Wednesday, March 10th 2010

GeForce 196.78 Beta Driver Runs GeForce GTX 470

Czech technology website PCTuning confirmed a few details about NVIDIA's upcoming performance graphics accelerator, the GeForce GTX 470. It was found out that a beta driver by NVIDIA, GeForce 196.78 supports GeForce 400 series accelerators, and was able run a qualification sample of GeForce GTX 470. The card was using A3 revision GF100 silicon. The driver's System Information dialog revealed that the card indeed has 448 CUDA cores (SIMD units). Further, it has 1280 MB of memory, and a 320-bit wide memory interface. NVIDIA also changed the way it represents memory clock speeds. Since it is using GDDR5 memory, while the memory has an actual clock speed of 1000 MHz, the data rate (DDR speed) is represented first, as 2000 MHz, and "effective speed" next, which is 4000 MHz.

Given these speeds, at 1000 MHz GDDR5, the GPU has a memory bandwidth of 160 GB/s. Without compromise on looks and quality, NVIDIA kept the cooler design basic. It has a matte finish. Display outputs include two DVI-D, and one mini HDMI. It supports NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround (a technology competitive to ATI Eyefinity, to span a display head across multiple physical displays), just that NVIDIA requires at least two accelerators in SLI to use it. NVIDIA's GeForce 400 series graphics accelerators will be launched on the 26th of this month.
Source: PCTuning
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24 Comments on GeForce 196.78 Beta Driver Runs GeForce GTX 470

#1
slyfox2151
Me want GTX480 :D

as long as it runs as fast as a 5870 ill be happy.


will be getting Nvidia 3D vision and i use cuda programs so ati cards, atho better price/performace (atm etleast) they dont have the features im after.


heat and power consumption are at the bottem of my list :D
Posted on Reply
#2
Unregistered
So with all of this information, can anybody make an educated guess as to it's performance level?

Isn't ATI waiting to launch a revised/cherry picked/OC series to counter this?
#3
buggalugs
2 cards?

Wow, so if you want 3 screens or 3D vision you need 2 cards? These cards are like gonna be like $700 where i live so thats $1400 for a gimmick 3D thing?

A 5870 is like $500 here. Again Nvidia is ridiculously overpriced.
Posted on Reply
#4
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
"3D Vision" can be had with a single display. "3D Vision Surround" is the multi-display single head technology. To use it you'll need SLI.
Posted on Reply
#5
caleb
Its the multiple screen thing not just single display 3d me thinks. I dont think you would be running any good FPS on 2 1080p res screens with a single card anyway
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#6
Benetanegia
btarunr"3D Vision" can be had with a single display. "3D Vision Surround" is the multi-display single head technology. To use it you'll need SLI.
Previously it was stated that you needed another card, but this didn't have to be the same card. You could even have a card from previous generation and/or a low-end card. Has this changed?
Posted on Reply
#7
So3oL4Nu
@slyfox2151.

Don't forget that even GTX 260 216 core in SLI is better than a 5870.

www.legitreviews.com/article/1176/5/

Both has only 432cores, not 448 as the GTX 470 has. And don't forget you have GDDR5 on this card :).

Basicaly GTX 470 is 2x GTX 280 (224core X2), only you get dx11, GDDR5 and hopefully better clocks.

I will stick with my 2xGTX 260 for the moment, don't have money for a new card :(


Cheers ! :toast:
Posted on Reply
#8
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
BenetanegiaPreviously it was stated that you needed another card, but this didn't have to be the same card. You could even have a card from previous generation and/or a low-end card. Has this changed?
No, you need an SLI. So it has to be the same exact card. I never came across the bit that could could use any second card (even old generation). It doesn't make sense too.
Posted on Reply
#9
HossHuge
So3oL4Nu@slyfox2151.

Don't forget that even GTX 260 216 core in SLI is better than a 5870.

www.legitreviews.com/article/1176/5/
The comparison at Legit reviews shows that the 5870 wins 2 and the 260 SLI wins 2. So how is it better?
Posted on Reply
#10
Cleorina
This will be my next Upgrade GTX480:roll:
Posted on Reply
#11
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
Still deciding whether i should wait and get a GTX 470 or just get a 5850.

Only thing is i don't think my PSU will be able to handle a GTX 470.

I see two six pins, so im hoping it doesn't take a beast of a PSU.
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#12
Benetanegia
btarunrNo, you need an SLI. So it has to be the same exact card. I never came across the bit that could could use any second card (even old generation). It doesn't make sense too.
Well I remember reading that in more than one place. That kind of pre-pre-release info usually comes from the same source though and almost never comes from an official source, so I guess that info was wrong. It also said GT200 cards will get 3D Vission Surround too. That was wrong again?
HossHugeThe comparison at Legit reviews shows that the 5870 wins 2 and the 260 SLI wins 2. So how is it better?
Don't let the charts fool you. At 1920x1080 the SLI wins 3 out of the 4 games, except Dirt2 where SLI isn't working and the single GTX260 is in fact faster than the SLI setup. Considering how close that single GTX260 is to the HD5870 I'm 100% sure that if SLI was working it would be significantly faster.

