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Hardware ATI Readies X1950, X1900XT 256MB
Sven Olsen (Blog) - August 22, 2006 1:13 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 53 comment(s) - last by OvErHeAtInG.. on Aug 26 at 9:25 PM
Without further ado, ATI's fall refresh in the flesh complete with new leaked benchmarks

ATI is set to introduce its new fall graphics card refresh in the form of the Radeon X1950XTX, Radeon X1950 CrossFire and Radeon X1900XT 256MB tomorrow, August 23rd, 2006. The new Radeon X1950 series cards will have 650 MHz core clocks as the previous X1900XTX graphics cards. Memory has been upgraded to GDDR4 clocked at 2 GHz instead of the previous 1.45 GHz on the Radeon X1900XTX. ATI’s Radeon X1900XT 256MB will also launch the same day and fill the void between the Radeon X1900GT and Radeon X1900XT 512MB.

All three new Radeon cards will have the same 48-pixel shaders as previous X1900 cards. The new cards are also fully HDCP compliant too. Only the Radeon X1950 series cards will receive ATI’s new quieter heat-pipe cooler while the Radeon X1900XT 256MB retains the same cooler as the Radeon X1900XT 512MB. Pricing on the new cards are quite competitive at $449 for the Radeon X1950XTX and Radeon X1950 CrossFire and $279 for the Radeon X1900XT 256MB. Availability of the Radeon X1950 series and Radeon X1900XT 256MB is expected in mid September, particular around September 14th.

DailyTech previously came across vendor benchmarks of ATI’s Radeon X1950 series graphics cards that showed Radeon X1950 series cards in CrossFire beat out NVIDIA’s Quad SLI. ATI has a new set of benchmarks in its most recent presentation showing similar results. According to ATI’s internal testing a pair of Radeon X1950 series cards in CrossFire beat out a pair of NVIDIA GeForce 7950GX2s in Call of Duty 2, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, FarCry, F.E.A.R., Half Life 2: Episode 1 and Serious Sam 2. NVIDIA’s Quad SLI appears to only take the lead in Prey and perform the same in Quake 4. The tests were run at 2560x1600 with 4xAA and 8xAF.

ATI has also performed internal testing of single card performance of the X1950XTX and shows minor improvements over the Radeon X1900XT. When compared to NVIDIA’s GeForce 7950GX2 the Radeon X1950XTX beats it out in all six game benchmarks. As this is ATI’s own internal testing, take it as a point of reference until reviews come out.

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Funny ATi benchmarking
By MartinT on 8/22/2006 6:53:09 AM , Rating: 3
The single card benches are skewed as expected, using "MaxAA" on the cards, forcing nVidia's products to use a 2xSuperSampling component not available from ATi. No wonder the GeForces see no land in that chart. (which is also starting at "80%" on the y-axis)

Going by these charts, I'm confident to claim that the X1950XTX loses to a GX2 when both use MSAA only, as well as a pair of X1950s in Crossfire losing a lot of benches to comparable SLi combos up to a >full HD res. (1920x1200, 24" LCD's standard)




RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By CHEATON9800XT on 8/22/2006 7:13:31 AM , Rating: 1
CHEATY-I CHEATON still alive


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By raven3x7 on 8/22/2006 9:02:59 AM , Rating: 2
At least nVIDIA knows how to cheat. This so dawm obvious.
:O X1900XT at $280? Dawm and i just bought a X1800XL at E200


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By Sharky974 on 8/23/2006 2:25:12 AM , Rating: 2
More like, at least Nvidia knows they can cheat and no websites will call them on it.

Get it right Cletus.

Nvidia used that same "start at 80%" benchmarks a while ago I remember.


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By Mister X on 8/22/2006 10:04:15 AM , Rating: 2
a 1900 XTX double as fast as a 7900 gtx, their 9800 pro probably beat a 7900 gtx to hehe


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By imaheadcase on 8/22/2006 10:52:43 AM , Rating: 2
ATI reasoning is "double the memory speed double the performance cletus!". :D


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By Sharky974 on 8/23/2006 4:45:14 AM , Rating: 2
Too bad it's not double the memory speed, it's 30% more.


