No next gen cards until the Fall?

[imported_X]

I know you need to take everything published by the Inquirer with a grain of salt, but they have consistently said that R520 was due in June. But now, according to this article, we have to wait until the Fall for the R520 and G70 to be released?

We don't have much information about specifics but we strongly believe that the G70 will be released very close to the R520's shipping date.

And we're told that this should happen sometime in the autumn but we don't always believe what we're told. Shipping and announcement dates have slipped too many times in the past so we like to take a large portion of salt with our regurgitations. Engineering is hard work and is very unpredictable.

I was planning on holding out until June, or maybe even until August given a couple months of delay. But if these cards aren't due until the Fall, I'll probably do my upgrade now.

What are your thoughts?

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

It sounds like the The Inuirer mixed up its own analogy. I would imagine summer for the R520 and early fall for the G70. (In reality, this means fall of 2007 in sufficient quantities of course😉

 

[imported_humey]

Nvidia have new card out around april-june, but to say next gen is late 2005-06 is what ive read, as this next card will prob be not to diff from 6800U with added 512MB 800mhz(1600mhz ddr) ram, which N40 just missed out on last april.

 

[Keysplayr]

There is actually no need for these cards any sooner than that. At least for owners of x800pro or better & 6800 or better. I can see those who have older and slower cards wanting the new cards yesterday, but you will be paying through the nose for them. Save your pennies now to lessen the sting of the staggering price tags then.

 

[imported_X]

Maybe I'll get an X800XL for now, and a second one when RMA (dual video for ATI) comes out. Isn't that supposed to be ready in the Fall as well?

 

[imported_humey]

You really want a dx9b p.s 2.0 card this late in the day, i would save your cash and wait if you have something that can run games in meantime.

 

[imported_X]

I'm pushing right now with a 9700 pro, 1800+, 768M RAM system while playing games like EQ2 and Far Cry. They are playable, but I feel like I am missing out on a lot of content in the meantime. I don't mind waiting a few months...but the Fall seems so far off 🙁

I believe the X800XL already has SM 2.0 support...it is just missing the 3.0 support you get in the 6800.

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: X
I'm pushing right now with a 9700 pro, 1800+, 768M RAM system while playing games like EQ2 and Far Cry. They are playable, but I feel like I am missing out on a lot of content in the meantime. I don't mind waiting a few months...but the Fall seems so far off 🙁

I believe the X800XL already has SM 2.0 support...it is just missing the 3.0 support you get in the 6800.

Your 9700 also supports SM2.0. Your basically buying the same exact thing you have now, only faster if you buy an X800XL. Whenever somebody says that a new feature exists in the new X800 series, it always ends up that the older R3xx can do it too.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: X
I'm pushing right now with a 9700 pro, 1800+, 768M RAM system while playing games like EQ2 and Far Cry. They are playable, but I feel like I am missing out on a lot of content in the meantime. I don't mind waiting a few months...but the Fall seems so far off 🙁

I believe the X800XL already has SM 2.0 support...it is just missing the 3.0 support you get in the 6800.

You're not missing out on much as SM2.0 can do nearly everything SM3.0 can.

You already have enough RAM, but that 1800+ is definitely holding you back. I would upgrade your processor as long as your motherboard supports a 3000+ or better. That'll enable you to run a higher resolution with AA/AF which will improve your graphics quality quite a bit.

That should tide you over until you can mortgage your house for a next gen card.

 

[imported_humey]

Nearly the same aint the same as the same, his current card can tide him over instead of simply buying another faster ATI with same dx9b and p.s 2.0

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: X
I'm pushing right now with a 9700 pro, 1800+, 768M RAM system while playing games like EQ2 and Far Cry. They are playable, but I feel like I am missing out on a lot of content in the meantime. I don't mind waiting a few months...but the Fall seems so far off 🙁

I believe the X800XL already has SM 2.0 support...it is just missing the 3.0 support you get in the 6800.

Your 9700 also supports SM2.0. Your basically buying the same exact thing you have now, only faster if you buy an X800XL. Whenever somebody says that a new feature exists in the new X800 series, it always ends up that the older R3xx can do it too.

which is exactly why 6800GT is a better buy than both the x800pro and x800xl IMO

 

[ronnn]

I thought he was saying the R520 would be released soon with shipping in numbers by this fall, at which time Nvidia would paper launch to kill sales. :beer:

 

[imported_humey]

otispunkmeyer, ive been flammed in many a post for trying to put across your point about dx9c p.s 3.0 tech in april 2005.

 

[imported_X]

I agree that the 6800GT is generally better than the X800XL, but unless you get a good deal on the 6800GT, I don't think the price difference is justified.

My game plan was to wait until summer and upgrade to a Venice, Nforce 4 Ultra board, and the new R520 or G70. But now that they are talking about the Fall timeframe, I don't know that it is worth the wait.

To do a decent CPU upgrade, I need to upgrade my motherboard as well. Maybe the X800XL would get me by for the next year, until the new cards are out and drivers have had a chance to mature. I just think I would be hamstrung by sticking with my 9700 Pro, when all the other components are more current.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: humey
otispunkmeyer, ive been flammed in many a post for trying to put across your point about dx9c p.s 3.0 tech in april 2005.

i agree with you too. the only explanation for somebody recommending an x800xl over a 6800gt at the same price, is crack 😛 assuming they ARE the same price of course, which is not quite the case. the 6800gt's price will likely drop faster than the x800xl's because it's more expensive and eventually (maybe soon) you'll be able to get them for the same price.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: X
I agree that the 6800GT is generally better than the X800XL, but unless you get a good deal on the 6800GT, I don't think the price difference is justified.

