Specifications: Better!
As is often the case, Nvidia is making two cards available for its launch – a very-high-end version, the GeForce GTX 280, and a slightly more affordable but still high-end card, the GeForce 260 GTX. Let’s look at the other characteristics of these cards compared to their competitors.
| GPU | HD 3870 X2 | 9800 GX2 | 8800 Ultra | 260 GTX | 280 GTX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPU frequency | 825 MHz | 600 MHz | 612 MHz | 576 MHz | 602 MHz |
| ALU frequency | 825 MHz | 1500 MHz | 1512 MHz | 1242 MHz | 1296 MHz |
| Memory frequency | 900 MHz | 1000 MHz | 1080 MHz | 999 MHz | 1107 MHz |
| Memory bus width | 2x256 bits | 2x256 bits | 384 bits | 448 bits | 512 bits |
| Memory type | GDDR3 | GDDR3 | GDDR3 | GDDR3 | GDDR3 |
| Memory quantity | 2 x 512 MB | 2x512 MB | 768 MB | 896 MB | 1024 MB |
| Number of ALUs | 640 | 256 | 128 | 192 | 240 |
| Number of texture units | 32 | 128 | 32 | 64 | 80 |
| Number of ROPs | 32 | 32 | 24 | 28 | 32 |
| Shading power | 1 TFlops | (1152) GFlops | (581) GFlops | 715 GFlops | 933 GFlops |
| Memory bandwidth | 115.2 GB/s | 128 GB/s | 103.7 GB/s | 111.9 GB/s | 141.7 GB/s |
| Number of transistors | 1334 million | 1010 million | 754 million | 1400 million | 1400 million |
| Process | 0.055µ | 0.065µ | 0.080µ | 0.065µ | 0.065µ |
| Die surface area | 2 x 196 mm² | 2 x 324 mm² | 484 mm² | 576 mm² | 576 mm² |
| Generation | 2008 | 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2008 |
| Shader Model supported | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
With 1,400 million transistors, and especially at 576 mm², Nvidia has created another monster – the biggest GPU ever produced, breaking the record, impressive as it was, of the G80 (16% smaller)! Yet this value ought to have remained constant over the generations (it has even been diminishing in recent times for “general-public” CPUs). Clearly production of the GT200 is extremely expensive for Nvidia, even if the conservative engraving depth is what explains the existence of a chip like this today.
Another notable point is that by continuing to use GDDR3, Nvidia is now not one but two generations behind in this department, since GDDR5 will make its appearance with the soon-to-be-released Radeon HD 4870. But though that is worth mentioning, thanks to the 512-bit bus, the increase of memory bandwidth is still 64% compared to the 8800 GTX’s 86.4 GB/s. And we’re finally seeing the debut of a high-end card with more than 512 MB of usable memory (not counting the relatively old and not widely distributed 8800 Ultra)! With 1 GB (and 896 MB for the 260 GTX – a good thing), performance at 2560*1600 resolution should finally be able to hold up!
Finally, the frequencies used are fairly conservative, especially with the ALUs, which are slower than on the 8800 Ultra, among others.
hmm not as big an improvement as i thought. will have to wait and see on the drivers improving the cards , but the 260 gtx seems to be the much better option given the price. still , will have to see what ati bring to the fray first. patience will be reflected in price i have no doubt.
frankly depressing, Me WANTS MRAW POWER!!!!
I am so disappointed. Now if AMD delivers on the dual GPU single memory rumour (2 GPUs on a single card but without the Crossfire problems) NVidia could have a serious problem.
Why have they tested this system with only 2Gb of RAM? If you're testing a GPU with 1Gb of VRAM, surely you'd have more installed?
They also have 2 conflicting prices on page 28.
For the 280GTX- $846 and $650;
For the 260GTX- $450 and $400
Wouldn't it have been more prudent to test against a 8800gtx ultra as this is still the single most powerfull card.
It might just be me but 66.5dBa is unbearable unless you have your PC locked away in a cupboard somewhere. This business of supplying substandard fans on very expensive cards is intolerable. Why don't they strike a deal with Zalman / Thermalright for example, and ship cards that are quiet / silent? I'm sure that people who have the money to buy a £500 GPU could afford £10 more for a better cooling solution that's included.
where is that 20W to 30W idle you are talking about? The least in the graph is 199W!
mi1ez: Probably the reason for just 2GB RAM was that it allowed Tom's to stick with 32-bit OS architecture. If they tried using more RAM they'd be stuck with 64-bit Bindows which would not be pretty - aside from really needing 8GB to give a big difference over 2GB in 32bit Vista, there's the slight issue of stable signed drivers, which these cards probably won't have for a while. Good luck trying to get Vista 64 to even "see" the cards! XD
jhoravi: that idle power would only come up on newer nVidia mobos as the card would be shut down entirely when idle and hand over to the integrated chip.
And was it me or was the Noise text copypasted over the Temperature text on the next page? Oops.
Lets try again Mr THG (uhhhm try getting your fraking website working plz)...
Now lets see this puppy in action:
http://www.evga.com/products/pdf/01G-P3-1289-AR.pdf
!!
Bob