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By Armorize on 8/26/2006 3:52:07 PM , Rating: 1
and too bad nvidiots havent even thought of using samsungs new gddr4 memory which has been out for quite some time now, you guys get to wait til your precious g80


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By Slaimus on 8/22/2006 2:11:57 PM , Rating: 2
MaxAA for X1900 nonCF is 6X, MaxAA for 7900 nonSLI is 8X. That 's what they are hiding.


RE: Funny ATi benchmarking
By Sharky974 on 8/23/06, Rating: 0
Should the title be "AMD Readies..." instead
By hstewarth on 8/22/2006 1:27:45 PM , Rating: 2
I would think the title should be "AMD Readies..." instead or as the AMD/ATI thing gone in effect yet.




By AthlonAlien on 8/22/2006 3:25:06 PM , Rating: 2
The article states the X1900XTX has a memory speed of 1.450GHz... that is incorrect. The XTX has a memory speed of 1.550GHz, the XT is the one with the speeds of 1.450.

-LaTeR


RE: Should the title be "AMD Readies..." instead
By shabodah on 8/22/2006 4:38:17 PM , Rating: 2
Well if you want to be technical about it, you're way off. It's DDR3 and DDR4. What's the the first "D" stand for again?!?!? LOL!


By OvErHeAtInG on 8/26/2006 9:25:03 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure what you're talking about, but the man was correct. The X1900XTX's RAM is 775 MHz or DDR 1.55. The X1900XT's RAM is 725 MHz or DDR 1.45.


RE: Should the title be "AMD Readies..." instead
By gramboh on 8/22/2006 4:24:25 PM , Rating: 3
Unless AMD chooses to amalgamate ATI into the same company, ATI remains a separate operating company (albeit wholly owned by AMD). Remember the deal has not been finalized yet either.


By hstewarth on 8/22/2006 5:41:27 PM , Rating: 1
That is big question when is deal finalized.. any way - any ATI product can basically be treated like it comes from AMD now anyway.


"nine times faster"
By CHEATON9800XT on 8/22/2006 12:04:43 PM , Rating: 2
before, CHEATY-I said
"X1800XT is nine times faster than 7800GTX in FEAR"

but 2times slower with no soft-shadow CHEAT and
no calculation lightsource CHEAT.

same thing.
tell a pack of lies




RE: "nine times faster"
By Myrandex on 8/22/2006 12:57:02 PM , Rating: 2
And what's the point of talking like a renob?


RE: "nine times faster"
By Sharky974 on 8/23/2006 2:28:34 AM , Rating: 1
"Cheaty-I"

Nvidia cheated in RdMark worse than anybody in industry history.

In fact these benchmarks aren't even cheating, they're just misleading. Cheating would be more like Nvidia shimmering driver optimizations no websites call them on so they get benchmarked at lower image qaulity than ATI cards time after time.

That would be more like cheating, Cletus.

But dont look for any websites to do more then mention it in passing, Cletus. They're in Nvidia's back pocket these days.


RE: "nine times faster"
By CHEATON9800XT on 8/25/2006 10:14:27 AM , Rating: 2
CHEATY-I is CHEATER.
CHEATON is poor performance board for RED fanboy.
yes, everybody know it.

NVIDIA is not.


RE: "nine times faster"
By CHEATON9800XT on 8/25/2006 10:25:32 AM , Rating: 2
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_x19...

CHEATON very poor performance.
CHEAT drivers,
CHEAT benchmarks chart,
CHEAT press release,
CHEAT fanboys

poorman's poorCHEATboard.


in ATi's world...
By arturnowp on 8/22/2006 9:31:20 AM , Rating: 2
and now it looks like not even X1950 but also X1900XTX is faster then GeForce 7950GX when they ain't. All reviews that I've read claims that GeForce is King of the hill or so. If Radeon X1900XTX was faster why would ATi release another card? To drop prices? LOL :D




RE: in ATi's world...
By othercents on 8/22/2006 10:18:39 AM , Rating: 2
They introduced the new card so that they can change manufacturing processes in preperation for the next chipset.

