ATI's X1950 Pro to cost $199

[malware]

theINQ has learned that the upcoming X1950 PRO based on RV570 chip is going to be cheaper than expected. This card is expected in October and will end up with a price of $199. What you get is RV570 GPU with 256 bit memory interface and 256 or 512MB memory clocked at 1100 MHz. The core clock is supposed to run at a 600MHz or 650MHz. This will force NVIDIA's Geforce 7900GS to cost as much as the X1950 Pro series.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Seany1212]

So what does the x1950 compete with? Is it like the 7950 with 2 gpus ontop of each other?

 

[selway89]

X1950 series GPUs are better than the current x1900, the new cores can handle DDR4 memory i think so the bandwidth of the board is simply huge. I beleive they will be shipping at 2GHz memory speed with 650ish core speed.
Sounds like the PRO however is a cut down version of the XT and XTX. And also very cheap so would kill NVIDIA, simply from what I can see ATI have simply stunning products at good prices. The x1800 xt 256MB can be had for £150 inc vat, which for a top end product its awsome value, and the current X1900 series are dropping in price giving ATI the edge in my opinion and is likely to drop further with these new arrivals.
Lets see what NVIDIA can pull out of the hat.

 

[gygabite]

But it doesnt make sense buying one of these cards, DX10 ist coming, so who needs sa DX9 card?

 

[selway89]

Some people may not have the funds for a DX10 card and Vista, Vista its self is another £100 plus depending on what type of package your wanting for vista. People still buy X800 cards etc, they will still sell. These new cards will still sell well for a good 6months as vista isnt ready yet, any early DX10 cards will be expensive and probably drop in price nearer Vista release, plus the very first DX10 cards are likely to be supersceeded shortly after vista and the DX10 games of course are out.

 

[Steevo]

Besides Vista still sucks ass.

 

[magibeg]

This isn't going to be up against a 7900gs is it? A x850 is probably still a pretty close match for one of those

 

[evil bill]

as selway says, DX10 is still a good way off given that it is tied up with Vista, and there will be NO backwards compatible support for XP. It may be true that "serious gamers" will adopt Vista and DX10 cards early if the games come along to justify it, but the overwhleming majority of the PC buying public are NOT serious gamers who will simply not dump XP and their current hardware for the sake of some fancy graphics. DX10 games will have to come with DX9/8 support or they will find themselves sellign to no-one.

I would (and have) upgrade my Graphics to play a particular game, but to upgrade the OS and hardware is a lot to swallow.

 

[jocksteeluk]

i feel that Micro$hafts forced upgrade technique for dx10 will backfire as i hope that developers boycott DX10 and produce games using the openGL api instead. i mst sy i am impressed with the price of this new ati card but they realy should have strapped some kind of dx10 adaption into it

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Newer games that will come out for DX10 will be backwards compatible with DX9. Just like Call of Duty 2, it works with DX7.

IMO, I wait a year or two to move on to a new OS, just to see what happens to it. Do you guys remember Windows ME? Lasted a year.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Wait, why are you concern about DX10? Is there any proof that the gaming industry will turn to DX10 even before all the bugs are out?

In other words, it will be a long while before DX10 will be mainstream of anything other the Vista.

 

[evil bill]

Newer games that will come out for DX10 will be backwards compatible with DX9. Just like Call of Duty 2, it works with DX7.

sorry - wasnt clear on what I meant. Yes New games will come that utilise DX10 and will therefore play and look superior (you would hope!!) but will still be backwards compatible with reduced bells and whistles for earlier DX versions. But DX10 drivers will not appear for XP, which is forcing an OS upgrade to use it, and I doubt that will be a swift process.

 

[Apocolypse007]

Im starting to feel bad for getting my X1800XT 512 at 300 bucks.

as for DX10, there simply just arent enough customers and wont be at launch to not allow backward compatability with current hardware and DX9.

And as for vista, if it ends up being the next windows ME (which i have owned), then you had better prepare for the most miserable 2-4 years of your life.

 

[putergod]

Newer games that will come out for DX10 will be backwards compatible with DX9. Just like Call of Duty 2, it works with DX7.

IMO, I wait a year or two to move on to a new OS, just to see what happens to it. Do you guys remember Windows ME? Lasted a year.

Not all games are backwards compatible with older DX versions. EQ2 is not compatible with DX8.