X800SE spotted.

[Lonyo]

XBitlabs news story

 

[Reliant]

I was wondering when this would pop up.

 

[rbV5]

the graphics card has a 425MHz graphics processor, 128MB of DDR SDRAM memory with 256-bit bus width along with typical set of connectors, such as D-Sub, DVI-I and TV-Out.

If its a 256 bit bus, the SE is sounding better.

 

[nitromullet]

According to Dell, the graphics card has a 425MHz graphics processor, 128MB of DDR SDRAM memory with 256-bit bus width along with typical set of connectors, such as D-Sub, DVI-I and TV-Out....

...Dell did not disclose the number of rendering pipes for the RADEON X800 SE.

Sounds more like they are ashamed of their card. Why not disclose the specs? Either way, it's too early to tell, and it will be interesting to see how this stacks up against the 6800.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: rbV5

the graphics card has a 425MHz graphics processor, 128MB of DDR SDRAM memory with 256-bit bus width along with typical set of connectors, such as D-Sub, DVI-I and TV-Out.

If its a 256 bit bus, the SE is sounding better.

Agreed, but if they are only available in pci-e for now, then it's going to require a board upgrade just to use one which is bullsh*t.

 

[rbV5]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER

Originally posted by: rbV5

the graphics card has a 425MHz graphics processor, 128MB of DDR SDRAM memory with 256-bit bus width along with typical set of connectors, such as D-Sub, DVI-I and TV-Out.

If its a 256 bit bus, the SE is sounding better.

Agreed, but if they are only available in pci-e for now, then it's going to require a board upgrade just to use one which is bullsh*t.

That might just be Dell's current approach, I don't think there's anything keeping the partners from offering an AGP model.

 

[Avalon]

Can't wait for it to hit retail and see what it can do.

 

[Corporate Thug]

ATI RADEON X800 SE promises to be more powerful compared to ATI RADEON 9800 XT in the majority of cases

 

[Delorian]

Should push 9800 XT prices down, hopefully

 

[Rage187]

WTF is this majority BS?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Rage187
WTF is this majority BS?

That's what I'm curious about. It lends to speculation that the AGP model isn't to be found for fear of canabalizing 9800XT sales or profitability at this time.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: Delorian
Should push 9800 XT prices down, hopefully

If there's an AGP version, this won't matter. Even if there isn't, PCI-E will actually make sense in a couple of months anyway. Basically, why would you buy a 9800XT when you can get a similarly performing (or faster) X800 for a similar price? Perhaps as an inventory clear out the 9800XT will go down in price, but it was always a premium part - using handpicked cores and high speed memory, whilst the X800SE is on the low end of ATI's new (and soon to be mass produced) X800 line.

Originally posted in the Xbit Labs Article

ATI RADEON X800 SE promises to be more powerful compared to ATI RADEON 9800 XT in the majority of cases.

Hmm, shouldn't it be faster in every case? A new design with (slightly) faster core/memory should be faster in every case - just like how the R360 was marginally faster than the R350 at similar clockspeeds (for example, how an XT-bios flashed 9800 Pro runs about 2-5% faster at similar clockspeed to a 9800 Pro BIOS equipped 9800 Pro).

I guess they just mean faster or as fast as the 9800XT in all cases.

In case the speed gap is enough substantial, when available, the product may put quite some pressure on sales of NVIDIA?s GeForce 6800 graphics offering at the same price-point.

I doubt the speed gap between the X800SE and the 9800 Pro will be substantial, unless the X800SE is either:

a.) a hella-good overclocker
b.) can get 4 (or even 8) pipes unlocked

I don't see the X800SE putting too much pressure on the FX6800nu, unless the X800SE debuts at a much more logical $199 MSRP (or even $229/249). $299 for essentially yesterday's technology is a bit of a stretch, especially with the 9800 Pro going for $200, and there being a negligible to nonexistant difference between 128MB and 256MB configurations.

 

[TStep]

Maybe my logic is screwed but, I don't think an AGP version will be available unless there are too many 16pipe chips w/ defects.

Right now the card seems to spec out to a slightly overclocked 9800XT. Maybe it will have faster memory, but right now 9800s are filling the niche for this card w/R360 cores, albeit probably slightly slower. If there are alot of defective 16pipe cores to sell, then I could see an AGP version. However, without mod possiblities, it looses its appeal. And then there is price. If the expectation is to get near 9800XT prices for this card, it really looses appeal.

 

[Sonic587]

Any word on the official memory speed?

 

[TStep]

IIRC, In a May? article at XBit, it was mentioned that the memory would be 800mhz I think, but then again the info at the time said a 128bit bus. Who knows.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Originally posted by: TStep
Maybe my logic is screwed but, I don't think an AGP version will be available unless there are too many 16pipe chips w/ defects.

Right now the card seems to spec out to a slightly overclocked 9800XT. Maybe it will have faster memory, but right now 9800s are filling the niche for this card w/R360 cores, albeit probably slightly slower. If there are alot of defective 16pipe cores to sell, then I could see an AGP version. However, without mod possiblities, it looses its appeal. And then there is price. If the expectation is to get near 9800XT prices for this card, it really looses appeal.