Other


RE: in ATi's world...
By Goty on 8/22/2006 10:32:31 AM , Rating: 2
That doesn't make a whole lot of sense when you consider the fact that the X1950 cards are still 90nm.


RE: in ATi's world...
By Sharky974 on 8/23/2006 4:44:39 AM , Rating: 2
The new card is just meant to be the fastest, and mainly to make the move to GDDR4.

GPU makers have a long history of releasing faster cards, you know. Nothing new.


R600
By GNStudios on 8/22/2006 3:22:55 PM , Rating: 2
I don't care. Where is the R600?




RE: R600
By Grated on 8/22/2006 4:14:30 PM , Rating: 2
The R600 is still a few months away :). It's comming


RE: R600
By GNStudios on 8/22/2006 6:13:35 PM , Rating: 2
I sure hope you´re right. I've been waiting a loooooooong time. :-)


RE: R600
By GhandiInstinct on 8/22/06, Rating: 0
RE: R600
By JeffDM on 8/23/2006 12:05:25 PM , Rating: 2
ATI isn't a dump truck, it's a series of 64 tubes!


hmm prices?
By JaredExtreme on 8/22/2006 9:07:02 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure why someone would spend $278 on the new 256 meg version of the 1900xt when you can get the old 512 meg model for the same price after rebates. If ati wants the new 256 meg version to be competitive, they should drop it down to $200 during the paper launch.




RE: hmm prices?
By coldpower27 on 8/22/2006 9:24:15 AM , Rating: 2
This is the MSRP price, actually retail prices will be lower once the prices settle down.




RE: hmm prices?
By insertnicknamehere on 8/22/2006 10:53:51 AM , Rating: 2
Take note that all of these benchmarks are at 1600x1200 with "MaxAA" and 16xAA; who says ATI can run the same AA as nvidia?


RE: hmm prices?
By Sharky974 on 8/23/2006 4:46:01 AM , Rating: 1
And who says Nvidia can run as shimmer free as Nvidia?


Who needs 2560x1600 with 4xAA and 8xAF
By TellTale on 8/22/2006 10:53:32 AM , Rating: 2
Interesting what the MB and CPU did they use?
Aslo who really needs 2560x1600 with 4xAA and 8xAF???
Usualy users use 1024*768 or 1200*1024 due to TFT resolutions.
It's interesting to take a look at 1024*768 and 1200*1024 resolutions results. I think that the difference won't be huge.
To my opinion - I'm waiting for results from www.xtremesystems.com and overclockers.ru




By arturnowp on 8/22/2006 11:04:55 AM , Rating: 2
If someone plays at those resolution it means he/she doesn't need this kind of video cards. Those are for people with large panel at least 20" with resolutions like 1680x1050 or 1920x1200.


By Roy2001 on 8/22/2006 6:32:11 PM , Rating: 2
Those who can afford 2 X1950XTX would buy a 30" LCD, don't they?


add the 7950gt for $299 to the mix
By RamarC on 8/22/2006 11:09:55 AM , Rating: 2
it hits the streets out on 9/14 also so expect a benchmark frenzy over the next 3 weeks.




RE: add the 7950gt for $299 to the mix
By smitty3268 on 8/22/2006 1:09:03 PM , Rating: 2
One of those pictures says the NDA expires tomorrow, so we might even get reviews tonight (after midnight).


By smitty3268 on 8/22/2006 1:10:14 PM , Rating: 2
Oops, you were talking about a different card.

DELETE.
DELETE.
DELETE.


