As we already reported the announcement of video card on base of chips g84 and G86 took place some hours ago. The video card geForce 8600 GTS and GeForce 8600 GT appeared in sale several days before the announcement.
They thus, as it was promised, the GeForce 8600 GTS will be able to be as fast as GeForce 7900 GT or even GeForce 7950 GT. Let us immediately note that today we give more attention to the GeForce 8600 GTS, since these video card will be first put on the market, and here the GeForce 8600 GT and GeForce 8500 GT will be available later .
It is known that the video card geForce 7950 GT and GeForce 7900 GS are already removed production, they will continue their existence only in the AGP- versions form . However, For the moment the given graphical solutions with interface PCI express x16 still available in stores , users can purchase them , moreover their prices is sufficiently attractive.
Many disappointed was disappointed with speed and characteristics of 8600gts : Let us recall that those video card has the 128- bit system . For this reason GeForce 8600 GTS look like the slightly optimized design Of geForce 7600 GT with additional power cable.
After studying the card, it is possible to understand that GeForce 8600 GTS is not entirely the half Of geForce 8800 GTX, as many expected . . For example, the number of stream processors was reduced to 32 pieces - in this sense g84 is a fourth g80, but not a half. . The number of textures addressing modules on each TCP (Texture code processor) in comparison with G80 was increased by two - from four to eight.
The quantity of transistors in g84 is less than the half of G 80- chip it has 289 mln. transistors, whereas G80 had 681 mln. transistors.
The standardized shader architecture implies to the presence of control and logic service in the video chip core , which occupies sufficiently large place independently from the number of steam processors. Therefore even with the reduction in the number of processors by four times , the proportional decrease in the transistors number does not occur. Yes, G84 and G86 are released on the thinner 80 nm technical process, but in comparison with 90 nm technical process in the chip g80 it do not bring any essential crystal space saving , but the chips g84 and G86 will have a good reserve for reduction in prime cost. For NVIDIA it was necessary to cut the most necessary, trying to compensate the losses by a certain optimization of architecture in chips g84 and G86.
Here is the fundamental technical characteristics of the new card. Let start from GeForce 8600 GTS in the standard form.
- Technical process 80 nm;
- Core Frequency 675 MHz;
- Stream processors Frequency 1450 MHz;
- Number of Stream processors - 32 pieces;
- Quantity of textural blocks - 16 pieces;
- Quantity of blocks bi-linear filtration - 16 pieces;
- 8 blocks ROP;
- Memory Frequency 2000 MHz DDR;
- Memory Access time 1.0 ns;
- Memory Bandwidth 128 bits;
- Type and memory volume - 256 mb. GDDR- 3;
- Energy consumption : not more than 71 W;
- Two ports DVI with dual-Link support (2560x1600) and HDCP;
- Recommended retail price $199-229.
Let us add that all video card geForce 8600 GTS with standard design support HDCP on both DVI ports , whereas in GeForce 8600 GT this possibility is option. Producer recommends using a power unit with a power not below 350 W for correct work with GeForce 8600 GTS , which ensures current 18-20 A along the +12 v line . video card geForce 8600 GTS also possess HDMI support ; however, HDMI will be installed only on video cards with special modifications.
Now let us examine the geForce 8600 GT characteristics :
- Technical process 80 nm;
- Core Frequency 540 MHz;
- Stream processors Frequency 1180 MHz;
- Number of Stream processors - 32 pieces;
- Quantity of textural blocks - 16 pieces;
- Quantity of blocks bi-linear filtration - 16 pieces;
- 8 blocks ROP;
- Memory Frequency 1400 MHz DDR;
- Memory Access time 1.4 ns;
- Memory Bandwidth 128 bits;
- Type and memory volume - 256 mb. GDDR- E;
- Energy consumption : not more than 43 W;
- Two ports DVI with dual-Link support (2560x1600);
- Recommended retail price $149-159.
As some reviewers noted, the difference in speed between GeForce 8600 GT GeForce 8600 GTS is not 50%, which relate to the price difference . Problem consists in the fact that the simpler design, slower memory and the absence of additional power connector on standard card geForce 8600 GT can become obstacles for economically effective overclock. Many NVIDIA partners propose video card geForce 8600 GT with their own design, having in this case the additional power connector and alternative cooling system.
The Video card geForce 8500 GT are based on chip g86, which can be considered as eighth part Of g80 (from the number of stream processors). Let us note that video card series geForce 8400 and GeForce 8300 will appear only on OEM- market.
Let us examine the geForce 8500 GT characteristics :
- Technical process 80 nm;
- 210 mln. transistors;
- Core Frequency 450 MHz;
- Stream processors Frequency 900 MHz;
- Number of stream processors - 16 pieces;
- Quantity of textural blocks - 8 pieces;
- Quantity of blocks bi-linear filtration - 8 pieces;
- 8 blocks ROP;
- Memory Frequency 800 MHz DDR;
- Memory Bandwidth 128 bits;
- Type and memory volume - 256 mb. or 512 mb. DDR-2;
- Energy consumption : not more than 40 W;
- Two ports DVI with dual-Link support (2560x1600);
- Recommended retail price $89-129.
The GeForce 8500 GT has also an optional HDCP support. video card Producers will propose the geForce 8500 GT versions from their own design.
NVIDIA Partners already began to actively propose the video card geForce 8600 GTS, GeForce 8600 GT and GeForce 8500 GT with standard design and high frequencies.
As the result of tests it became clear that GeForce 8600 GTS exceeds GeForce 7600 GT in average 30 - 35%, and even sometimes higher than the speed level Of geForce 7900 GT/GS or Radeon x1950 pro. But here we still consider the GeForce 7900 GS witch is cheaper than GeForce 8600 GTS, and also has an excellent overclocking capability . We note also that the GeForce 8600 GTS can confidently resist the price of competitors only in simple graphic regimes.
In a word, the prices of GeForce 8600 GTS and GeForce 8600 GT has to decrease. Related Products :
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