GeForce 8600: DirectX 10 For The Masses

[miribus]

From everything I've seen the best version of 8600gt is barely better than the 7600gt in DX9 for more money than it should be. In that respect the 8600gts is a fine choice when it drops lower in price. Probably not long after the r600s are released. Personally I think this is nvidia's intent. They don't have a mainstream DX10 competitor and are hoping the very fact that it supports it (in a mainstream way) is enough to make people jump to buying it for more than it's really worth now. I don't think the card is worth it's price, if I were to even consider it, even if I had a 6600 or 7600, I'd just wait until it reached a lower price to offset it's apparent "It supports DX10, whether you need it or not, so we'll jack it up $25 and hope you bite."
The 8600GTS @ $200 on the other hand seems to be a solid performer at a fair price. I would've liked to have seen it's DX9 performance against an x1950xt w/ 256 though and not the xtx.

 

[anthropophaginian]

I was a bit disappointed by the power offered by these cards but the pricing seems reasonable enough - €150 for the cheapest 8600GTS in comparison to €300 for the 8800GTS 320MB - so that's not bad especially considering how dear some hardware is here (in Ireland).
The 8500GT minimum is about €85 (256MB) and €100 for the 512MB.

Conclusion:
There's plenty of room for another card above the 8600GTS - 8700 or 8800GS or something of the likes.
The new cards seem to be reasonably priced in comparison the the existing 8800 range. However, we neeed ATI to shake up prices a bit - the 8800GTS 320MB hasn't moved in price since the release!

 

[sojrner]

there are reviews out there that paint the card in a better light... taking them for what they are worth, and looking at where the 1950pro is I think GrapeApe has a good take on it. If you remove dx10 it is almost a lateral move from the 1950 to the 8600... add 20 bucks for dx10 (which we have no idea how the card will perform with) and you end up with too high a price. When the price drops it will be a solid mid-range card that sits under the 8800 320.

Just my 2 bits on that. 😉

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

we should wait for SLI benchmark

They've been tested;
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_8600_gts_preview/page17.asp

Interesting game specific benefits. About half the time putting it just above the 8800GTSs, the other half putting it below the GTS-320.

And anything that's memory limited on the GTS-320 is just going to get worse on 2 GF8600GTSs sharing 256MB.

For the price of the 8600SLi, I think a GTX would be better and more global benefits.

 

[Track]

The 8600 GTS sucks. Dont buy it!

Either buy the 8600 GT for 150$ or the 8800 GTS 320 for 250$.

 

[Multiplectic]

By the way, I've seen this in a couple of webs today... Linky linky

That GS is looking interesting. Maybe the "64 SP / 256-bit" card we were all waiting for. I'm looking forward to it (and to unlock those hidden SPs). 😉

 

[enewmen]

By the way, I've seen this in a couple of webs today... Linky linky

That GS is looking interesting. Maybe the "64 SP / 256-bit" card we were all waiting for. I'm looking forward to it (and to unlock those hidden SPs). 😉

I heard of shader units, but not bus paths. Is this possible?

 

[Multiplectic]

I'm sorry... bus paths? :?

With "SPs" I meant Shader Processors. I'm sorry if I confused you.

 

[enewmen]

I'm sorry... bus paths? :?

With "SPs" I meant Shader Processors. I'm sorry if I confused you.

I don't think you confused me. You talked about getting 64 SP and 256 bits. I heard of unlocking the SPs, but not going from 128 to 256 bits by an unlock.

 

[Multiplectic]

I didn't say anything of unlocking the memory bus. :tongue:
I was talking about the SPs only.
It's all a big misunderstanding! 😳

But, "bus paths"... that sounds VERY interesting...

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Well actually it would be just crippling the G80 further, like the GTX to GTS goes 128->96SPs and 386->320bit memory, so 96->64 and 320->256 seems like a logical cripple.

However remember that's a 680million transistor chip only functioning at about 50%. Not very cost effect. It'd be like the R9500P, a killer card, but not something the company wants to make many off unless they have alot of binned parts. It would be better to do a new 350-400million transistor chip specifically designed for the role unless they have alot of rejects.

 

[anthropophaginian]

we should wait for SLI benchmark

They've been tested;
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/nvidia_geforce_8600_gts_preview/page17.asp



So for the same price of 8600GTS sli, I could get an 8800GTS 320MB, with roughly the same performance and a lot less power consumption.