And please, this is just a suggestion, but when talking about performance, please try to use "faster", instead of "better". Which card or setup is better is something that can't be obtectified: GTX260 SLI is faster when SLI works and far cheaper than HD5870, but it consumes much more power and it depends on SLI profiles. HD5870 is faster when multi-GPU support is not there and has DX11, it also consumes less, but it costs much more and considering that SLI/Crossfire is supported in most tittles, it's usually significantly slower than GTX260 SLI. Which one is "better" depends on many things that have to be considered by each of us. On the other hand, we do know which one is faster, which one consumes less...
Posted on Reply
#13
mtosev
CDdude55Still deciding whether i should wait and get a GTX 470 or just get a 5850.

Only thing is i don't think my PSU will be able to handle a GTX 470.

I see two six pins, so im hoping it doesn't take a beast of a PSU.
get a 5850 now. it's enough for the next 1-1,5years of gaming most games on maximum settings
Posted on Reply
#14
Benetanegia
CDdude55Still deciding whether i should wait and get a GTX 470 or just get a 5850.

Only thing is i don't think my PSU will be able to handle a GTX 470.

I see two six pins, so im hoping it doesn't take a beast of a PSU.
Wait. What's the worst thing that could happen? That you spent 2 weeks waiting? With a OCed HD4870 and that monitor, it's not like you need anything faster in order to play the games you are playing currently. No need for a rush.
Posted on Reply
#15
Animalpak
slyfox2151Me want GTX480 :D

as long as it runs as fast as a 5870 ill be happy.
That's for sure !

But we have to pay for it...

Ati can stay in the " price/performance ".

The fastest card of the planet title is only for nvidia. :nutkick:
Posted on Reply
#16
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
BenetanegiaWait. What's the worst thing that could happen? That you spent 2 weeks waiting? With a OCed HD4870 and that monitor, it's not like you need anything faster in order to play the games you are playing currently. No need for a rush.
somewhat true....

I have 2 4870 toxics in crossfire & the setup has generally served me very very well with the exception of Bad Company 2 - it tends to take a serious FPS drop when im right in the middle of a mortar strike & a few tanks blowing up, nades blowing up, houses on fire etc etc, but in my setups defence I do have every setting forced to 'high' & forced HQ mode in ATi CCC but otherwise the performance is great.
Posted on Reply
#17
TIGR
How big a difference might be expected between GTX 295 and 470 (features like DX11, overclocking, and power consumption aside)?
Posted on Reply
#18
AddSub
CDdude55Still deciding whether i should wait and get a GTX 470 or just get a 5850.

Only thing is i don't think my PSU will be able to handle a GTX 470.

I see two six pins, so im hoping it doesn't take a beast of a PSU.
I think your 600W should be fine for a single GTX 470, but then again who knows. Just wait until all the reviews start pouring in and then make the decision.

As for myself, I have confidence that nVidia has some good hardware on their hands so I'm either getting 2x470 or 2x480, depending on the pricing vs. actual performance difference between the two setups. If the performance of 2x480 is around 30% or more than 2x470 and the difference is only $150 to $200 or so, then I'm getting 2x480, if not then it's 2x470 for me.

Either way, I'm going with nVidia. For multi-GPU setups nVidia just makes more sense nowadays, at least until AMD gets their scaling issues fixed with CrossFire.
Posted on Reply
#19
Icejon
If the external dimensions are 10.5" I'll get it because at least that is a standard size. My Storm Scout doesn't support cards longer than 10.5" so Nvidia will be smart if they can keep it 10.5" and gain customers like me not looking to buy a new case everytime ATI makes a non spec length like the 5870 and 5970.
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#20
my_name_is_earl
Everyone should have a nuclear power plant by now. These GFX consumption are getting ridiculous.
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#21
Zubasa
AnimalpakThat's for sure !

But we have to pay for it...

Ati can stay in the " price/performance ".

The fastest card of the planet title is only for nvidia. :nutkick:
From the look of things ATi still holds the faster card of the planet :nutkick:
While also holds the " price/performance " :p
Posted on Reply
#22
xtremesv
Well, right now, we the mortals, only have access to rumors floating around. I'm just waiting for Nvidia to release its 300W beast so price competition unfolds then I could buy a cheaper 5850... but if Nvidia fails to deliver price/performance, certainly prices are going to be stiff.

I read somewhere GTX480 performance will be equivalent to GTX295 and it's going to retail for about $699 therefore if HD5970 is superior to GTX295 and retails for the same price, AMD will be in a comfortable zone.

Let's wait...

At the end the true battle is in the mid-range and low high-end of the market, that's where I am anyway.
Posted on Reply
#23
Unregistered
LaidLawJonesSo with all of this information, can anybody make an educated guess as to it's performance level?

Isn't ATI waiting to launch a revised/cherry picked/OC series to counter this?
I'm guessing the GTX470 will have the same speed as a 5870 (but it will cost at least 30% more). The GTX480 will be between 5870 and 5970, with the price slightly cheaper than the 5970.
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#24
Wshlist
Say what

Nvidia's multi-screen 3D has no resemblance to ATI's eyefinity at all, nvidia's thing is 3D (glasses) stuff over several displays, and ATI's thing is normal vision of even more displays.
And yeah nvidia obviously hopes the gimmick adds the same value as ATI hopes their eyefinity gimmick does, but they are not similar apart from that really.

Funnily enough both technologies need similar graphics power to be useful though, and both require you to spend a lot on monitors, ATI makes you get 6 screens, of which a few need to be displayport, and nvidia requires you to get 3 120Hz screens, and 3D glasses, so in both cases you better have some cash left after buying their top-of-the-line cards.
But it'll fit nice with your gulftown CPU, and your lamborghini in the driveway.
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