Next Gen GPU Tech: not on the horizon?

[TheRealMrGrey]

A cursory review of Google suggests that the GPU transition to 28nm process is *not* going smoothly.

With everyone and their brother (and me) drooling over Skyrim, the question on one's mind is: should I upgrade my GPU? I know I should, since mine is 3 years old. But... should I wait for the next gen, or buy now?

The recession has impacted my finances, so I am tempted to wait based on my aversion to credit card debt.

But how long will I have to wait for next-gen if I wait? Anyone have an opinion?

I would venture a guess of Q2 2012 at earliest. One also hopes that Nvidia and ATI both have cards out so that there is market competition.

 

[toyota]

lol, you fail at using google or even looking right here on the forums just a few posts down.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2200969

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

Don't know where you heard this. From the horse's mouth:

TSMC today announced that its 28nm process is in volume production and production wafers have been shipped to customers. TSMC leads the foundry segment to achieve volume production at 28nm node.

TSMC’s 28nm process offering includes 28nm High Performance (28HP), 28nm High Performance Low Power (28HPL), 28nm Low Power (28LP), and 28nm High Performance Mobile Computing (28HPM). Among these technology offerings, 28HP, 28HPL and 28LP are all in volume production and 28HPM will be ready for production by the end of this year. The production-version design collateral of 28HPM has been distributed to most mobile computing customers for their product-design use.

The number of customer 28nm production tape outs has more than doubled as compared with that of 40nm. At 28nm, there are currently more than 80 customer product tape-outs. The TSMC 28nm process has surpassed the previous generation’s production ramps and product yield at the same point in time due to closer and earlier collaboration with customers. TSMC’s 28nm design ecosystem is available through its Open Innovation Platform®, with qualified EDA design tools and third-party IP ready for customer designs.

http://www.techpowerup.com/154066/TSMC-28-nm-Technology-in-Volume-Production.html

28nm seems to be going well, better than 40nm in fact. TSMC themselves are saying they're having better yields in comparison to when 40nm taped out. Q1 2012 at the very latest for 28nm (from AMD, anyway).

The die-shrinked Cayman should be here by December of this year, but since it's the HD 7800 series it's a Performance part like the HD 6800 series. They're basically putting the 6900 series on a smaller process node and making it the new 7800 series. The benefit of this is of course much lower power consumption, higher overclocking, and lower prices.

 

[TheRealMrGrey]

Thanks for the forum post, I did miss that. However, I was reading such posts as:

http://www.clan2ez.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=733

and

http://ijovial.com/gaming/?p=2026

which are at the top of google's list if you search for next gen GPU and October 2011.

 

[TheRealMrGrey]

I take it then that techpowerup is really where one should be reading for accurate news?

 

[Seero]

A cursory review of Google suggests that the GPU transition to 28nm process is *not* going smoothly.

With everyone and their brother (and me) drooling over Skyrim, the question on one's mind is: should I upgrade my GPU? I know I should, since mine is 3 years old. But... should I wait for the next gen, or buy now?

The recession has impacted my finances, so I am tempted to wait based on my aversion to credit card debt.

But how long will I have to wait for next-gen if I wait? Anyone have an opinion?

I would venture a guess of Q2 2012 at earliest. One also hopes that Nvidia and ATI both have cards out so that there is market competition.

Surprisingly, both camp had there next gen GPU under tight seal, so not much were known about them except that they will be out Q1 2011.

Right now, the best bet is 560ti/6950 and the next gen won't going to obsolete them. If you are about to unload 600 bucks for the cutting edge, then you should wait and see what the next gen brings.

If I am not mistaken, the requirement of Skyrim is not that high, technically any video card with 1 Gb RAM will do. It doesn't support Dx10/11 stuff, so your good old 8800gts may still have some kicks. Let the game come out and then see if you actually need to upgrade.

My guess, 560ti/6950 will be enough for the game.

 

[TheRealMrGrey]

Surprisingly, both camp had there next gen GPU under tight seal, so not much were known about them except that they will be out Q1 2011.

Right now, the best bet is 560ti/6950 and the next gen won't going to obsolete them. If you are about to unload 600 bucks for the cutting edge, then you should wait and see what the next gen brings.

If I am not mistaken, the requirement of Skyrim is not that high, technically any video card with 1 Gb RAM will do. It doesn't support Dx10/11 stuff, so your good old 8800gts may still have some kicks. Let the game come out and then see if you actually need to upgrade.

My guess, 560ti/6950 will be enough for the game.

Yeah - I totally agree. I'm definitely waiting at least a month to see how performance pans out. Thanks for the advice.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

I take it then that techpowerup is really where one should be reading for accurate news?

The article was just them posting a press release from TSMC themselves.

 

[Bryf50]

I'm more curious how Apples move to TSMC will change things. It seems like a sure thing at this point that Apples next iPad/Phone will have a 28nm SOC in it. And because it's Apple we're talking about that means massive volume requirements.

 

[TheRealMrGrey]

I'm more curious how Apples move to TSMC will change things. It seems like a sure thing at this point that Apples next iPad/Phone will have a 28nm SOC in it. And because it's Apple we're talking about that means massive volume requirements.

I didn't know that - should be a nice improvement considering A5 is 45nm.