Geforce 8900GTX and 8950GX2

[Uber_Tiny]

The Geforce 8950 GX2 is a dual-chip card based on a new 80 nanometre G80 chip, probably codenamed something else. Both GX2 GPUs are clocked at 550MHz and the difference is GDDR4. The card comes with 2x512MB of 256-bit GDDR4 memory clocked at 2000MHz. The card has 96 Shaders, per chip. It will be priced at $600.

The second in Nvidia's spring line-up is the Geforce 8900 GTX clocked at 700MHz GPU and 2200MHz memory. The chip still has a 384-bit memory interface and comes with 768MB of memory. The card uses a new 80 nanometre chip and has 128 Shaders. Compared to the Radeon X2800XTX it will end up shorter on clock and memory interface. You can compare them here.

The Geforce 8900 GTX is priced at $550.

Meanwhile, the Geforce 8900 GTS is a new card clocked at 600MHz GPU with 2000MHz GDDR4 memory. It supports the 320-bit memory controller and comes with 640Mb of memory. This card should cost $500 and it is using the 80 nanometre chip. This card will still have 128 Shader units.

The current king of the crop, the 8800 GTX will drop in price to $450, while the Geforce 8800 GTS loaded with 640MB of memory stays up in the $400 price range.

Nvidia has two more 80 nanometre cards. The Geforce 8900GT with 600MHz core and with a 256-bit memory interface comes with 512MB of 1800MHz GDDR3 memory. It has 96 Shaders and is built on a 80 nanometre process and will cost $400.

The 8900 GS will be the cheapest G80-based card. The 80 nanometre based beast is clocked at 550MHz core and 1600MHZ memory. The card has the 256-bit memory controller and comes with 256 or 512MB of GDDR3 memory. It also has 96 Shaders. The 256MB version will cost $200 while 512MB incarnation will end up at around the $250 price mark.

This is only a rumor...quote thanks to The Inquirer

[ChrisRay]

I personally am not fond of dual chip devices under Windows XP. We'll see how Vista turns out though as Quad AFR will be more probable and they may be able to do some things about latency.

[VW_Factor]

Chris, just wanted to express my happiness that you joined up and began visiting us here.

[Keysplayr]

Nice!! I see an 8900GTX in my future!
And welcome Chris!

-Keys

[Rollo]

I personally am not fond of dual chip devices under Windows XP. We'll see how Vista turns out though as Quad AFR will be more probable and they may be able to do some things about latency.

Chris am I going to have to smite you in your rep? ;)

Personally I loved the GX2s ( am using one right now actually) and it made me e-peen grow three inches getting quad running....

[Keysplayr]

Well, I have 69 days left to step up. I have the eVGA 6800GTS. If I can't step up to an 8900, I was thinking of abandoning step up for now and get a second GTS.

Quick question guys. I have this PSU > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103937

I have a feeling this will not survive 2 GTS's. Can anyone recommend a good quality PSU (not overkill and I'm lovin the modular stuff) to run:

E6420
ASUS P5N-E SLI
2GB DDR2800
1x 500GB WD
1x 120GB WD
1x DVD burner
2x 8800GTS

Some mild overclocking may be factored in. I am currently running the E6420 at 2.8 with stock cooling without issue and nice temps.

I would much rather get a single 8900GTX, but I highly doubt they will be out and available within 69 days.
Thanks guys, I appreciate any input.

[Uber_Tiny]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341002

May not be modular like your current one. But OCZ makes a damn good PSU from what I understand. I'm not a fan of Antec my self cause I have had to many of them fail on me.

Now Enermax Has to be my favorite PSU manufacture. I have had this Enermax Noisetaker 485 Watt for a couple years now and it has never givin me issues. Rails still show good voltage and even with a stress test they still don't drop much.

This would be another choice of mine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194005

[Keysplayr]

Thanks Tiny. That Enermax seems to be prone to burning up according to reviews. The OCZ looks good, but I will try to find the modular equivalent in OCZ. So I'm looking at 650W or better with some good amps on the 12V+ rails.

Thanks again,

Keys

[Uber_Tiny]

Thanks Tiny. That Enermax seems to be prone to burning up according to reviews. The OCZ looks good, but I will try to find the modular equivalent in OCZ. So I'm looking at 650W or better with some good amps on the 12V+ rails.

Thanks again,

Keys

I had forgotten about that issue. Yeah those were the bad crop of enermax. But if I remember correctly they fixed that issue with a newer version.

So instead I would have to suggest Thermaltake.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153049

Modular, cheap, and a good brand.

One thing I would like to say is that the PSU is one of those parts you shouldn't cheap out on. It's the heart and if you go cheap on the heart it fails and so does the entire system. More headaches and more $$ spent in the long run.

[m3talc0re]

That Thermaltake is kinda weak on the 12v rails (18a). This is the psu I have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194004

I love it. Polished black finish, modular, cables are wrapped in that mesh crap... I paid $175 for mine when I bought it. It's only $140 now.

Output +3.3V@28A, +5V@32A, +12V1@22A, +12V2@22A, -12V@0.6A, +5VSB@3A

[Keysplayr]

Hmmm. Ok, gonna throw some name brands out there and feel free to knock em down or put them on a pedastal.

Enermax (I have a Noisetaker II 460W actually but not enough for SLI'd GTS's)
Antec
Thermaltake
PC Power & Cooling
Seasonic
Silverstone
Raidmax
Coolmax
OCZ (I believe they just bought out PC Power & Cooling, LOL)
Fortron
XClio
XION

If you can, let me know which is crap and which would be worth considering.


I understand that I should not skimp on the PSU. Duly noted. But at the same token, I don't want to spend more than I need to. I'm not cheaping out, not in the least. Just being practical.

Thanks again for your help guys.

Keys

[m3talc0re]

The Good:
Enermax (is what I got)
Thermaltake
Silverstone
OCZ

The others, I really don't know. A few I've never heard of, like the last two.

[Keysplayr]

Thanks MC, I appreciate it.

[Cyko]

OCZ. Got the 700w GameXstream on my rig (e6600 @ 3.2ghz, 8800gtx, 4 gigs ram, and 4 hard drives. There's just no stopping it

[Uraloserface101]

is the 8900 the first that will include dx10.1 capabilities or is that just the 9000 series?

[werty316]

Didn't nVidia scrap the 8xxx series cards for the 9xxx since ATI has been absent with anything worth while to compete against nVidia?

In any case I don't think DX10.1 is anything to call home about.

[mynakedrat]

I just hope the lower memory bandwidth doesnt impede fill rate too much

[ChrisRay]

I really strongly feel that memory bandwith is not the primary problem. Nvidia's performance seems to scale so much more with core rate than actual bandwith. The bandwith really seems mostly beneficial at 1920x1200 + resolutions.

Chris