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Hardware ATI Radeon X1900 GT Leaked
Brandon Hill (Blog) - April 10, 2006 5:24 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 43 comment(s) - last by rrsurfer1.. on Apr 18 at 3:12 PM
ATI adds another SKU to the X1900 series

There is a new Radeon X1900 series graphics card waiting in the wings. According to internal documents, ATI is set to release a single-slot Radeon X1900 GT with 36 pixel shaders. The card is in effect, a cut-down version of the Radeon X1900 XTX and is positioned to go toe-to-toe with NVIDIA's popular GeForce 7900 GT in performance and in price. CrossFire support can be enabled with an external cable connection to a Radeon X1900 512MB CrossFire Edition graphics card. 

Qualification samples of the Radeon X1900 GT are available now with production starting the week of April 14th. According to ATI, support for the X1900 GT will be added in Catalyst driver 6.4 (ver 8.241) -- which ATI expects to release tommorow or the day after. 

Here are the specs for the new card in comparison to the Radeon X1900 XTX:
Radeon X1900 GT
Radeon X1900 XTX
Pixel Shaders
 36 48
Core Clock
575MHz
650MHz
Memory Size
256MB
512MB
Memory Clock
600MHz/1.2GHz
775MHz/1.55GHz

The ATI part number for the X1900GT will be 100-435803.  Samples are already apparently shipping to certain vendors and media.  The X1900GT will only require a single slot cooling solution, but it is up to the AIB partners to specify the exact cooler desired. 

Current GeForce 7900GT cards retail for just over $300.  Vendors tell us pricing has not been officially announced, but that every sign seems to indicate that the X1900 GT will show up priced at or below that $300 magic mark.  Since the Radeon X1900 GT is based on the R580 ASIC, there is already talk that an "unlock" might be in the works to convert an X1900 GT into a full blown X1900 XT.  Coupled with good heat sink solutions, and ATI's new stance on overclocking, the Radeon X1900 GT might be the next killer card this summer.


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GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By Xavian on 4/10/2006 7:21:47 PM , Rating: 2
What happened to the 'XL' Line of the X1000 series? Surely X1900 XL would be a better name then X1900 GT (which clearly sticks out and comes from nvidias PR) but for the rest of the article, unless ATi makes improvements on its shaders and pipelines (a la Nvidia) i think this card may fall short of competing with the 7900 GT.

But we will see!




RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By MrCoyote on 4/10/2006 8:56:26 PM , Rating: 1
What reviews were you reading? Every review I read has the X1800XT beating the 7900GT. Except for the reviews on NVnews, or other biased sites.


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By MrCoyote on 4/10/2006 8:58:29 PM , Rating: 2
Typo...X1900XT has already beaten 7900GT. X1800XT beats the 7900GT is SOME benchmarks. Nvidia loses.


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By coldpower27 on 4/10/2006 9:27:40 PM , Rating: 2
X1900 XT beats the 7900 GT and rightfully so, it is in another price bracket entirely.


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By Xavian on 4/11/2006 8:37:42 AM , Rating: 3
Did i miss something? nowhere did i mention the X1900 XT!? theres a 'possibility' that the card could be unlocked, which doesnt mean they will be able to. These could simply be cards that are reused when they didn't make the grade as a X1900 XT/XTX, which could mean that most of these cards wont unlock.

However the card in its current form (the GT not the XT!) will probably not defeat the 7900GT, considering that the 7900GT performs slightly better then the 7800GTX, and one 1/4 of the pixel shaders have been disabled, with slower memory/GPU clocks. Considering that theres really no ATi card out there to compete with the 7900GT at its price point , it might help push down prices for the 7900GT


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By wileec on 4/11/2006 10:15:32 AM , Rating: 2
The X1800XT actually beats the 7900GT in most benchmarks. ATI doesn't need a 7900GT killer. They already have one. Plus ATI x1xxx cards can do AA with HDR enabled. Can you say the same for Nvidia?


