DailyTech - ATI's August 23 Launch Plans

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Hardware ATI's August 23 Launch Plans
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - August 16, 2006 3:45 PM

35 comment(s) - last by RamarC.. on Aug 17 at 1:45 PM

Sorry folks, launch date is August 23rd, 2006 instead of September 14th, 2006

DailyTech previously reported ATI was pushing back the launch of its Radeon X1950XTX and CrossFire graphics cards from August 23rd, 2006 to September 14th, 2006. DailyTech made an error and the launch date is still on for August 23rd, 2006. On August 23rd, 2006 the performance NDA of X1950XTX and CrossFire cards will be lifted. Retail availability (not embargo) of Radeon X1950XTX and CrossFire cards are expected on September 14th, 2006. The email sent out from ATI is as follows:

Please Note: ATI has pulled the Launch Date for the Radeon 1950 Series back to Aug 23rd, as originally scheduled. We will anounce on the 23rd and press embargo will be lifted. We will state that broad availability (retail on-shelf) will be mid-Sept. Apologies for any confusion, thank you-

Also launching on August 23rd, 2006 are refreshes to ATI’s mid-range and entry-level lineups. New to the product lineup are the Radeon X1650 Pro and X1300XT. These products are still based on the RV530 core and not the upcoming RV570 core. The Radeon X1650 Pro and X1300XT are very similar in specifications with 12 pixel shaders and 5 vertex shaders. Radeon X1650 Pro will have a 600 MHz core and 1.4 GHz memory clock while the X1300XT will have a 500 MHz core and 800 MHz memory clock.

Availability of Radeon X1950XTX and CrossFire is mid September. There’s no word on availability of the Radeon X1650 Pro and X1300XT, though mid September wouldn’t be too surprising.

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And I thought we were done with paperlaunches?

By linkgoron on 8/16/2006 5:32:47 PM , Rating: 2

just release the cards the same day...

Paper launch... Gotta love em

RE: And I thought we were done with paperlaunches?

By deeznuts on 8/16/2006 6:05:15 PM , Rating: 3

Nothing wrong with paper launches IMO. Gives a little more information before product availability. You can start doing research and planning a little early.

They do it with a bunch of other products, why should we crucify computer companies. Electronics, cars, etc. are done this way too.

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RE: And I thought we were done with paperlaunches?

By Dom on 8/16/2006 7:23:00 PM , Rating: 2

Just call it a preview on Aug and launch on Sept and it's all good. Car companies don't say a car is coming out when the previews hit the mags.

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RE: And I thought we were done with paperlaunches?

By smitty3268 on 8/16/2006 7:37:39 PM , Rating: 2

If this counts as a paper launch, then Conroe was paper launched months before it came out, and no one complained about that, did they? Well, OK, AMD fans did.

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RE: And I thought we were done with paperlaunches?

By linkgoron on 8/16/2006 7:43:53 PM , Rating: 2

because it wasn't "launched" it was a preview, which is completely different.

Calling it a launch is a lie. Instead of changing the launch date, they lie and say that they're launching it on the 23rd, when actually they just let 10 people show the results. That not a launch. It's a lie.

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RE: And I thought we were done with paperlaunches?

By melgross on 8/17/2006 1:27:00 PM , Rating: 2

The entire argument is silly. It's semantics. Preview, launch, whatever.

They tell us about the cards, and specs. we can think about what we would like to do after reading a few reviews, and then the product is available.

I don't see what the big deal is here.

I guess people have to have something to complain about. It makes them feel good.

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RE: And I thought we were done with paperlaunches?

By linkgoron on 8/16/2006 7:40:30 PM , Rating: 2

Because cars all of those stuff aren't launched, they're previewed, or advertised, which is something totally different.

Call it a preview, I don't know what, but calling it a "launch" is a lie, and DT should change the title to paper-launch.

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August 23

By Josh7289 on 8/16/2006 8:01:59 PM , Rating: 2

Is Nintendo's press conference at the Leipzig Games Convention! Yes! Wii!

Anyway, how should these two new budget cards perform compared to their Nvidia counterparts, if anyone knows?

