Anand's ATI RD580: Dual x16 Crossfire Preview

[Ackmed]

In an attempt to have a properly named thread, and to keep from getting it locked, lets try and keep it calm.

The article claims no more resolutions limitations, like the X800 Crossfire had. It also claims that you no longer have to lower the HTT in the new chipset, which is a nice bonus for those who overclock. They also say the XT/PE is likely to be here mid-Januarary. And that X1800XT Crossfire is faster across the board than 7800 GTX 256mb SLI.

Matthias99 broke it down pretty well, so I quoted him from another thread.

Originally posted by: Matthias99
No exact performance numbers, at ATI's request (since it's still a beta product).

A few interesting quotes (all emphasis added):

We took the opportunity while talking with ATI to ask about the crippling delays of the ATI X1800XT and the X1xxx family. There are so many rumors in the market place; we wanted to hear ATI's explanation of why it took so long for X1800XT to make it to market. Was the problem the 90nm die-shrink as many had speculated?

ATI told us emphatically the delays with X1800XT were NOT the result of the die-shrink to 90nm. We were told the issue was a defect in a third-party IP (Intellectual Property) that was used in the x1800XT GPU die. It took ATI quite a while to find and correct this design flaw. Why does this matter? Since this flaw was specifically related to the X1xxx family, design work continued on future video cards, and there were no delays on that front. Development continued on introductions that will follow R520, which means the R580 GPU is still scheduled for launch in January.

So how well does RD580 overclock? We can't quote exact numbers, but we can tell you the RD580 BIOS has not yet been tweaked for memory compatibility or top memory performance. We also used our own known OCZ PC3200 Platinum Rev. 2 dimms in testing since we are very familiar with how they perform. Even with the untweaked BIOS, we still reached overclocks even higher than the excellent performance of the Crossfire AMD Reference board! We can only speculate where this board might end up, but it is already a very exciting overclocker.

We confirmed that the new compositor chips used in X1800XT Crossfire do indeed run fine in Crossfire mode at 2048x1536. ATI tells us there is no limitation in the X1800XT compositor that would prevent even higher resolutions from working as they should.

While the exact performance results achieved comparing X1800XT Crossfire with 7800GTX SLI can not yet be published, we can tell you we benchmarked with F.E.A.R., Quake 4, Splinter Cell - Chaos Theory, Doom 3, Far Cry, and 3DMark05 at 1600x1200 resolution with 4X AA and 8X AF enabled. ATI X1800XT Crossfire won every benchmark over nVidia 7800GTX SLI in these tests.

We also ran standard scores (1024x768) for Aquamark 3, 3Dmark03, and 3Dmark05. Once again Crossfire X1800XT outperformed nVidia 7800GTX SLI in every benchmark.

here is no doubt that the nVidia 7800GTX 512MB, which everyone expected would launch 2 days ago as a 7800GTX Ultra, would likely win a head-to-head performance test as single or SLI when compared with the single X1800XT or Crossfire. However, ATI clearly believes the competitor for X1800XT is the $499 7800GTX and not the $700 7800GTX 512MB. ATI was quite clear they will be introducing a "PE version" of X1800XT to compete with 7800GTX 512.

And the conclusion:

Based on what we have seen in this RD580 preview, the worries at ATI right now are more about the present than the future. Future solutions look very competitive and exciting to the market. ATI seems to be caught in a release "Twilight Zone", but as they work their way through current release nightmares, the future looks as if it could be very bright again for ATI. Certainly the upcoming RD580 Dual x16 chipset, X1800XT Crossfire, and X1800XT PE look more than competitive. Add to that R580 is just around the corner and it looks as if ATI has the goods coming to erase the last nine months of disappointment.

Sounds like a winner if they can get the damn boards into people's hands.

Lets try to stay on topic.

Article; http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2609

 

[malG]

Gimme an 'R'

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: malG
Gimme an 'R'

Did you read his post? He made this one because <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=31&threadid=1736369&e
terthread=y">this thread</a> started off badly, and it wasn't clear it was about this article.