My game plan was to wait until summer and upgrade to a Venice, Nforce 4 Ultra board, and the new R520 or G70. But now that they are talking about the Fall timeframe, I don't know that it is worth the wait.

To do a decent CPU upgrade, I need to upgrade my motherboard as well. Maybe the X800XL would get me by for the next year, until the new cards are out and drivers have had a chance to mature. I just think I would be hamstrung by sticking with my 9700 Pro, when all the other components are more current.

this will be more than enough to hold you over. an evga for $177.00 or a chaintech 6600gt for $169.99. if you have plans to buy a next-gen card any time soon, you don't want to spend $300 on an X800XL now. i believe the 6600gt moderately beats the 9800 pro. check out the benchmarks. it might not be worth it though. actually i think you should just wait a while, but here's the link anyway.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-214&depa=0

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: X
I just think I would be hamstrung by sticking with my 9700 Pro, when all the other components are more current.

How could you say that when you have just been assured that the r300 is every bit as good as any newer model? Anyways many of us in the same boat, waiting for next gen before making a decision on the old upgrade path and the wait does seem to be stretching out. Still the good news is pcie is maturing and maybe those physics processors will be a nice addition. :beer:

 

[imported_X]

I wouldn't be upgrading to get access to additional features not available on the 9700 pro. I would be upgrading for speed. With a Venice 3500+, 2GB RAM, and an Nforce4 board, I would be severely video-card limited unless I upgrade that component as well.

 

[imported_X]

Yeah, I know it would be better to wait (it always is). The problem is that I am limping along in EQ2 right now, with half the graphics settings disabled, and 30+ second load times when I zone (which happens frequently). I don't think I can hold out until the Fall...aaaaargh.

 

[housecat]

I couldnt hold out any longer either. I think the time to upgrade was from Christmas to now.

SATA was out for AMD, 939 was out by then, PCIE was out.. you most of the important new technologies if upgrading from Christmas onward.

I wanted to have all that stuff so I did it then.. but it was hard to find PCIE cards.. it isnt now.
I also wanted to get a new rig by the time HL2 and Doom3 were released. As those engines will be the standards for a long time coming.
I got all of these goals accomplished.

I would not wait honestly, its a great time to upgrade.. AMD cpus are incredibly fast and 64bit capable, tons of great games are out like the 2 mentioned above.. and my personal addiction WoW. EQ2 is also alot of peoples choice.

I see no reason to wait. If you do you'll get a VERY similar rig to what you could have gotten today.. maybe with a Venice core or dual core.. but you'll be paying out the nose if you wait for the next video cards.
Dual core is the only thing that could possibly hold me back now if i needed to upgrade like you do. but that prob wont affect games at all, and might even be slower.. so I'd def say go ahead.
Its just a great time for games and hardware.

I'd suggest something very similar to whats in my sig. Get yourself a nice PCIE GF6 so you can add another one like I did later if you decide you want next generation performance today. Even if you get the NF4 Ultra, it will be desired alot more by ppl who have a SLI board and your particular card already when you go to sell it.

 

[imported_X]

I'm not sure there is much reason to wait at this point, either. The only thing I can think of is that Nvidia might be coming out with their 512MB card, which could bump down 6800GT prices closer to the X800XL level. Any idea on when Nvidia is supposed to release the new card?

Other than that, I'll probably just wait for the Venice/San Diego cpus to come out in the next month, and take the plunge then.

 

[ronnn]

Always good reasons to wait, but of course the cheapest is never to buy. Personally I am in the same mode, I want a faster vid card (most major feature of any card in my mind), but don't want to buy agp. So I keep hoping for something new to make spending that much cash more appealing. Maybe the new xbox will be impressive and I can save a bundle.

 

[smaky]

I think its newegg that has the BFG 6800 Ultra 512 ram for only $999. I am betting some have already pre-ordered it. BFG just shipped out some of those.

not newegg but zipzoomfly has it already

 

[Tweakin]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: X
I'm pushing right now with a 9700 pro, 1800+, 768M RAM system while playing games like EQ2 and Far Cry. They are playable, but I feel like I am missing out on a lot of content in the meantime. I don't mind waiting a few months...but the Fall seems so far off 🙁

I believe the X800XL already has SM 2.0 support...it is just missing the 3.0 support you get in the 6800.

Your 9700 also supports SM2.0. Your basically buying the same exact thing you have now, only faster if you buy an X800XL. Whenever somebody says that a new feature exists in the new X800 series, it always ends up that the older R3xx can do it too.

which is exactly why 6800GT is a better buy than both the x800pro and x800xl IMO

And that's just your opinion.

 

[Pete]

Better buy? The 6800GT offers roughly the same performance as the X800XL in current games, but at a higher price. The higher price offers you nicer IQ in about three available games (if Painkiller has some SM3 effects, that makes four), and the promise of exclusive effects in newer games. The question is, is it worth paying the extra money up front for those effects? Or are you better off just buying the cheaper card now, and putting the money you save toward a faster SM3 card when you have more examples of SM3's superior visuals?

An AGP 6800GT isn't that much more than an AGP X800XL, so it's easier to recommend the GT there. But, AFAIK, a PCIe 6800GT is $80-100 more than a PCIe X800XL. That's tougher to justify, IMO. Of course, if that higher price includes a nicer cooler (I've noticed nV cards seem to have a bigger variety of coolers, and especially quiet ones), it's that much easier to justify the 6800GT.

But I don't think it's entirely true that a 6800GT is a better buy than an X800XL.