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By Lakku on 4/12/2006 2:13:06 AM , Rating: 2
Yes, nVidia cards can't do HDR + FSAA when FP16 blends are used, but a number of games with HDR have programmed around that to allow all cards to use FSAA with HDR, ala HL2 and AoE 3. I can only imagine in a game like Serious Sam 2, Far Cry, or Oblivion, that performance would be mediocre at best. It's a nice feature but running at 1680X1050 or higher can help make up for it, and it boils down to being something not overly useful in this generation. Avivo is a better selling point for why ATi is a better buy. (Plus, I might add, ATi cards render Oblivion quite poorly according to Gamespot and some other sites, refering mainly to shadows and self shadowing).


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By gersson on 4/13/2006 9:38:59 AM , Rating: 2
But that's cos the self shadow feature is bugged!


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By MrCoyote on 4/13/2006 2:44:46 PM , Rating: 2
Who cares if the x1900 "GT" won't beat the 7900GT? After reading more reviews, it looks like the X1800XT is very close to 7900GT and beating it in some benchmarks. Especially in AA + HDR. It is also $40 cheaper. X1900GT is placed between the X1800XT and X1900XT. So it should beat Nvidia 7900GT too.

Benchmarks don't lie and I could care either way if it's an Nvidia or ATI card in my system. But with AA + HDR, X1800XT already comes ahead of the 7900GT. Yet people somehow think it is so much faster than any ATI card.


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By poohbear on 4/18/2006 3:56:11 AM , Rating: 2
"Plus, I might add, ATi cards render Oblivion quite poorly according to Gamespot and some other sites, refering mainly to shadows and self shadowing."

huh? ati beats nvidia in every benchmark i've seen for oblivion. my next card is ati 4 this reason, my 6800gt aint cutting it anymore.:(



RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By coldpower27 on 4/10/2006 9:24:36 PM , Rating: 2

X1800 XT is also much more costly to produced with how complex the PCB is and it's Dual Slot Cooling solution, not to mention it consumer nearly twice as much energy to reach it's performance over the 7900 GT.

Not a complete win in the slightest.


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By z3R0C00L on 4/11/2006 10:47:42 AM , Rating: 2
Since when does the cost to the manufacturer really matter to the consumer?

If they're willing to sell a card that is of higher quality (costs more to make) for the same price as the defective 7900GT's then by all means I see nothing bad with that.

If you don't know what I mean about defective 7900GT and GTX's.. perhaps you should read up on the factory overclocked cards.. they're utter crap.
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=235


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By bob661 on 4/11/2006 1:02:02 PM , Rating: 2
Thanks for the info but I wouldn't call the cards "utter crap" when it was obvious the problem was a vender issue, not a manufacturing one. Besides, the problem has been resolved.


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By coldpower27 on 4/10/2006 9:26:51 PM , Rating: 2
X1900 XL would represent a fully functional SKU if prior cards are to used as an indicator:

for example:

X800 XL 16/6 vs X850 XT PE 16/6
X1800 XL 16/8 vs X1800 XT 16/8

So a X1900 XL would have to be placed between this X1900 GT and the already existing X1900 XT, if I was a betting man I would give it the same clock rates as X1900 GT but make it a fully functional part.


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By Xavian on 4/11/2006 8:16:58 AM , Rating: 2
I stand corrected, GTO might be a better name then GT then considering the disabled parts of previous cards on that line


RE: GT ... taking from Nvidia?
By DeathByDuke on 4/11/2006 3:19:18 PM , Rating: 2
All In Wonder X1900 is the XL. 500/1000 16 pipes.


cool
By vzero on 4/10/2006 6:33:30 PM , Rating: 2
Seems like an interesting one, but it has its work cut out to beat the volt-modded 7900gt's...




RE: cool
By Praxis1452 on 4/10/2006 7:22:09 PM , Rating: 2
if it unlocks... :-D


RE: cool
By 5150Joker on 4/11/2006 6:59:34 AM , Rating: 1
Why would it need to compete against a volt modded 7900 GT that has voided it's warranty? Joe sixpacks of the world don't go around volt modding their shiny new cards.