I don't usually like reposts, but I think this one was justified. Maybe the discussion can stay a little more on-topic the second time around.

 

[Rage187]

Regardless of when they release the 580, they will release it to the G80 which is probably already waiting in the wings.

I'll be waiting on a 580/G80 review, until then this is just asking for flames and trolls since it's all just speculation.

The G80 will cure cancer

There, this balances out the thread.

 

[Powermoloch]

"ATi is t3h man or woman or...canada!!"

This topic is alright, at least it gives relevant information in a small amount of time :beer:

 

[Reiniku]

Originally posted by: Rage187
Regardless of when they release the 580, they will release it to the G80 which is probably already waiting in the wings.

I'll be waiting on a 580/G80 review, until then this is just asking for flames and trolls since it's all just speculation.

The G80 will cure cancer

There, this balances out the thread.

I really hope you know that we're talking about the RD580, not the R580. As in... an amd chipset. If you're referring to something else I missed then... yeah sorry. :b

 

[Matthias99]

The RD580 preview that AT posted today also mentioned a few things about R580 (the upcoming graphics card refresh from ATI), which is perhaps where some of the confusion is coming from.

 

[crazydingo]

Originally posted by: Rage187
Regardless of when they release the 580, they will release it to the G80 which is probably already waiting in the wings.

G80 has now changed to unified design, atleast believing credible sources. I dont think any unified design will be out before Vista. Nvidia will probably ride it out on the 512MB GTX or a possible 90nm refresh.

<typos>

 

[Rage187]

Originally posted by: Reiniku

Originally posted by: Rage187
Regardless of when they release the 580, they will release it to the G80 which is probably already waiting in the wings.

I'll be waiting on a 580/G80 review, until then this is just asking for flames and trolls since it's all just speculation.

The G80 will cure cancer

There, this balances out the thread.

I really hope you know that we're talking about the RD580, not the R580. As in... an amd chipset. If you're referring to something else I missed then... yeah sorry. :b

Anandtech is getting cluster f#cked from some linkage on Slashdot, pages are loading slowly if at all.

I saw reference to the 580 and January and overclocking, yet no benchmarks or real numbers, if that was referring to a mobo then I'm harking on the wrong thing.

 

[solofly]

I say bring on nForce5!

 

[kylebisme]

Yeah, now Nvidia must come out with a new chipset becuase if my favorate company isn't the one with the latest thing then I cry into my pillow at night. Now that we got what all the fanboy bickering is about out in the open, can we move on from that and discuss the hardware in question?

 

[Rage187]

We need real numbers first, speculation is useless.

 

[Wreckage]

I think it's a little sad for Anandtech to post little more than ATI propaganda without any real data to back it up. This is more the kind of reporting the Inq does.

The whole article boils down to "ATI says that their $550 card can beat NVIDIA's $450 card, but we can't show you the proof" "And our card that is not out yet called the R580 will crush the GTX512MB just wait and see"

Hard launch it or shut up!

 

[Lakku]

We need to see numbers, as others have said. It can only be a 1fps difference, but that is still a win. What is the purpose of this article? To give ATi good PR? Otherwise, I am having a hard time seeing the point. Everything you discussed was compared to products that are actually OUT. I can buy them now. I can't buy a decent RD480, let alone an RD580. And how is the 7800gtx 512 not competition to the XT? The GTX is well over 100 cheaper then the XT and is within 5-10%, or is above the XT, except at the highest resolutions with FSAA, where the memory speed makes all the difference. The 7800gt is under 300 (after rebates) and a good O/C one is under 350, and beats the XL in most tests and approaches GTX and XT, save at really high resos, for under 200 less then the XT. The 7800gtx 512 beats the XT in everything, just about, and at MSRP, should only be about 50 more (except both are being sold for outrageous prices when in stock). How is that not its competition? I'll believe it when I see it, because good hardware is always a plus, but ATi has promised so much lately and delivered almost nothing, and when they do, its months late.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
I think it's a little sad for Anandtech to post little more than ATI propaganda without any real data to back it up. This is more the kind of reporting the Inq does.

