Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Hey Kyle/Brent can you post the math capability of the Femi cards here in the forums?
We are building 10s of thousands of units for initial availability, and this will ensure our partners have ample volume
Won't the GTX480 (and even the old GT200 series) be supporting this.
Is this [H]ardOCP or [F]rugalOCP?.
I'm broke so I don't get a vote
I'm just saying, usually you would want the fastest. :shrug:
Heh, so I just got an RMA request for the card I just bought minutes after reading this review. I had hopes for the 480 to not suck as much as it does so i could trade it up. Was a good deal but now the restocking fairy is taking some of my cash.
oh well, looking forward to a refresh for the ATI camp if there is one. Im guessing there will be, but if not I see a 5870 in my future....that is if I can find one made by XFX anytime soon!
are you saying you already have a card in your hands?
In for 480, Here's hoping the pre-order actually ships from Amazon.
Brand new drivers going up against mature drivers and still tie/win while adding 4X more AA? I'm in.
Heat and power are not my concerns at the high end, Enjoy/keep your 5870s, lol, Why your at it convince yourself your saving the planet by keeping it, lol.
I am not trying to be confrontational, but isn't this being inconsistent? You review cpus and when you do, it is not just for games, right?
Fermi was not meant for only gamers, as I know you are well aware. IMO a fair review should include such matters as what the video card is being billed as. I think it is unreasonable to expect a full review of things like Cuda and gpgpu performance, but I would like to see some acknowledgment of other features when considering a cards overall value for its customers.
When I look for a video card I absolutely expect the following listed in my order of importance (granted I am not typical):
1. Solid drivers in windows and in linux. (Nvidia wins hands down - save for the latest fiasco - also I have yet to read about or see fermi in Linux so the jury is still kind of out on this one.)
2. A good programming model with good tech support for gpgpu computing (Nvidia wins)
3. Good feature support like current OpenGl and DirectX api as well as hardware acceleration of mpeg formats. (Here ATI seems to outshine Nvidia hands down)
4. Good game performance that reflects good value with respect to performance in the market at the time of purchase. (Again ATI wins here)
5. Reasonable power draw (I do not like the power draw on the 480/470 ATI wins)
6. Dedication to the future of video card technology. When I buy a video card I know I am making an investment into a company. (Here Nvidia wins hands down)
With respect to just games I agree with your review, and I appreciate your methodology. Hence, #4 goes to ATI.
With that said, I am looking to buy a Fermi based card, but I may end up waiting until next gen to do it. It seems like Nvidia is merely saving face with the current card. If it is true that there will not be any new silicon, then I may end up waiting until next generation.
Oh, and thanks for the review.
you need to get outside more
point 1 ati has good drivers ive used them for years not a problem, also ati has yet to recall a driver that kills cards
point 6 what does the 480 bring that is future tech amd is already sporting 3d support, opencl programing language and eyefinity not to mention an open physics api
nv has its sli version of eyefinity and 3d not to mention cuda and its proprietary physics standard
tech standpoint ati is ahead due to the use of open standards
Lol, no I dont have a 480.... I meant the GTX 285 I had bought thinking a 480 would be worthwhile trade up through BFG.
I suppose I could make a trade up work... Id have to practice playing BC2 with a dustbuster going the entire time I played... you know... to get that authentic 480 feel!
For the most part, I'm unimpressed with Nvidia this time around. The 480GTX may have a tad better performance than the 5870, but I don't think that justifies the extra money and power consumption. I probably won't be buying any gpus this generation simply because of budget restraints, but if I could there's no question that I'd get an ATI card.
Anyone yet figure out a way how to put the heatsink to good use?
I was thinking making some morning bacon while playing Crysis.
the nfucking we just took.
Well hey, i will go eat my crow. nVidia made an ass out of those of us waiting for their next big thing. Being someone who actually pays the power bill, I will just go get me a Radeon 5870. Jesus Christ I am getting pissed reading this. Not only is the GD card more expensive, use more power, I have to buy a freakin psu also. (corsair 550w isn't gonna handle that to nicely runnin 90-100% load all the time).
Thanks for the sound test on this Kyle. I can't figure which was pissing me off more. Wattage used at wall or sound or the fuckin combination.
( I am really burnin up, friend offered me an R5870 for $250 at xmas, and I said nah, I can hold out to see whats next from nVidia.)
Question: Arnt the Nvidia Fermi drivers still pretty new? Compared to the ATI drivers having been out for some time?
I am wondering if there will be a significant difference performance wise in six months? With newer driver support.
Wait, what? How much worse were you expecting the power usage/heat to be? Something close to a thermonuclear event?I am glad to see NV keeping the power usage down, it may not be at 5000 series levels but I was expecting much worse.
the nfucking we just took.
Well hey, i will go eat my crow. nVidia made an ass out of those of us waiting for their next big thing. Being someone who actually pays the power bill, I will just go get me a Radeon 5870. Jesus Christ I am getting pissed reading this. Not only is the GD card more expensive, use more power, I have to buy a freakin psu also. (corsair 550w isn't gonna handle that to nicely runnin 90-100% load all the time).
Thanks for the sound test on this Kyle. I can't figure which was pissing me off more. Wattage used at wall or sound or the fuckin combination.
( I am really burnin up, friend offered me an R5870 for $250 at xmas, and I said nah, I can hold out to see whats next from nVidia.)
Why would you be glad to see that? Do you not want technology to improve at all over what you currently own? Sounds pretty silly to me. I have a 5870 too and I think it completely blows that my only real option for more performance is having to go with a dual GPU setup.
Possibly 2x5970 CF against gtx480sli.Yay, time to go read!
From what I've seen so far: GTX 480 -- Not worth the money if you alreaady own a 5870.
Also, Kyle what about 2x 5870 in CF? Since the 5970 is 2 downclocked 5870, would it be more even to include 2x5870 as well?