RE: cool
By bob661 on 4/11/2006 12:49:10 PM , Rating: 3
Joe Six Pack doesn't buy X1900's or 7900's either.


RE: cool
By Mr Perfect on 4/11/2006 2:51:49 PM , Rating: 2
*shudder* No, they buy GeForce 4 MXs. Gaah.


RE: cool
By rrsurfer1 on 4/18/2006 3:12:32 PM , Rating: 2
Hey I've got that! It's a piece of crap. Good thing I don't game :)


RE: cool
By yzhu92 on 4/11/2006 11:55:11 PM , Rating: 2
This card should be available for PCI and AGP slots.


RE: cool
By MrSmurf on 4/15/2006 12:46:38 PM , Rating: 2
I hope you meant PCI Express... bit of a difference, lol. ;)


ATI cooling is now acceptable ?
By WT on 4/11/06, Rating: 0
RE: ATI cooling is now acceptable ?
By z3R0C00L on 4/11/2006 10:49:44 AM , Rating: 2
The 7900GT uses the crappiest heatsinks of all... I'm willing to wager your heatsink's fan won't last a year.

Heck the heatsink itself is made by using cheap piece of copper, bending it, then somewhat soldering it together.



RE: ATI cooling is now acceptable ?
By WT on 4/11/2006 10:57:24 AM , Rating: 2
Interesting slam on the 7900GT cooling z3ROCOOL. Rather surprising that the EVGA card is clocked that high but still running well in several reviewers rigs:

Consider the newest CPU magazine with their review of the EVGA cards as well as others from BFG and XFX.
http://www.computerpoweruser.com/editorial/article...

If the link is truncated, I will copy -n- paste the relevant portion below:

It might be tempting to raise an eyebrow at Evga’s super-aggressive overclocking move. After all, the 7900 GT CO Superclocked sports the same tiny cooler as Nvidia’s reference GeForce 7600 GT. But the real value in this card is a confidence-inspiring lifetime warranty that protects against any possibility of failure. And even with higher clock speeds, the fan on our sample never seemed taxed. Overheating shouldn’t be a concern with this jewel.


RE: ATI cooling is now acceptable ?
By Sk1 on 4/11/2006 9:21:36 PM , Rating: 2
I have read that there is a "shimmering" problem with the 7900 series,...is this issue resolved?
I am planning on getting a new m/b and video card in the next 2 weeks or so and I am torn between ATI and NVIDA.
Each time I make up my mind,I read a new article or post that changes my mind!
My current card is an AGP X850XT {on Ebay now}with the Arctic5,and I have had great luck with it,so I am leaning ATI at the moment.
BTW,my first post here so,..HI EVERYONE.


By z3R0C00L on 4/12/2006 9:23:55 PM , Rating: 2
Well.. perhaps I should enlighten you on the issues surrounding the 7900GT.

PC Perspective have an analysis on the cards from XFX, eVGA and BFG. IT's a known issue and each manufacturer's forums are filled with cards that won't boot (DOA), artifacts, display a blank screen when a game is run or burn out.

Yeah a Lifetime warranty it nice.. but when users are already up to there 4th RMA'd card in less then a month... there's a problem don't you think?

nVIDIA is said to be revising a few things to address this issue.. I suppose they didn't think there partners would be so stupid as to overclock these cards by so much and yet still use a reference cooler.


Oh man.
By wuZheng on 4/10/2006 11:18:35 PM , Rating: 3
Do ANY of you know how kickass this card will be when its released, its obviously going to have some potential to unlock and overclock, we'll end up with a case similar to the x800gto2 and we all know that the gto2 was and probably still is the best buy on the market for a DX9b compatible card. So I wouldn't mind getting what could potentially be a x1900xtx for about 200-300 dollars. That'd smoke the 7900GT which is btw, limited in availability.




