Dual-GPU Fermi card to launch after singles *rumor*

[Vir]

Hi,

Just came across this, hope it hasn't been posted already :

First to launch are two single-GPU cards

Fermi GF100 is a single chip GT300-based 40nm DirectX 11 card. Nvidia plans to launch two cards that will aim to replace Geforce GTX 285 and Geforce GTX 260 in enthusiast and performance markets respectively, while the high-end dual-chip Fermi card will come after.

We don’t know how much later the dual-GPU should launch, but it should happen within one to two months. If all goes well and it doesn’t get delayed, we can hope to see it by May. Around that time, ATI might be ready with its refreshed 40nm cards that might have more juice and could compete better. However, this is only after Nvidia finally launches its GT300, Fermi-based products.

It is definitely not fun to be in Nvidia's shoes, especially when it comes to the desktop graphics card market.

Source: Fudzilla

 

[Greebo]

I'm guessing that if it's true that the GT380 is a 300W card then the dual gpu card will be the cut down GT360 with quite possible lower still clocks.

As always, pricing will be the key.

 

[han_solo]

As always i expect NV to price their cards really really high initially to get people who can either afford it or have no sense (or a combination of the two) and then lower prices to be a more competitive level (assuming no production issues that is).

 

[Auraomega]

I'm guessing that if it's true that the GT380 is a 300W card then the dual gpu card will be the cut down GT360 with quite possible lower still clocks.

Isn't this basically what the 5970 is? Just 2 5870s running at 5850 clocks to keep under the power limits? Maybe my memory is failing me however

 

[LoadsaMoney]

They need certified cases as well, so theres £150+ yer gona have to add on, so if you don't get the certified case as well, im guessing you won't have a warranty if it goes wrong

 

[Greebo]

Isn't this basically what the 5970 is? Just 2 5870s running at 5850 clocks to keep under the power limits? Maybe my memory is failing me however

It is and always the same with dual cards. However the anology in Nvidia's case would be more like the 5970 being made up of two 5850's running at slower speeds than a 5850

 

[Gerard]

Isn't this basically what the 5970 is? Just 2 5870s running at 5850 clocks to keep under the power limits? Maybe my memory is failing me however

Yeah but not to the same extent of castration that 2 300 watt chips will need to have to come in at the atx spec. The 5870 is under 200 watts at load, (188 according to hardocp) and they only had to downclock the 5970 to 5850 speeds, id love to know how much downclocking a dual fermi will need. Probably too much to make the card worthwhile.

 

[Greebo]

Yeah but not to the same extent of castration that 2 300 watt chips will need to have to come in at the atx spec. The 5870 is under 200 watts at load, (188 according to hardocp) and they only had to downclock the 5970 to 5850 speeds, id love to know how much downclocking a dual fermi will need. Probably too much to make the card worthwhile.

Which is why I could never see them making a dual fermi card unless pci-e 3 comes in and allows them a larger overhead than 300W.

But pci-e 3 isn't until much later this year I beleive and even then it would be such a small market they would be aiming at, only those people who have bought a new pci-e 3 motherboard.

EDIT: There are uncomfirmed rumours that pci-e 3 will up the maximum 300W allowed for the card so perhaps come next year Nvidia could release a full speed dual core Fermi.

 

[Ritsugamesh]

Interesting stuff, thanks for the find Vir!

Unsure quite how this is going to pan out, but it would look like nVidia are trying to give promises of really high performing cards, with the prospect of a dual card being absurdly fast compared to the fermi single variants already being hyped to be better than all 5800 series cards from ATi. Whether this is the case I am unsure, but it looks like an interesting next few months.