Nvidia: OEMs to Blame for Re-branding GPUs
It's big OEMs that are causing this re-branding madness, says Nvidia.
Most recently, GeForce 300-level GPUs appeared on Nvidia's website. Although Nvidia made it clear that the 400-level cards would carry the latest GF100 Fermi technology, the new 300-level cards quietly appeared without any fanfare – likely because they were rebrands meant for OEMs.
What's with this rebranding business? Nvidia explained to Bit-tech that it is something that OEMs want in order to keep their spec sheets looking fresh and cutting edge. The company also said that rebranding is something it does at the request of large PC OEMs, but did not name specific brands.
Nvidia stressed that rebranded products are not likely to make it to the retail space, so that the enthusiast buying a GPU won't be faced with confusing rebrands. Those buying a complete PC, however, could be getting an older technology with a new name.
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I expect people to come along and say Nvidia is lying. Regardless of that; I always suspected this.
"OEMs want in order to keep their spec sheets looking fresh and cutting edge".
In other words, "We feel we can disguise older parts well enough to fool some people thereby keeping our profit margins up to spec".
I still think rebranding is bad, plain and simple.
Is what they mean to say that they wont be doing this again? the 8800GTS/9800GTX/9800GTX+/GTS250 is an enthusiast part is it not?
Read between the lines ... it WAS the OEMs pushing the rebrands to keep the spec sheets ticking over, but why? Because Nvidia wasn't releasing new products - which is entirely Nvidia's fault. If ATI was having trouble bringing their new products to market, then OEMs would be asking them to rebrand too.