NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 Technology Report

[ZuePhok]

Seriously, is there anything else that they can do differently apart from rebranding and cutting down the $? These days it's all about how many core you can cramp in, and how fast you can run them. This is what unified shader architecture is for i guess. NV can't possibly produce something that's faster than GTX260 and sell it at 150USD price point. if they did that they would be screwing up with themselves, so the best they could do is this..a rebadged 9800gtx+. We need a stronger ATI.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by PsYkHoTiK

Indeed. Some G92 cards are 8800GT/GTS 512, 9800GT, 9800GTX/+, and now GTS 250. Same GPU across 3 generations FTL!

Yeah, it's just more than a little confusing. I guess it's their way of "spreading" a generation of technology over three generations of graphics cards!

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

Seriously, is there anything else that they can do differently apart from rebranding and cutting down the $? These days it's all about how many core you can cramp in, and how fast you can run them. This is what unified shader architecture is for i guess. NV can't possibly produce something that's faster than GTX260 and sell it at 150USD price point. if they did that they would be screwing up with themselves, so the best they could do is this..a rebadged 9800gtx+. We need a stronger ATI.

Granted, but they could have redesignated the original 192 SP GTX 260 as the new GTS 250... or maybe cut it down to 180 SP or something.

The thing is the G92 used to be part of the 8800 series, then NVIDIA bumped it up to the 9800 series... and now it's part of the GTS 200 series.

[goldfries]

on the other hand, the 8800 series (8800GS included) had 2 different cores. G80 and G92.

then 8800GS being 9600GT, meaning the 9600 series covers 2 cores as well. G92 for 9600GSO and G94 for 9600GT.

[Chai]

I bought 8800GTS 512MB and I never feel mine is outdated after 3 'generations'. Good for me!

[ZuePhok]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Granted, but they could have redesignated the original 192 SP GTX 260 as the new GTS 250... or maybe cut it down to 180 SP or something.

The thing is the G92 used to be part of the 8800 series, then NVIDIA bumped it up to the 9800 series... and now it's part of the GTS 200 series.

like i said, it doesn't really matter whether the G92 belongs to 8800 or 9800 because 8800/9800/200gtx all features unified shader architecture.

They could do it, but then it wouldn't cost 150 dollar, and its power characteristic just doesn't fit the current mainstream standard. But most importantly, why would NV do it? there is no threat coming from ATI as of now.

[Adrian Wong]

Originally Posted by ZuePhok

like i said, it doesn't really matter whether the G92 belongs to 8800 or 9800 because 8800/9800/200gtx all features unified shader architecture.

They could do it, but then it wouldn't cost 150 dollar, and its power characteristic just doesn't fit the current mainstream standard. But most importantly, why would NV do it? there is no threat coming from ATI as of now.

Maybe not. But the point is it is just a change in name. Why bother creating a new SKU if the card already exists as the 9800 GTX+?

Frankly, I don't see the "need" for a rebrand, but looking from NVIDIA's POV, I can see the benefit - it refreshes the 9800 GTX+ model for virtually no cost or development time.

[Chai]

For a former high end card to mid range card, and most people are not educated enough to know they are actually rebranded cards, not like a car which is visible.

[ZuePhok]

it took ati almost three cycles to catch up with NV.

so, the 4800 series finally arrived in 2h08. 4850 is on par with G92, and the 4870 is in the class of GT200. judging from the performance POV, they are late as they do not surpass NV's offerings (though SRP, power requirement are lower) but everyone is happy. the GPU business is a funny business. perhaps NV should throw in some cool terms like "small die strategy", "asset lite movement" to win some hearts back

[Chai]

Sometimes you don't always need raw performance to win the crowd. Price was the most important factor, especially in this economy.

If it wasn't for them, do you think you can buy GT260/280 at the price they are selling now?