NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 and GeForce GTX 280 Announced

[malware]

NVIDIA, the leader in visual computing technologies, today introduced its new family of GeForce GTX 200 graphics processors (GPUs) — which includes the GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 260 GPUs — taking graphics beyond gaming and gaming beyond anything that’s ever been possible before on a consumer computing platform.




“The advances NVIDIA continues to make in visual computing are simply incredible, and we are excited to be one of the first companies in the world to offer the technology in the new Exhilaration Edition of the award-winning HP Blackbird 002,” said Rahul Sood, chief technology officer, HP Voodoo Business Unit. “Exceptional graphics quality and performance is important to our customers, and now the GeForce GTX 200 GPUs are bringing something else into the mix. By using the GPU to enhance everyday applications such as video encoding and manipulating photos, HP Blackbird 002 is one of the most cutting-edge PC platforms ever designed.”

Graphics Beyond Gaming
One of the most powerful processors in the PC is the GPU. Rendering 3D images in real-time is just about the most mathematically intensive task your PC will ever undertake, but it’s not the only one. As PC applications become increasingly visual, many ordinary tasks will benefit from the graphics horsepower provided by the GPU, including encoding and playing high-definition videos, editing photos, getting driving directions off the Internet, or simply running a new operating system like Windows Vista.

“Millions of users around the world know how time consuming it is to convert their home videos for use on video sharing sites such as YouTube or for downloading to popular media players such as the iPod,” said Sam Blackman, CEO of Elemental Technologies. “Elemental has developed the BadaBOOM Media Converter, a consumer video application scheduled for release in August. By taking advantage of the massively parallel, general-purpose computing architecture of a GeForce GPU, we are able to transcode high-quality video 18 times faster than with CPU-only implementations. This unprecedented performance scaling is the reason why we have made sure that our RapiHDTM Video Platform takes advantage of NVIDIA GPUs.”

By recognizing that the value of a GPU transcends gaming, an increasing number of applications are also being written that use the GPU for straight, non-graphical computational tasks. For example, Stanford University’s distributed computing computational program Folding@Home, combines the computing horsepower of millions of consumer GPUs to simulate protein folding to help find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. With the computing processing power of the GeForce GTX family, applications such as Folding@Home and others can run upwards of 140 times faster on an NVIDIA general-purpose parallel processor than on some of today’s traditional CPUs.

“GeForce GPUs will soon deliver the biggest boost in processing power we’ve seen in the history of Folding@Home,” said Vijay Pande, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University. “The GeForce GTX 280 GPU runs Folding@Home 45 times faster than the latest 3GHz Core2 Quad CPU. If just one percent of the world’s GeForce 8- and 9-Series GPUs ran Folding@Home, we would have 70 petaflops of processing power to help find cures for disease. That’s 10 times more processing power than the world’s top 100 supercomputers combined.”

Gaming That’s Beyond
The CUDA general-purpose parallel processing mode will usher in a new generation of ultra realistic games. Developers can use the supercomputing power of the “CUDA Computing” mode to simulate realistic, physically accurate effects then render beautiful images using the “GeForce GPU” mode. NVIDIA GPUs are also the only ones to support PhysX technology, the world’s most pervasive physics engine that is already delivering dynamic 3D realism to more than 140 games across multiple platforms, and is being used by more than 25,000 developers worldwide. With PhysX, developers can incorporate effects such as rigid body dynamics, collision detection, and cloth simulation that dramatically change the way the games are played and how the on-screen stories unfold, and then accelerate those effects using the processing power of the GPU.

“I haven't been this excited about a new gaming technology in years,” said Chris Taylor, CEO and founder of Gas Powered Games. “We're focusing all of our physics efforts on PhysX, and it already delivers the kinds of advanced effects in Space Siege that takes the whole experience to the next level. And in the near-future, you're going to see real-time, Hollywood cinematic-level environmental effects on GPUs like the GeForce GTX 280. We're talking about some wicked-cool technology here!”