RE: August 23

By Mojo the Monkey on 8/16/2006 8:07:41 PM , Rating: 2

looks like it could give the 7900gtx a run for its money, but not the 7950. then again, i dont believe its meant to compete in that category (over $100 more, last time i checked).

"leaked" stats showed the crossfire setup being faster than the 7950 quad SLI in certain benchmarks at high res. stats still unclear at highest levels of AA and AF though

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RE: August 23

By Nightmare225 on 8/16/2006 8:37:34 PM , Rating: 2

Those benches are fake because the Quad SLI systems in those benches have lower scores than a single card in Anandtech's review... I'm guessing they used beta drivers or something.

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RE: August 23

By Boxster17 on 8/17/2006 11:20:38 AM , Rating: 2

Did you check to see if the computer specs were the same. Last time I saw reviews, one of them was using a X6800, whereas the other was a FX55 or something like that. So something like that would make up that difference. I'm sure you didn't compare the specs to well...

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forget Aug 23

By RamarC on 8/17/2006 10:16:40 AM , Rating: 2

I'm interested in the geforce 7950GT/7900GS: http://it.com.cn/f/diy/068/14/310973.htm
I don't know if this is bogus, but if these cards release at the end of August they pretty much makes any ATi mid-upper-range irrelevant.

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RE: forget Aug 23

By KristopherKubicki

(blog) on 8/17/2006 10:26:14 AM , Rating: 2

Well the 7900GS is a very real card. It's just that it's limited to OEM builds right now since the card is basically a low-bin ASIC -- it's made from 7900GT cores that have a failed quad. Check it out here:

http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2329

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RE: forget Aug 23

By RamarC on 8/17/2006 1:45:15 PM , Rating: 2

the 7900gs is supposed to hit retail at the end of the month for only $180 and the 7950gt will be about $280. that pushes a 7900gt into the $230/$240 ballpark. ati doesn't have any GPUs that are hands-down better at these prices. even a $300 x1900xt is over-priced compared to the 7950gt. (again assuming the nvidia cards show up at the planned price points.)

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Help!

By bldckstark on 8/16/2006 4:29:47 PM , Rating: 4

Oh, thank god. I thought I was going to have to wait an extra 3 weeks to ignore this launch.

RE: Help!

By PT2006 on 8/16/2006 4:30:46 PM , Rating: 3

But wait! You still can!

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RE: Help!

By Hanzou on 8/16/2006 4:36:22 PM , Rating: 2

I am actually looking forward to this launch. I get 40% of ATI cards through our retail partnership program. At $400 msrp, this will be a big upgrade for little money.

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So you're still supporting paper launches...

By SpaceRanger on 8/16/2006 4:35:40 PM , Rating: 2

Nice.. Long live Paper Launches!

RE: So you're still supporting paper launches...

By Bull Dog on 8/16/2006 4:52:43 PM , Rating: 2

Oh give them a break, to ATI's credit, when they do paper launch they also have availbility promises that they do keep

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RE: So you're still supporting paper launches...

By SpaceRanger on 8/16/2006 5:00:18 PM , Rating: 2

My comment was directed at DailyTech... It could have been nVidia, Intel, AMD.. This just happens to be ATI.

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RE: So you're still supporting paper launches...

By akugami on 8/16/2006 7:01:48 PM , Rating: 3

Well...in ATI's defense, they said the NDA will be lifted on August 23 and that roughly mid September (one would assume 12-18) is when you'll see them on retail shelves. So unless the retail availability is later than mid September it won't be a paper launch.

It's not like they're officially announcing this thing two months in advance of availability. Most of the launch dates we've seen are from speculation and 3rd parties such as retailers and ATI's GPU partners and not from the horse's mouth so to speak.

I don't keep up with every single rumor but from what I've read, this is the first time I've read anything where it said that ATI specifically stated when the launch date was going to be.

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RE: So you're still supporting paper launches...

By MrSmurf on 8/16/06, Rating: 0

Damn - it's upgrading time (again)

By BZDTemp on 8/17/2006 5:18:01 AM , Rating: 2

Sounds like my X1900XTX will no longer be top dog so it's shopping time.