Wow
By Sharky974 on 8/23/06, Rating: 0
RE: Wow
By Pugnate on 8/23/2006 3:25:30 AM , Rating: 2
Well say what you will about Nvidia, at least their cars don't over heat and their drivers are extremely stable.


RE: Wow
By Sharky974 on 8/23/2006 4:42:10 AM , Rating: 2
That's true, but then neither do ATI's.

Both companies put out good stable cards that dont overheat and stable drivers.


RE: Wow
By coldpower27 on 8/23/2006 8:40:54 AM , Rating: 2
The Geforce 7950GX2 is actually a pretty economical solution as it only requires, 1.2GHZ GDDR3 as well as the relatively tiny G71 GPU.

It's only a temporary solution to hold the flagship position until G80, that has been Nvidia's philospohy this generation, good cost to produce GPU's.

Nvidia will be creating faster Single die video cards again.


Reviews are out
By MrFluffo on 8/23/2006 10:21:07 AM , Rating: 2
Anandtech recently put out a review of these cards and as expected the 1950xtx cant keep up with the 7950gx2 by a marginal amount. Untill Nvidia gets quad SLI moving along the 1950xtx in crossfire is a nice combination.




RE: Reviews are out
By bighairycamel on 8/24/2006 7:32:01 AM , Rating: 2
So those ATI benches are definately fudged. But remember the GX2 is $150 more so we can't complain much there. But for the single card champ, it's still held by NVidia.


RE: Reviews are out
By MrFluffo on 8/24/2006 10:29:24 AM , Rating: 2
Nonsense the gx2 costs under $550USD on Newegg


The cruel irony!
By traxcore on 8/23/2006 5:03:54 AM , Rating: 2
The cruel irony of it all.. is that back in the day nVIDIA gave 3DFX so much abuse because the only way 3DFX could compete was by adding more and more GPU.. NOW nVIDIA is doing the same thing..

I do for sure know who my next gfx vendor is :)




RE: The cruel irony!
By coldpower27 on 8/23/2006 8:43:44 AM , Rating: 2
There is a differece here.

The 7950GX2 outperforms the X1950 XTX. It's was the other way around with 3DFX, their Voodoo 5 5500 lost to the Geforce 2 GTS in performance even with 2 dies.

This situation won't last long and likely will not happen again, the G80 probably is too complex to be using 2 of them with a single card solution, so most likely were going back to a single die solution on the high end when Geforce 8 arrives.


If Only ATI would get RID OF CCC
By XelHa on 8/23/2006 6:48:41 AM , Rating: 2
The Catalyst Control Center would almost make anyone NOT wish to buy ATI. Truly it is a step back for gamers interested in fast access to their Control Panel without all the .net & CCC & SMART GART BS. They should rename it the Communist Conformity Conundrum. It takes more time to set up that POS than it does to install XP!

So if you wish to go thru BS / CCC to play a few games or switch to your tv & watch a dvd...choose ATI :).

This coming from a former ATI lover.




Single Card SLI
By BLOfelt22 on 8/23/2006 10:01:54 AM , Rating: 2
I remember reading somewhere that the 7950gx2 was meant to be a single card SLI solution thus negating the need for an SLI based chipset. As I understand it the 7950gx2 will run full tilt on an Intel, VIA, even ATI chipset albeit with a possible bios reflash.

What I dont understand is why it is even being compared to a single GPU x1950 in CF solution? If they said that the x1950 in CF beats out a 7900gtx in SLI then I would think it makes more sense. The 7950gx2 in my opinion is a niche product. It is something NVIDIA did so they could say "because we can" if not a tech demo made available for the masses.




X1800
By Armorize on 8/26/2006 3:49:32 PM , Rating: 2
I think the x1800 should get a gddr4 revamp too, if they did that it would help lower the prices of the existing cards even further, and make one more awesome card.




Pictures
By goku on 8/22/2006 6:49:15 AM , Rating: 1
These pictures are incorrect, it says that the X1900XT beats the 7900GTX/7950GX2 etc.. Isn't it suppose to say X1950XT?




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