Additional features of the GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 260 GPUs include:

• 2nd Generation NVIDIA Unified Architecture: Delivers 50% more gaming performance over the Company’s previous NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra GPU through 240 enhanced processor cores that provide incredible shading horsepower at resolutions as high as 2560 x 1600.
• 3-way NVIDIA SLI Technology: Industry leading 3-way NVIDIA SLI technology offers amazing performance scaling by implementing 3-way alternate frame rendering (AFR) for the world’s fastest gaming solution under Windows Vista.
• NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology: The combination of HD video decode acceleration and post-processing delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for movies and video.
• NVIDIA CUDA Technology: With the power of NVIDIA CUDA technology and the new CUDA runtime for Windows Vista, programmers can now offload the most intensive processing tasks from the CPU to the NVIDIA GPUs, putting the power of up to 240 multi-threaded processor cores to work.

Graphics cards featuring GeForce GTX 280 GPUs will be available starting tomorrow from global leading add-in card manufacturers, such as: ASUS, BFG, Emtek, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Innovision, Leadtek, MSI, Palit, PC Partner/Zotac, PNY, Point of View, Unika, Unitek, and XFX. Graphics cards featuring GeForce GTX 260 GPUs will be available starting on Thursday, June 26, 2008. Suggested retail pricing for the GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 260 GPUs are $649 and $399, respectively.

Source: NVIDIA

[newtekie1]

I think I will patiently wait for the die shrunk updated versions to come out in a year, and stick with my 9800GTX for now, probably adding a second 9800GTX at some point when the price is right.

[PVTCaboose1337]

The 260 card is not that bad on price... the 280 is just another 8800ultra-priced "masterpiece." If the 260 goes down to $300, it would be very reasonable.

[Megasty]

Originally Posted by PVTCaboose1337

The 260 card is not that bad on price... the 280 is just another 8800ultra-priced "masterpiece." If the 260 goes down to $300, it would be very reasonable.

If the 260 goes down to $300 it'll be a no-brainer steal. The problem right now is that the 280 is completely not worth it, but the Ultra wasn't either.

[calvary1980]

$399 isn't bad. some vendors are selling the GX2 for almost $500

- Christine

[yogurt_21]

okay great, now where are the official reviews?

[Megasty]

Originally Posted by yogurt_21

okay great, now where are the official reviews?

http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforc...0-review-test/
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/...2320089,00.asp
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=577
http://techreport.com/articles.x/14934
http://anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3334
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=13736
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...eviews/gtx280/
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.p..._msi_n280gtx/1
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==
http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/..._260_Unleashed
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...-280,1953.html
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...ed-review.html
http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...?cid=3&id=2593
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...d=179&Itemid=1

I wouldn't read them all at once

[PVTCaboose1337]

The ones of TPU were good, but there were two 280s... not a 260 and 280.

[marsey99]

on pre order now in the uk for £450

[Jansku07]

Here´s some:

guru3d: http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforc...0-review-test/
Anandtech: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3334&p=1

Originally Posted by Anandtech

... As impressive as the GT200 is, the GeForce GTX 280 is simply overpriced for the performance it delivers. It is NVIDIA's fastest single-card, single-GPU solution, but for $150 less than a GTX 280 you get a faster graphics card with NVIDIA's own
GeForce 9800 GX2. The obvious downside to the GX2 over the GTX 280 is that it is a multi-GPU card and there are going to be some situations where it doesn't scale well, but overall it is a far better buy than the GTX 280 ... Even looking to the comparison of four and two card SLI, the GTX 280 doesn't deliver $300 more in value today ... The GeForce GTX 260 is a bit more reasonable. At $400 it is generally equal to if not faster than the Radeon HD 3870 X2, but 8800 GT SLI is much cheaper and many people already have an 8800 GT they could augment ...

[yogurt_21]

yup seems like the gtx280 would have been one hell of a card if it didn't follow the 9800gx2. and being that the gx2 outperforms it in several areas, it seems liek the gtx280 isn't going to be the card of the century. we'll have to see how the revision does. as wil a smaller die it will probabaly clock better and clock speeds seems to be the card's issue at this point (shaders especially)

[DrPepper]

yummy its only £400 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145852

[overclocker!]