RE: Oh man.
By etriky on 4/11/2006 4:43:49 AM , Rating: 2
Speaking of availability, does anyone know whats up with Nvidia and the 7900 series? The GTX is NOT available and the GT is hard to find now. They have nailed the hard launch, but can't seem to keep the damn things in stock.

/rant
Disclaimer: As is required in all graphics posts I will state my graphics card company fan club affiliation. I like Nvidia. No reason. I don't care. You can't change my opinion.
/rant


RE: Oh man.
By HPTech on 4/11/2006 6:24:48 AM , Rating: 2
Hi!

Don't know where you are located in the world but they're available in the UK and in stock!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/7900_Series...

http://komplett.co.uk/k/search.asp?q=7900gt < - OOS now but some arriving today/2 days


xt?
By jwoicik on 4/10/2006 6:44:58 PM , Rating: 2
Where does the XT version fit in?




RE: xt?
By Duraz0rz on 4/10/2006 7:18:11 PM , Rating: 2
XT = slightly lower clocked XTX for $100 less


Omega Drivers
By Spinne on 4/12/2006 9:23:09 AM , Rating: 2
Doesanyone still use Omega drivers for their ATI cards? I remember in the early days of the Catalyst program when people would swear by the Omega drivers, but I haven't heard about them in forever. The Omega drivers are still produced, BTW - http://www.omegadrivers.net/




RE: Omega Drivers
By goku on 4/13/2006 8:02:53 AM , Rating: 2
Um, yea... Infact there isn't a better time to be using the omegadrivers than now, with ATI shoving the CCC drivers down our throats and all... Omegadrivers are so much beter than then have been before, I plan on sticking with the omegadrivers so long as they exist.


ALALALAa
By BassBomb on 4/10/06, Rating: 0
RE: ALALALAa
By hwhacker on 4/10/2006 7:52:06 PM , Rating: 3
This is more like a x1900GTO, although i'm sure the DT guys know the name...If they say GT, it's prolly GT. ATi, as well as Nvidia are known for reusing, rehashing, and recreating the suffixes used in older and/or competing product...apparently in efforts to confuse the hell out of Joe Shmoe.

As for the X1900XL, last time I checked...that's still coming...Most likely priced in-between this product and the x1900xt, just as the generation before it (GTO,XL,XT,/[xtx])

I was actually hoping the x1900xl would come at the magic $300 mark to compete with the 7900gt. With these clocks though, you can't help but think X1900 (R580) must be having good clock (and pipe)yields.

No doubt this line-up is planned to replace the x1800 (R520) line-up as it eventually goes the way of the Dodo and all of the old cores are used (or used to fight lower-end competition such as the 7600gt/7800gt/7800gtx perhaps at a lower price point)...If that holds true it could soon be priced very well (x1800gto style) and the x1900GT could indeed hold the same characteristic of the x1800GTO (which can flash to an X1800XL), being able to flash to a x1900xl, if not higher because of yields being so good on the cores...Mem speeds could be a problem though for a flash to XT, although manual overclocking could still be very good when flashed to an XL.

Any word Brandon or Kris which mem these are going to use? One would assume both would use 1.4ns (1400mhz) to keep the price down and XT flashing impossible, but you never know. Thx. :)


Awwww man!
By breethon on 4/10/2006 7:33:57 PM , Rating: 2
I was thinking of trying Nvidia and leaving the Canadians...but with this gem (if it does in fact unlock :) I may have to rethink my upgrades. Shame that I have an SLI board and it is going to waste on my Unlocked X800 GTO. I may never get a chance to use it :(




.........
By sircuit on 4/11/2006 2:14:16 PM , Rating: 2
Sounds great but I'll wait for the X1900LMNOP




this is going to be awesome
By andrewrocks on 4/15/2006 1:34:03 AM , Rating: 1
this will fucking slaughter a 7900GT

it all depends on it's price now




RE: this is going to be awesome
By tekkstore on 4/17/06, Rating: 0
subject
By tapa on 4/11/06, Rating: 0
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