15, the company is rumored to launch new graphics processors under the GT200 series. That's when it is noted that the company breaks away from its current nomenclature for GeForce 9xxx. One of the reasons known so far, is that the company wants to use its transition to the 55nm fab processors as a brand determining factor, easing confusion it has created when products made with the new processors share product names with the current 65nm GPUs.

On to the nomenclature itself, and "GTX 200" would be the series that accommodates extreme performance, enthusiast-grade products. This is already implemented. "GT 200" for high-performance GPUs, followed by "GS 200" for mainstream graphics products, and finally "G200" for entry-level products. Again, we're talking about the model numbers that make it to SKUs, product boxes, etc., not the GPU code-names. Regarding current GeForce 9000 series, they would be rebranded as G100, GT120, GT130, GT140 and GT150, bottom thru top. It is expected that the transition to this new naming system would be completed by Q1 thru Q2, 2009, as that's when NVIDIA is expected to release new enthusiast-grade GPUs based on the even newer 45nm silicon fabrication process.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[ShinyG]

Wow, yet another name change!
In one form or another, you could probably get a 8800GT under 3 different names soon... That must be a record or something!

 

[jbunch07]

Ok they have successfully confused me, not really but why all the name changing, just because they are changing fab process they want to redo the whole nomenclature?

 

[xu^]

so my 9800gtx will become a GT140 ? i assume the 9800gtx+ would be the GT150

yet another dumb idea by nvidia lol

 

[eidairaman1]

instead of renaming those Cards that way since they are old anyhow, Just leave them be and release the next gen on the different sequence, I guess with NV its GTX is TOP line, GTS for Mid and GT for Low and GS for Budget.

 

[Konceptz]

Wow, yet another name change!
In one form or another, you could probably get a 8800GT under 3 different names soon... That must be a record or something!

LMAO

 

[MopeyMartian]

I'm already more confused :s Do they really think the uninformed general public is going to have an easier time? Perhaps it's a rouse to get said public to purchase more overpowered/overpriced hardware.

 

[farlex85]

Man they're really having a difficult time figuring out this naming thing. I don't understand why they continue to insist on changing the names of the old cards. If trying to simplify, start a new scheme, the one they have come up w/ is pretty good, but don't throw old cards in there or you've just ruined the simplification. Maybe they just enjoy messing w/ people.......

 

[KainXS]

dam, I was right when I said theu were going to do exactly this a few moths ago

go me =D

 

[Konceptz]

maybe its time I finally try a ati/intel chipset combo.....

 

[Silverel]

Now if they actually stick to this naming convention for more than a generation of cards it might be acceptable. In reality they should have just started it with the GTX2xx series and left the old 9xxx series to fade off in the background. As it is, they're going to rename cards that already exist (and have existed for some time).

Possibly they dropped a couple of their marketing guys with their recent round of layoffs?

 

[tkpenalty]

Nvidia deserve to be sued...

 

[yogurt_21]

this is probbaly due to the fact that their current line up is split into two generations of chips which still contain their old names. unifying it will make it easier for joe blow to identify the current gen card he needs. granting that it'd be easier if they picked somethign and stuck to it rather than do a partial change earlier and a finalizing it now.

 

[Ekklesis]

8800GT under 3 names and other 9000 series graphics cards under 2 names;that's just great...

 

[mdm-adph]

If they would decide to do this from here on out with new cards, I'm all for it -- the naming convention makes a lot of sense. However, if they're just going to start rebadging old cards, forget it.

 

[Selene]

Its not as bad as ppl make it out, if you do alittle research it becomes very easy to decide what card you need.
Even if they had some hard line 1-9 numbers that made it plan and simple wich was best, with out sites like this one to review and post benchmarks ppl would still be in the dark.

 

[Silverel]

Its not as bad as ppl make it out, if you do alittle research it becomes very easy to decide what card you need.
Even if they had some hard line 1-9 numbers that made it plan and simple wich was best, with out sites like this one to review and post benchmarks ppl would still be in the dark.

We here at TPU are not part of the hoards of gamers that don't know what a benchmark is. These are the people that I fear would get confused. Or my grandma, who was talked into a 2400pro to go with her integrated graphics so she could watch Youtube videos.

 

[Selene]

I agree that ppl make mistakes buying cards, but just like any thing, If you do your home work you will make a better choice.

 

[El Fiendo]

I love researching my hardware decisions, I actually have 3 rigs 'built' in excel and priced out at any given time. Of course I never purchase until my current rig dies or is overly bottlenecked. I guess they were right, its all about virtualization now!

Only problem I have is that I have to remember several names for the same card, and thats assuming the computer hardware stores use the same nomenclature. One that I recently went to had you pick your item from a list and they would run back and get your item. The list wasn't the same as what I'd memorized, and I doubt the salesman would have understood if I asked for the one with the most letters on the box.

Something tells me to make things simpler when updating to new tech, I should always just ask for their most expensive card and hope for no shenanigans.

 

[newconroer]

What I want to know is, what's supposedly coming out October 15th?

 

[Darkrealms]

IF
They can stick with this for future cards hopefully it will help clear things up. This is ofcourse assuming the impliment it unlike the "new" GTX260 which should have been a 265, 260+, 270, etc
GTX TOP
GT Great but not TOP
GS Great for any average gamer
G I need a card because the onboard sucks THAT BAD

Updates to the series should be like
GTX280
GTX280+ or GTX281 to show revisions (SPs, Die Shrinks, etc)


My 2¢

 

[OnBoard]

Just let the current cards be what they are, is it so hard.. Release new card, give them new names.

Think the problem really is the new chip in every 6 months opposed to the earlier once a year. Now they rename/rebadge cards every other 6 months and release new stuff in between. 'Too many cards, too little time' has a whole new meaning.

If only they had named the 8800GT as 9800GT like it was supposed to be from the start, things would be so much clearer.

We here at TPU are not part of the hoards of gamers that don't know what a benchmark is. These are the people that I fear would get confused. Or my grandma, who was talked into a 2400pro to go with her integrated graphics so she could watch Youtube videos.

Well at least now your grandma is set for what ever quality videos come to YouTube (evil sales person)

 

[powerwolf]

...Or my grandma, who was talked into a 2400pro to go with her integrated graphics so she could watch Youtube videos.

Please tell me she runs a 780G/790GX system because a hybrid crossfired grandma would be the coolest thing I've heard all week.
Flame wars with NVIDIA nanas over micro-stuttering and multi v's single GPU unfairness. Bring it on!

 

[Silverel]

lol. I don't know what she's running on at the moment. She lives in Florida. My mom told me about a couple weeks ago. Pretty sure it was some old/cheap crappy HP that she got suckered into...

 

[Swansen]

so my 9800gtx will become a GT140 ? i assume the 9800gtx+ would be the GT150

yet another dumb idea by nvidia lol

This is not a dumb idea, this is a really good idea. I don't know what has been wrong with Nvidia lately, they just put out the same cards with different names, ie, the 8 series to 9 series. Then to make things worse, when they kinda of improve on a card, they just add something silly like a + or and X to the end of the name.. oorrr they just release it and keep the same name, only, you have to pay attention to what core your buying.... This is a MUCH needed step in cutting down on confusion. I mean, i still don't understand why they release a card with incremental improvements over previous cards, instead of just waiting til the next generation. I understand its to make profits, but its just silly to me, that whole deal has kinda hurt my view towards Nvidia.