I just don't get how there could be this many defective pipelines on the X800 series. It doesn't add up. I have a couple of (crackpot?) theories:

a.) The X800SE will not be the same core as the X800 Pro/XT. It makes little sense to have the X800SE based on the same 16-pipe core of the X800 Pro/XT. With half the number of pipes it will make the die SIGNIFICANTLY smaller, and thus yields should be higher and costs should be lower.

b.) Does ATI really produce this many quarter/semi defective X800's, or do they just have a tough time getting good yields on cards that will run at such high clockspeeds? A more realistic situation is that they are just disabling half of the pipes on some cards to keep the market happy with middle of the road (affordable) cards.


I'm looking forward to the release of the X800SE - it looks like it will either be a very good candidate for soft modding (in which case, I'd expect the price to be relatively close to it's $299 MSRP in the beginning) or a newly designed 8-pipe card (in which case, I'd expect the price to be a good bit lower than MSRP, since manufacturing would thus be a lot cheaper).

 

[jiffylube1024]

Hmm, that article really makes it sound like the X800SE is just an X800 XT with 8 pipes disabled.

This should be an interesting card to softmod, in that case. You'd think that maybe, even if putting all 16 pipes on would cause artifacts at 425 MHz, perhaps they would be good to go at 400 MHz or 375MHz.

One thing though- the speed of the memory will make or break the X800SE's career. It better have significantly better memory than the 2.5ns/2.8ns memory on the 9800 Pro's, even with the 256-bit bus (128-bit would have made it worthless).

 

[TStep]

Jiffy: From what I understand it will be an R423 core. I don't doubt the PCIx16 card will be available as an outlet for some defective and some non-defective R423 cores based on what demand determines. Higher demand for this product, better chance of a non-defective core to fill the market need.

But, I do not think it will find its way to AGP anytime soon unless:
1) many defective R423 cores to get rid of, but then you will have the added cost of a new PCB and bridge chip.
2) plain old marketing takes over, and the ill-informed choose this over the other current options (ie 8500>9100>9000=9200 scenario)

my $0.02

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
It better have significantly better memory than the 2.5ns/2.8ns memory on the 9800 Pro's, even with the 256-bit bus (128-bit would have made it worthless).

I wouldn't get your hopes up. The very high end cards appear to be limited by availability of the fast GDDR. Putting 900MHz memory on this would be suicide. I expect this card will probably have memory clock speeds somewhere in the 700-800 MHz range. Probably still faster than 9800Pro speeds, but not a ton.

 

[GeneralGrievous]

Hmm, shouldn't it be faster in every case?

Not necessarily. The 6800 isn't faster than the 9800s in all cases either.

It better have significantly better memory than the 2.5ns/2.8ns memory on the 9800 Pro's, even with the 256-bit bus (128-bit would have made it worthless).

See above. If the 6800 can do with 700 mhz memory, I don't see a reason for this to have much higher than that.

It's an interesting card that I believe will be right behind the 6800, similar to how the x800 Pro is behind the GT.

 

[DarkKnight]

ATI RADEON X800 SE promises to be more powerful compared to ATI RADEON 9800 XT in the majority of cases

When the radeon 9600xt was about to come out, ATI said that it would perform similar to a radeon 9700, and it fell way short. I wouldnt get excited about it yet until I see benchmarks.

 

[Auric]

X800SE seems more akin to a 9700 TX in terms of its raison d'etre, namely to sassify Dell who is obliged to offer a PCI-E viddy card with a high-end sounding name as a marketing bullet point. Pricing to Dell can be lower for a model exclusive to them. I would not assume retail availabilty soon unless manufacturing cost was significantly less than current models.

 

[ZobarStyl]

It would make a lot of sense to make the x800SE a PCI-E only card, as it will likely be right around the 9800XT in perf (ignore the marketese). I mean, the R420 is based on the R3xx core, if you drop it down to the same number of pipes as a 9800 series card, it will likely perform just like an overclocked version of those cards (BBA 9800XT at 412 core, this card at 425). If an AGP version only marginally outdoes the 9800XT (speculating, mind you), then with the x800's feature set being practically the same as the R3xx, it will basically be a refresh refresh, and not at a friendly price either. However this card is perfect for filling in the gap between the x600 (slow PCI-E cards) and the x800 PCI-E (blazin' fast). My two cents.

But if you could softmod back in 12-16 pipes and o/c it to all hell...it would rock beyond compare...

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: DarkKnight

ATI RADEON X800 SE promises to be more powerful compared to ATI RADEON 9800 XT in the majority of cases

When the radeon 9600xt was about to come out, ATI said that it would perform similar to a radeon 9700, and it fell way short. I wouldnt get excited about it yet until I see benchmarks.

i was Faaaaaaar more doubtful about the 9600XT claims as i am about this. it was hard to take the 9600xt claims seriously sense it had 1/2 the pipelines. this case is more feasable

 

[SneakyStuff]

THAAAAR SHE BLOWS! Interesting card, will it just replace the 9800 pro/xt?