:-) I'm joking of course. I bought the X1900XTX, along with a motherboard*, when it was released and it replaced a 9700Pro which was also bought back when it was released. I'm trying to choose the cards that set new standards so that I get good performance for a long time and hopefully it's also a better investment than buying mid range and upgrading all the time.

What do you guys think of my buying strategy?

*ASUS makes a board which has PCIx and takes the P4 + RAM that was on my old motherboard - a cheap upgrade.

RE: Damn - it's upgrading time (again)

By PrinceGaz on 8/17/2006 7:17:13 AM , Rating: 3

I think your buying strategy has one serious flaw.

PCIx is totally different from PCIe. PCI-X to give it its proper abbreviation is a parallel bus that is an enhanced version of the original PCI (you can even plug many recent PCI cards into PCI-X sockets). Your X1900XTX won't plug into a PCI-X socket.

PCIe or PCI-Express is a serial bus which will eventually replace PCI and in the PCIe x16 configuration has already largely replaced AGP as the graphics-card interface of choice.

I suspect you meant to say PCIe, you're certainly not alone in getting the two confused but there are still many boards about which support PCI-X so it's important to get the names right.

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RE: Damn - it's upgrading time (again)

By poohbear on 8/17/2006 12:28:28 PM , Rating: 2

and im afraid that you're quite flawed in saying that PCI-E has largely replaced agp, since most users still use agp.

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Price drops?

By mwilkinson on 8/16/2006 5:03:31 PM , Rating: 2

Anyone know if there will be price drops on the current gen? I'm looking to get a 1900 CFE

RE: Price drops?

By Dom on 8/16/2006 5:05:42 PM , Rating: 2

There were already nice price drops on the XT and XTX. There will be more when it comes out. You have to make room for the new card.

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RE: Price drops?

By poohbear on 8/17/2006 12:26:43 PM , Rating: 2

believe there's also gonna be price drops on the 1900gt.:) should be sweet.

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Increase?

By Trisped on 8/16/2006 4:56:10 PM , Rating: 2

So I see the stats of the new cards, what were the stats of the old ones so I can compare?

RE: Increase?

By Ibrin on 8/16/2006 5:26:57 PM , Rating: 2

Here:

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/index.ph...

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Chipsets

By Mongoose88 on 8/16/2006 4:58:19 PM , Rating: 3

I just want to know when they are finally going to release their new chipsets.

Sept 14th is still the launch date

By Dom on 8/16/06, Rating: 0

RE: Sept 14th is still the launch date

By MrSmurf on 8/16/2006 7:34:55 PM , Rating: 2

Not really because after they're officially announced, they don't hit the shelves on certain dates, they tend to leak slowly onto the shelves during a timeframe. How long did it take the X800Pro to be fully stocked? The X1600?

I think that's what people don't like.

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paper launch..hmmm

By whymeintrouble on 8/17/2006 1:48:39 AM , Rating: 2

personally, I think a company should be allowed 30days after it officially announces its product to get it to stores en mass. not only for them to have some time to fill the channel, but also so they don't get 'pre' sales. the last launch ati and Nvidia had, I saw both the 7900 and 1900 cards available for purchase before they were officially announced. to me that sucks for them and shouldn't happen. So, ATI,Nvidia, AMD, Intel - you have 30 days when you make it public, if you can't fill the channel by then, then you through out another paper launch and I will take my business else where...

Not surprised.

By JWalk on 8/17/2006 11:39:28 AM , Rating: 2

ATI has no choice but to launch (paper or not) X1950 this month. If Nvidia really is going to launch G80 in September, then ATI doesn't want X1950 to launch along side it. They need to launch X1950 now and "semi-take back" the performance crown for at least a month. Then when G80 hits they tell everyone to wait for R600. Unfortunately, R600 most likely won't release until after the end of the year, if all the reports are accurate.

But, there is a big upside in all this for the consumers. ATI seems to have finally figured out how to compete in the upper-mid-range GPU market. They are keeping the X1900 XT and XTX around and lowering their prices to be sold along with the X1950 line. Meaning we finally have real price-competitive alternatives from ATI for the 7900 GT. Well, that is unless Nvidia releases a new G80-based 7900 GT replacement that is faster than all of today's high-end cards. Which is typically what they do. We will see in a month or so how things shake out.