The whole article boils down to "ATI says that their $550 card can beat NVIDIA's $450 card, but we can't show you the proof" "And our card that is not out yet called the R580 will crush the GTX512MB just wait and see"

Actually, AT didn't say anything about the R580's performance, just that ATI told them it was on schedule and they were aiming to release it in January.

A lot of sites have already benched the X1800XT against the 7800GTX; I think the consensus is basically that it's a little faster than the stock 7800GTX (and pretty close to the ~470-490/1300 ones). There wasn't really anything new in terms of performance news (other than that X1800XT crossfire looks competitive with a 7800GTX SLI).

Hard launch it or shut up!

Basically, yeah. Less previews and more available boards would be nice.

 

[Stoneburner]

The article actually says "the RS580 has amazing performance by our own tests but we cannot reveal them"

The entire world is becoming politicized Why do people misread everything?

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: Stoneburner
The article actually says "the RS580 has amazing performance by our own tests but we cannot reveal them"

LOL :laugh:

I have a huge e-penis, but I can not show you.

 

[Greenman]

I hope none of this is true. I like Rollo and I'd hate to see him have a stroke.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: Greenman
I hope none of this is true. I like Rollo and I'd hate to see him have a stroke.

It's hard to get a stroke from a paper cut

 

[swatX]

Nforce 5 + G80 = Teh Ownage

 

[Tanclearas]

I was quite surprised by this statement on the first page.

Those of you who believe ATI is far behind nVidia are in for a surprise.

As promising as the ATI chipsets are, Nvidia's SLI chipset has been available for purchase since December 2004. You can (with enough money) run Nvidia's high end cards in SLI right now, but ATI's XT master cards are still not available.

I'm sorry. The article definitely makes ATI's future look promising, which is great news, but ATI is far behind. Even if XT master cards get released tomorrow, they are several months behind the 7800GTX. By the time the XT master cards actually hit the street, they will be months behind the 7800GTX 512MB.

 

[Drayvn]

Originally posted by: Rage187
Regardless of when they release the 580, they will release it to the G80 which is probably already waiting in the wings.

I'll be waiting on a 580/G80 review, until then this is just asking for flames and trolls since it's all just speculation.

The G80 will cure cancer

There, this balances out the thread.

Except for i didnt think the G80 would come out until the R600 would.

And anyway the R600 is waiting to be tweaked a bit for PC use. As its the R500 at the moment...

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

Obviously this is an attempt by ATi to deter/delay potential buyers from jumping on the 7800 512MB right now.

The R580 may well be a vastly superior card, but without hard proof and benchmarks, it carries no weight.

They will succeed, however, in putting some doubt in people's minds.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
I think it's a little sad for Anandtech to post little more than ATI propaganda without any real data to back it up. This is more the kind of reporting the Inq does.

The whole article boils down to "ATI says that their $550 card can beat NVIDIA's $450 card, but we can't show you the proof" "And our card that is not out yet called the R580 will crush the GTX512MB just wait and see"

Hard launch it or shut up!

By and large, I agree with this.

The article was ATI PR, they had to do something as they have no parts to launch and compete with.

For me the absolute BEST part of that article is where ATI "feels the X1800XT competes with the 256MB GTX. :laugh:

Cards that were released in November 2005: X1800XT, 512MB GTX
Cards that have 512 MB RAM: X1800XT, 512MB GTX
Cards with $599.99-$659 MSRP: X1800XT, 512MB GTX

However, the card the barely available yet X1800XT really competes with it the one available everywhere on the planet for $450, that's in most of our boxes, and was in every store way back in JUNE, the 256MB 7800GTX.

Makes sense to me. :roll:

Hey ATI, if you're reading this, hint: Just because you say the X1800XT should have been launched back in June, your design flaws don't constitute justification for comparing your products to cards we all bought last Summer. We're not idiots.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: malG
Gimme an 'R'

For Rollo? :beer: