Geforce 8600 only with 128bit memory interface

[Darksaber]

There have been reports about the upcoming NVIDIA mainstream DirectX 10 parts. One big thing was the 256-bit memory interface of the 8600. It seems that this feature will be reserved for the high-end cards. The 8600 series will feature a 128-bit memory interface - no more.

Source: VR-Zone

[Batou1986]

nvidia's foolish jump into the DX10 market seems to be looking worse by the day all tho the R600 power consumption is making it look just as bad hence the reason im waiting for the 2nd or 3rd gen of dx 10 before i make the jump

[Casheti]

Silly nVIDIA. They're just making people hate them by doing this...

[RickyG512]

i will get the latest ATI DX10 card in june 07 when i break up from skool for 4 month summer holiday to game hard for those 4 months before i go to university

[EastCoasthandle]

Self Pwnd!

[Track]

"256-bit for high-end cards". What are u talking abt? the high end is 320-bit or more.

[xman2007]

hes on about the 8600 series not the 8800 and that would make sense to me the 8600 having 256bit and lower pipes than the 8800

[DBH]

128 bit seems too weak if the top end cards are 386 bit and r600 is going to be 512 bit

[ghost101]

Originally Posted by DBH

128 bit seems too weak if the top end cards are 386 bit and r600 is going to be 512 bit

But isnt ATIs ringbus figure actually different from nvidia's figure? The actual memory bus is half of the ringbus.

[Death Star]

Originally Posted by ghost101

But isnt ATIs ringbus figure actually different from nvidia's figure? The actual memory bus is half of the ringbus.

I believe the R600 uses a traditional 512-bit bus as the theoretical memory bandwidth is 140GB/sec (but then again that would mean 16 chips). And it runs at somewhere around 2GHz DDR. Oi, I'm so out of the loop

[WarEagleAU]

Everything should be at least 256 - bit ringbus. 128-bit needs to just die. The fact that they are still keeping it in the DX10 cards and shit, means they arent exactly harnessing all the glory of DX10.

[NamesDontMatter]

take this lightly, it's unofficial. Both ATI and Nvidia shot themselves in the food with their x600 cards with their low ringbus. I think they would have learned.

[newtekie1]

Why are you guys comparing mid-range cards to R600 specs? The R600 specs are for the high end cards, and shouldn't be compared to the 8600 series. I don't really care that it has a 128-bit memory bus, the 7600 series only has 128-bit and they actually perform very well, especially considering their price. I am sure the 8600 series will be the same way.

It seems like the people here won't be happy unless NVidia just rebadges a 8800GTX as an 8600 and sells it at 3/4 the cost.

These cards are expected to sell for $180, they aren't going to be huge powerhouse cards.

[bruins004]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

Why are you guys comparing mid-range cards to R600 specs? The R600 specs are for the high end cards, and shouldn't be compared to the 8600 series. I don't really care that it has a 128-bit memory bus, the 7600 series only has 128-bit and they actually perform very well, especially considering their price. I am sure the 8600 series will be the same way.

It seems like the people here won't be happy unless NVidia just rebadges a 8800GTX as an 8600 and sells it at 3/4 the cost.

These cards are expected to sell for $180, they aren't going to be huge powerhouse cards.

Lol I agree.
The same thing was occuring when they announced the 7600 cards.
It will be interesting though to see how Nvidia will close the gap between the 8600 and the 8800 cards.
I mean having no cards in between $180 and $300 is not going to do it.

[Jimmy 2004]

Even my card is 256bit - this seems quite rubbish, if it's true Nvidia is really trying to force people to use the top cards.

[Zubasa]

Is this a typo???
It is suppose to be 8100LE right???
The 128-bit memory bus will work great on 8100LE for sure.

[DaMulta]

128bit might be crap in DX9 but with DX10 the codes have been simplified to 6 times easier. This card could still fly with DX10 programs we just do not know yet.

[EastCoasthandle]

With all the bloat we've seen so far I seriously doubt we will see any efficient coding any time soon.

[Grings]

from what ive read everywhere, the 8600 ultra will have 256bit and 64pipes where the gt will have 48 pipes and (possibly, not confirmed)128bit, therefore the ultra is the 'high end' card there talking about

[jocksteeluk]

perhaps this is the year Nvidia loses its mid market graphics card dominance.

[Track]

Originally Posted by jocksteeluk

perhaps this is the year Nvidia loses its mid market graphics card dominance.

Are u kidding?

This year isnt going to be any different for nVidia (ATI fan here). nVidia will win.

Last generation nVidia released the 7800s 5 months before ATI released their X1800s(!)
This time around, the SAME EXACT time - 5 months from the launch of the 8800s to the launch of the X2800s. And if the X2800s arent as good as the 8800s it will be EXACTLY like before. But then hopefully we will see an X2900 before the 8900

[WarEagleAU]

Actually, they may have beat ATI to the punch, but the 8800s are buggy as hell and Ill spar with anyone who says otherwise. ITs a good card, but its not the uber god card. ATI may be delayed, but they have more time to work out their bugs and drivers and shit.

[pt]

i was thinking of getting a gt, but 128bits???
even if dx10 would not need 256 to run better, what about dx9 games with it?

[bruins004]

What about the 8600 ULTRA?

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by bruins004

It will be interesting though to see how Nvidia will close the gap between the 8600 and the 8800 cards.
I mean having no cards in between $180 and $300 is not going to do it.

I believe the 320MB 8800GTS should fall in the sub-$300 range as the 640MB version can already be had for $365 and should fall even closer to the $300 range once ATI releases their cards. Who knows though, we might even see another 8800 series card released, perhaps a 8800GS or just a plain 8800.

Originally Posted by Jimmy 2004

Even my card is 256bit - this seems quite rubbish, if it's true Nvidia is really trying to force people to use the top cards.

So what if your card iss 256-bit? You card was from the high end series when it was released, these cards are not, they are mid-range. Being 256-bit doesn't mean the card will be great, the x800GTO is easily outperformed by a 7600GT even though the 7600GT only is 128-bit. There is more than just one spec that goes into a video card.