Is it just me... or is nVIDIA handling ATi lately?

[Sqube]

I know this thread is going to bring all the fanbois out of hiding; for that, I apologize. But it just seems like nVIDIA is handing ATi their asses on a silver platter these days.

The ATI X1800XT 512 MB matches up neck and neck with the 7800 GTX 256 MB. Instead of just sitting on it, which would've been perfectly understandable, they release the 7800 GTX 512 MB version, which has increased memory and clock speeds, in addition to doubling the amount of available memory.

nVIDIA does a hard launch of the 6800GS, which competes directly with (and is superior to) the X1600 XT, which isn't even out yet.

I've got an ATi X800 XL running in my rig right now, so I'm not trying to be an nVIDIA apologist. But lately, it seems like nVIDIA is running on all cylinders, and I was wondering if I was the only one who felt that way.

Again, I apologize for creating a thread that will probably make the fanbois come out, but I was really curious as to what the Anandtech community thinks about this.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Go to the video forum and check out half the threads over there if you want some opinions. Luckily GH has been kept fairly clean while Video goes to hell.

 

[ribbon13]

So? AMD is doing the same thing to Intel, yet it's AMD entuisiasts that get called fanbois at the drop of a hat.

Note: ATi is totally ignoring the PC gaming community right now, because they got fat contracts with game consoles.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Nvidia is definately firing on all cylinders. ATI is far from dead, but they have stumbled badly lately. I would hesitate to declare which new cards are better until they hit the shelves, and are backed up by a driver or two.

Great link in the News section today: http://www.anandtech.com/news/shownews.aspx?i=25264

 

[Malak]

I have an x850XT PE. I got it the week it was released. I have been overall happy with it as an upgrade from my 9700 Pro(Which kicked nvidia ass in it's lifetime). Personally, I believe any video card that ATI releases this year is just a half-gen card. My 9700 Pro survived for 2+ years, why should we be worried about ATI releasing a card within 6 months of their last release when that release still needed a little more flavor to it(more low-end action).

Nvidia had it's ass handed to it 2 generations back. The last generation was good competition, with winning cards on both ends. Personally, I see the current cards as rushed products released for the purpose of simply trying to beat each other out, and I see it as bad form. Let's wait till we actually need new cards, and those cards are solid. We have the technology to go a very long way with the last generation of cards, so why rush it?

 

[Rage187]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
So? AMD is doing the same thing to Intel, yet it's AMD entuisiasts that get called fanbois at the drop of a hat.

Note: ATi is totally ignoring the PC gaming community right now, because they got fat contracts with game consoles.

I have never seen AMD buyers called fanbois, just people with common sense.


BTW: Nvidia also has a rather large contract with the old PS3.

 

[ribbon13]

That doesn't beat 2 contracts with new consoles

 

[lobadobadingdong]

the paper lauching ati's been doing is getting old. my 2 centavos.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
So? AMD is doing the same thing to Intel, yet it's AMD entuisiasts that get called fanbois at the drop of a hat.

Note: ATi is totally ignoring the PC gaming community right now, because they got fat contracts with game consoles.

I completely disagree on both points.

One, I've never heard anyone call an AMD enthusiast a fanboy. AMD have competitive processors, and benchmarks more often than not show them the better bang for the buck by leaps and bounds. It is not nearly as clear cut for video cards, as there are other things to consider, such as video quality, technological features, and performance in a variety of environments. While one video card does better in one game, it doesn't do better in another, and this makes it a more difficult choice than the AMD vs Intel battle. AMD has been proven to be better at most things compared to similar Intel procs.

Second, ATI is not ignoring anyone. As I stated in my previous post, it's way too soon to be releasing anything. As far as I'm concerned, we shouldn't be expecting anything for another year.

 

[Twsmit]

For the enthusiast nvidia is definately offering better stuff. The SLI and NF4 chipsets are the #1 AMD solutions, and their video cards have been delivered on time and as promised for the last few product launches.

Thats not to say ATI will eventually strike back, but right now ATI has a sorta half baked SLI alternative and has been pretty late with launched int eh last year or so.

In the future though it looks like ATI will have superior video cards, right now their 16 pipe chips are neck and neck with Nvidia's 24 pipline cards. Probably has alot of do with the new memory controller on the latest x1800 models and the fact that the x1800 is more of a new chip, compared to the 7800 series that were more refreshes of the 6800.

No company is going to go under anytime soon, but I totally agree with the guy who started the thread, nvidia is on a roll lately.

They have a full package, the video card, chipset are the best out there, and to top it off they have the best most straight forward dual video solution. Hats off to them for the time being.

 

[Malak]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
the paper lauching ati's been doing is getting old. my 2 centavos.

It's not paper launching. It has been explained time and again. Despite everyone claiming they "paper launched", ATI managed to still outsell Nvidia in the last generation. The truth is that they sold out, not that they paper launched. The continuing growth of Alienware and other companies like them are probably the reason why they sell so fast, you can get the latest hardware from them as soon as it is released, whereas you cannot get it retail. Just like Dell is the only reason Intel is still managing to make more money than AMD.

 

[Theguynextdoor]

Looks like the tables have really turned that's all. I remember two years ago the 9x radeon series where dominating over the 5 series from nvidia.

nvidia really seems to have invested a lot of money into their 6 and 7 series if you ask me. After all their nForce2 chipset was selling so well I'm sure they had plenty of money to do so.

 

[w00t]

i turned my back on ATI on there latest lineup its truely a sad.

 

[GTaudiophile]

In terms of high-end PC videocards, yes.

But...

They have two big console contracts (Microsoft and Nintendo). If nothing else, their logo will be all over both of them. Don't forget, Carmack himself is using XB360 as his new development box. And nVidia is realizing it needs to jump on the unified shader platform. ATi has a head start here!

They have solid motherboard chipsets. Good northbridges at least. They haven't been as popular as nForce, but they're solid. ATI has some big contracts with Intel to supply chipsets.

ATI's low-end cards are selling better than nVidia's from what I've read. This and the mid-range market are what counts.

Ever see a Motorola RAZR phone? Every time you see one, think ATI. The RAZR is powered by IMAGEON. So are many other phones.

X1800/R520 is clearly ATI's NV30 as predicted. R580 is waiting in the wings. But when will it debut and more importantly in what quantity?

X1300 and X1600 are total failures in terms of price/performance. X1800 is debatable. CrossFire: where is it? ATI should dump it and concentrate on making single GPUs that are as fast as nVidia's competition in SLI. And ATI should consider going back to the Rage 3D MAXX design and consider multiple GPUs on one PCB at the same price point as SLI. Most importantly, ATI needs to clear out old inventory, simplify their products lines (low, middle, high, AIW, and mobile) and fix their supply problems. Supply is where nVidia seems to have ATI nailed!

 

[foodfightr]

AMD & NVIDIA are just too sweet.