Fermi possibly delayed til March or April

[Meghan54]

http://www.driverheaven.net/news.php?newsid=345

We heard word a short while ago from our contacts in the Far East that Fermi may very well be delayed even longer than the initial launch estimate in January. We reported last week that the goal for nVidia was to launch the product on some level at CES with reviewer kits to go out shortly afterwards. Our sources tell us today that the Fermi Build Kits were meant to go to AIBs last week but nVidia has missed this time frame. They also told us that "Gemini" is meant to be the code name for the new dual GPU Fermi card although nVidia are not confirming this.




Going on this and other inside information passed to us at the weekend it appears that the initial launch date in January may very well be pushed back until March or possibly even early April. Giving solid dates for the launch is going to be hard as nVidia seem to be running into more issues every week.

Also being reported at HardOCP:

http://hardocp.com/news/2009/11/23/more_fermi_rumors_good

​

 

[Stoneburner]

When it's launched it will be powerful enough to violated causality, rip through time, and launch in 2007 so stop worrying.

 

[v8envy]

Man, I feel for NV's PR team. They keep showing up to events with nothing but their dicks in their hands. You can only do that so many times before people stop taking you seriously.

TL;DR of above news: NV fails to surprise with earlier than expected parts. Late Q1 to early Q2 retail availability estimates unchanged.

 

[v8envy]

Man, I feel for NV's PR team. They keep showing up to events with nothing but their dicks in their hands. You can only do that so many times before people stop taking you seriously.

TL;DR of above news: NV fails to surprise with earlier than expected parts. Late Q1 to early Q2 retail availability estimates unchanged.

 

[jvroig]

I'm still hoping for a February launch, somehow.

Still, even with a March/April launch, as long as they roll out an entire line-up quickly, I guess it won't be so bad really.

 

[jvroig]

Actually, now that I think about it, now I don't care how delayed they (nVidia) get, because AMD seems to have committed to their "Vision" thrust, releasing a new GPU architecture every year.

As long as nVidia eventually delivers (just so AMD won't go on a price-gouging spree), AMD's "Vision" promise practically guarantees us new stuff every year. nVidia can take their sweet time all they want, I guess.

 

[exar333]

http://www.driverheaven.net/news.php?newsid=345

Also being reported at HardOCP:

http://hardocp.com/news/2009/11/23/more_fermi_rumors_good

​

NV board partners must be pretty nervous these days...

 

[Idontcare]

When it's launched it will be powerful enough to violated causality, rip through time, and launch in 2007 so stop worrying.

LOL +1

Waiter! Get this man, nay, this demi-god a beer! Stat!

 

[T2k]

Man, I feel for NV's PR team. They keep showing up to events with nothing but their dicks in their hands. You can only do that so many times before people stop taking you seriously.

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

QFT

TL;DR of above news: NV fails to surprise with earlier than expected parts. Late Q1 to early Q2 retail availability estimates unchanged.

I predicted this: a long, dark current and next quarter... :sneaky:

 

[Lonyo]

Man, I feel for NV's PR team. They keep showing up to events with nothing but their dicks in their hands. You can only do that so many times before people stop taking you seriously.

Bitboys.

 

[Wreckage]

Unfortunately for AMD they are still not in a position to capitalise on this as there are virtually no stocks anywhere of the 58xx series

Seems AMD has some spinning to do as well...actually there is already a thread with them trying.

 

[v8envy]

NV board partners must be pretty nervous these days...

Why would they be? NV just released the 240, a powerhouse of a GPU for picky customers demanding 2007 performance in 2010. Without the confusing option of multi-GPU.

In reality, the 260 and 250 will continue being great sellers this quarter and next. They should keep nv-exclusive board partners from shutting down operations completely. With 4 series supplies drying up there's not much between the sub-$50 boards and the 57x0 when we're talking ATI. Given a $100 250 or $140 260 vs $170 5770 it's a pretty clear choice re: which card to get.

 

[Daedalus685]

Seems AMD has some spinning to do as well...actually there is already a thread with them trying.

That has what to do with this subject? Beyond perhaps that the TSMC issues that are reducing stock of ATI cards are delaying Nvidia as well.

 

[jvroig]

Why would they be? NV just released the 240, a powerhouse of a GPU for picky customers demanding 2007 performance in 2010. Without the confusing option of multi-GPU.

I almost didn't get that you were sarcastic. But when I finally did, I had to laugh.

With 4 series supplies drying up there's not much between the sub-$50 boards and the 57x0 when we're talking ATI. Given a $100 250 or $140 260 vs $170 5770 it's a pretty clear choice re: which card to get.

I thought it was just the 48xx that were drying up, while the 4770, 4670, etc were still available? I just assumed, as this was the trend I saw in brick and mortar stores near me. As soon as both the 57xx and 58xx arrived, almost all listings for 48xx were removed, but the 4770 and lower were still around.