I feel sorry for people who bought GX2`s

[Mussels]

i'll wait for next gen as well... compare the 8800GT (G92) to an 8800GTX 768. 1/3 the price, 90% the speed (more if OC'd) less power, less heat, better media decoding. something similar will happen again... also right now i just cant afford one

[kylew]

Originally Posted by marsey99

on pre order now in the uk for £450

OcUK are dirty scam merchants when it comes to new releases, they've got their cards priced £70 more than other places, for what? That, plus their stupid policy of 'no competitor prices', they must think that some people think OcUK is the only online store in existence. Ebuyer FTW though, they're generally the best priced place around, so I shop there most of the time unless I find it cheaper elsewhere. Saying that, I've found things cheaper elsewhere, got into contact with ebuyer about it, and they lowered the price ! Quality service.

It was a wacom USB Graphics tablet btw, it was listed at £85, but I rang up and they lowered it to £55.

[overclocker!]

Originally Posted by kylew

OcUK are dirty scam merchants when it comes to new releases, they've got their cards priced £70 more than other places, for what? That, plus their stupid policy of 'no competitor prices', they must think that some people think OcUK is the only online store in existence. Ebuyer FTW though, they're generally the best priced place around, so I shop there most of the time unless I find it cheaper elsewhere. Saying that, I've found things cheaper elsewhere, got into contact with ebuyer about it, and they lowered the price ! Quality service.

It was a wacom USB Graphics tablet btw, it was listed at £85, but I rang up and they lowered it to £55.

I agree with you Ebuyer is the best Uk online store much much cheaper than others!
I remember when I bought my bfg gtx8800 it was £543inc vat on overlockersUk but I got it for £436 on Ebuyer £107 different proper scam!!!!!!

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by overclocker!

I feel sorry for people who bought GX2`s

Why? The GX2's are faster in most instances, and cheaper to boot.

[kylew]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Why? The GX2s are faster in most instances, and cheaper to boot.

GX2s as it's a plural

I'm with you on this though, can't see many people buying one of these, maybe the local fanboys will buy them *cough*waxy*cough* but most people in their right minds, or with more sense than money, will keep away from them.

[Wile E]

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't turn one down if it were offered to me (are you listening Palit Guy? lol), but I definitely wouldn't spend that amount of money on one. nVidia must be out of their minds to think that's an acceptable price in today's market.

[Forgotten_Realms]

Originally Posted by PVTCaboose1337

The 260 card is not that bad on price... the 280 is just another 8800ultra-priced "masterpiece." If the 260 goes down to $300, it would be very reasonable.

Actually I found this price for the GTX260 very nice under $300

http://pcvonline.com/productDetails.aspx?id=7247

[Fitseries3]

Originally Posted by malware

Suggested retail pricing for the GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 260 GPUs are $649 and $399, respectively.

that's a HUGE difference in price between 2 cards that arent a whole lot different.

...and i thought the GTX280 was supposed to drop to $499-$550 range? LIES

[DaJMasta]

Originally Posted by fitseries3

that's a HUGE difference in price between 2 cards that arent a whole lot different.

...and i thought the GTX280 was supposed to drop to $499-$550 range? LIES

It's gonna have to if the HD4xx0 series cards can really compete.




That triple sli bridge with all black cards and motherboard looks pretty badass....

[3xploit]

Originally Posted by Forgotten_Realms

Actually I found this price for the GTX260 very nice under $300

http://pcvonline.com/productDetails.aspx?id=7247

OMFG a GTX260 for $228 ?!!!?!?!1!?!!?

[kylew]

Originally Posted by Forgotten_Realms

Actually I found this price for the GTX260 very nice under $300

http://pcvonline.com/productDetails.aspx?id=7247

Somehow I think that site will never actually sell a GTX260 at $230. Just seems highly unrealistic when you've still got 9800GTXes going for that much.

[Cold Storm]

Originally Posted by Wile E

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't turn one down if it were offered to me (are you listening Palit Guy? lol), but I definitely wouldn't spend that amount of money on one. nVidia must be out of their minds to think that's an acceptable price in today's market.

You think I shouldn't of bought one man! lol... I'm sorry, but I love my Gx2, and so far so good!

But, I can't wait to really see the reviews come from the people here on TPU! I love the review we had, but I want to see what people on here think before I ever jump to conclusions...