So the X1000 series is here, and it is, to the shock of all, perfectly normal. The line does well in "ATI titles", and is beaten by nVidia in "nVidia titles". What a shock; only fanboys thought ATI would sweep Doom 3, and only the other set of fanboys thought the cards would fail at Far Cry. At any rate, let's look at the lines one by one:
The X1800 line competes with the 7800 line just like you'd expect. They have slightly better features and will probably have slightly higher prices when it all shakes out. The next nVidia fan who mentions the MSRP I'm going to shoot. I will bury them with the next ATI fan who assumes the cards with drop $100 in a week, just for irony.
Let's also talk about 512 MB. Having 512 MB of video memory seems to me that the card is just marginally more future proof, and thus costs more while retaining its value better. It's not a *big* deal. Yes, there will be a 7800GTX with 512 MB, and guess what? It will be slightly more future-proof, cost more, and retain its value better. Life will go on.
Next, the X1600 series; ATI has clearly hedged their bets on future games being shader heavy, as a few reviews state. So ATI is targeted the middle line towards a select type of game design so as to save costs while maintaining strong performance in that specific design of game. That design hasn't fully arrived yet, but according to your perspective that may be a good thing. Designing a GPU for the future is risky, but I do think that ATI's shader prediction with the X1600 might end up better than the predicitons made with the Geforce FX series. (Can't have a R520 topic without 'em, can ya?)
The X1300 lineup seems like it does what it aims to do well. It presents customers with a budget card focused on features, not performance or uber-low prices. Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks like the X1300 is for the guy who doesn't care about performance but wants high-end features like H.264 assist for as cheap as possible.
This post isn't to spin-doctor or damage control the R520 and family release; on the contrary, the 6600GT isn't going anywhere, and the GTX is not any worse off by having an equal. However, posts treating the release as a pitiful failure are a dime a dozen, and that seems both ignorant and unfair. And before I put my soapbox away, shut up about availability. If nothing hits stores by the end of the weak, THEN complain. If nothing is out in a month, THEN say ATI is doomed has has lied to its customers.
The rest of us can meanwhile put our feet up, and wait to see how it overclocks. Happy R520 launch, everybody!
Interesting thoughts, but we do not need another new thread.
AnandTech Moderator
The X1800 line competes with the 7800 line just like you'd expect. They have slightly better features and will probably have slightly higher prices when it all shakes out. The next nVidia fan who mentions the MSRP I'm going to shoot. I will bury them with the next ATI fan who assumes the cards with drop $100 in a week, just for irony.
Let's also talk about 512 MB. Having 512 MB of video memory seems to me that the card is just marginally more future proof, and thus costs more while retaining its value better. It's not a *big* deal. Yes, there will be a 7800GTX with 512 MB, and guess what? It will be slightly more future-proof, cost more, and retain its value better. Life will go on.
Next, the X1600 series; ATI has clearly hedged their bets on future games being shader heavy, as a few reviews state. So ATI is targeted the middle line towards a select type of game design so as to save costs while maintaining strong performance in that specific design of game. That design hasn't fully arrived yet, but according to your perspective that may be a good thing. Designing a GPU for the future is risky, but I do think that ATI's shader prediction with the X1600 might end up better than the predicitons made with the Geforce FX series. (Can't have a R520 topic without 'em, can ya?)
The X1300 lineup seems like it does what it aims to do well. It presents customers with a budget card focused on features, not performance or uber-low prices. Maybe I'm wrong, but it looks like the X1300 is for the guy who doesn't care about performance but wants high-end features like H.264 assist for as cheap as possible.
This post isn't to spin-doctor or damage control the R520 and family release; on the contrary, the 6600GT isn't going anywhere, and the GTX is not any worse off by having an equal. However, posts treating the release as a pitiful failure are a dime a dozen, and that seems both ignorant and unfair. And before I put my soapbox away, shut up about availability. If nothing hits stores by the end of the weak, THEN complain. If nothing is out in a month, THEN say ATI is doomed has has lied to its customers.
The rest of us can meanwhile put our feet up, and wait to see how it overclocks. Happy R520 launch, everybody!
Interesting thoughts, but we do not need another new thread.
AnandTech Moderator
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