 

[SlowSpyder]

As long as nVidia eventually delivers (just so AMD won't go on a price-gouging spree), AMD's "Vision" promise practically guarantees us new stuff every year. nVidia can take their sweet time all they want, I guess.

One of the sites (Techreport maybe?) said that they didn't expect any parts until May, though a paper launch may happen before.

If Fermi takes too long, it'd be pretty funny if on the launch AMD released benchmarks from the 68xx parts (assuming that's the name). I'm sure Nvidia will have parts out before that point, but at the rate Nvidia is going it seems like Fermi will launch right about inbetween the 58xx and AMD next gen launch if the launch is indeed 8-9 months later than the 5870.

I have to wonder if what we're seeing is AMD's small, scalable die stradegy starting to pay off? They were pretty far behind and looking pretty sorry around the Radeon 2900 launch. Two generations later, and at least for now, things have completely changed.

*edit - fixed some typos, typing while still asleep this morning.

 

[KIAman]

Dual GPU Fermi?... this would be a perfect time for AMD to really pound the nail in the coffin by leaking secret paper launches of their next super duper architecture or a dual layer, quad GPU 5970 called the 5999 and watch as Nvidia delays once again with a secret quad GPU fermi.

 

[yh125d]

As long as they're out by summer '10 for me to upgrade my 4890, I'm happy. although of course earlier = better for them as well

 

[v8envy]

Google for 4770 EOL to hear the bell toll for that SKU as well. I presume the 4670 will stick around as a sub-$50 AR board choice.

Entry level GPUs are distributed in rat horde numbers. You can still find 8600GTSes (for $279) at my local best buy. I wouldn't take B&M availability as any indicator of anything.

 

[Creig]

Unfortunately for AMD they are still not in a position to capitalise on this as there are virtually no stocks anywhere of the 58xx series

Seems AMD has some spinning to do as well...actually there is already a thread with them trying.

Why is that? ATi is immediately selling every card that comes off the production line. Seems to be a good position to be in. All they need now is for TSMC to ramp up production. If the Fermi delays hold true, ATi will have plenty of time to get their 5800 series out en masse.

And if it's proving this difficult for TSMC to get a 2 million transistor GPU out in large numbers on 40nm, can you imagine the issues they'll have with Nvidia's 3 million transistor design?

ATi's troubles will be Nvidia's troubles X2.

 

[jvroig]

Google for 4770 EOL to hear the bell toll for that SKU as well. I presume the 4670 will stick around as a sub-$50 AR board choice. Entry level GPUs are distributed in rat horde numbers. You can still find 8600GTSes (for $279) at my local best buy. I wouldn't take B&M availability as any indicator of anything.

Ah, I guess you are right. I was just hoping they'd stick around a while longer. Then again, Redwood (did I get the chip name right? the budget level cards in the 5xxx series) is supposed to launch January 2010 or sometime in Q1 2010, so I guess it's no big deal.

 

[exar333]

Why is that? ATi is immediately selling every card that comes off the production line. Seems to be a good position to be in. All they need now is for TSMC to ramp up production. If the Fermi delays hold true, ATi will have plenty of time to get their 5800 series out en masse.

And if it's proving this difficult for TSMC to get a 2 million transistor GPU out in large numbers on 40nm, can you imagine the issues they'll have with Nvidia's 3 million transistor design?

ATi's troubles will be Nvidia's troubles X2.

I disagree. A healthy demand is one thing, but constricted supply is altogether a different animal. If you only produce 1/3 of what the demand it, you will have other 2/3 either waiting for new product (potentially OK), buying a different product you produce (again, OK), or buying a competitor's card (bad).

The AMD/NV match feels like a boxing match where the contender (AMD) is hitting body blow after another, but just can't land that knockout punch (sufficient supply).

If supply ramps up quickly, watch out.

 

[thilanliyan]

NV board partners must be pretty nervous these days...

Exactly!! Comeon BFG and EVGA!! You know you wanna join the ATI bandwagon!!

 

[Wreckage]

Exactly!! Comeon BFG and EVGA!! You know you wanna join the ATI bandwagon!!

I'm sure they already know what to expect from Fermi. I doubt they are worried. Even last quarter NVIDIA still had a large majority of the video card market.

 

[KIAman]

I'm sure they already know what to expect from Fermi. I doubt they are worried. Even last quarter NVIDIA still had a large majority of the video card market.

I agree, and the fact that NVIDIA has more letters than AMD.

 

[Stoneburner]

I'm sure they already know what to expect from Fermi. I doubt they are worried. Even last quarter NVIDIA still had a large majority of the video card market.

Again, 5 series came out this quarter.