🙁
I was hoping this series might be more energy efficient; looks like I'll be waiting for the next set of releases.

 

[Multiplectic]

It'd be like the R9500P, a killer card...

And a helluva overclocker! Hell yeah! :twisted:

 

[r0x0r]

Coz as of rite now the 8 series seems to suck big time... The 8 series just seems to be the card nvidia release to enable HDR and anti-aliasing for current games on the pc.
Dont get me wrong, I really like Nvidia, but they really need to step it up a notch with the 8series.

Yeah 'cos they're facing tough competition at the high-end at the moment :roll:

I presume you meant anything below an 8800 needs to be stepped up a notch.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Well looks like the GF8800GS was a typo;

http://www.guru3d.com/news.html#5223

Either that or an orphan product that just doesn't make market sense and killed off.

 

[Multiplectic]

A shame, truly a shame... Anyways, "either that or an orphan product that just doesn't make market sense and killed off", OR, someone screwed up the surprise... who knows. 😉

I already ordered my XFX 8600GTS OC... I don't have any more money, so, I hope it gives me decent gaming. 😀

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

Yeah I think for the prices available to you that was a good choice. Most other people have other options, but the GF8600GTS should last you a while and offer you good gameplay for a while, and also let you see the new benefits of DX10 even if not letting you play at those higher settings. Solid choice from those that were available to you.

 

[enewmen]

Yeah I think for the prices available to you that was a good choice. Most other people have other options, but the GF8600GTS should last you a while and offer you good gameplay for a while, and also let you see the new benefits of DX10 even if not letting you play at those higher settings. Solid choice from those that were available to you.

Thanks for the info and links. I'll keep my X1950XT for a while.

 

[meljor]

my biggest question is: does Nvidia know how their cards perform in dx10?? since they can`t even seem to make a descent driver, how do they know the cards work good with dx10 instructions?

the 8800 works great in dx9c but i`m very afraid that the dx10 functionality is big air bubble :roll:

let`s just hope i`m wrong :?

 

[enewmen]

my biggest question is: does Nvidia know how their cards perform in dx10?? since they can`t even seem to make a descent driver, how do they know the cards work good with dx10 instructions?

the 8800 works great in dx9c but i`m very afraid that the dx10 functionality is big air bubble :roll:

let`s just hope i`m wrong :?

I wouldn't worry about this. The ATI 9700 Pro, for example, was released long before DX9, and there never was a problem with DX9 (fully complient). I expect the same true for the 8800.

 

[Multiplectic]

I'm still hoping for some driver update to get a boost in performance... 😱

 

[sojrner]

my biggest question is: does Nvidia know how their cards perform in dx10?? since they can`t even seem to make a descent driver, how do they know the cards work good with dx10 instructions?

the 8800 works great in dx9c but i`m very afraid that the dx10 functionality is big air bubble :roll:

let`s just hope i`m wrong :?

I wouldn't worry about this. The ATI 9700 Pro, for example, was released long before DX9, and there never was a problem with DX9 (fully complient). I expect the same true for the 8800.

provided it is not another stumble like the FX was in dx9...

...doubtful they would do that again, but you never know. 😉

 

[Multiplectic]

Come on! Let us be a little bit optimistic!

If nVIDIA gets this wrong, then there's ATI to save the day.

 

[meljor]

my biggest question is: does Nvidia know how their cards perform in dx10?? since they can`t even seem to make a descent driver, how do they know the cards work good with dx10 instructions?

the 8800 works great in dx9c but i`m very afraid that the dx10 functionality is big air bubble :roll:

let`s just hope i`m wrong :?

I wouldn't worry about this. The ATI 9700 Pro, for example, was released long before DX9, and there never was a problem with DX9 (fully complient). I expect the same true for the 8800.

ati had good drivers to begin with........ 8800 was designed for vista and yet they can`t make a descent driver for it. it`s four months now since vista is out! i bet on ati but i hope Nvidia gets it right this time also ........ that`s the only way we end up with nice prices

 

[enewmen]

my biggest question is: does Nvidia know how their cards perform in dx10?? since they can`t even seem to make a descent driver, how do they know the cards work good with dx10 instructions?

the 8800 works great in dx9c but i`m very afraid that the dx10 functionality is big air bubble :roll:

let`s just hope i`m wrong :?

I wouldn't worry about this. The ATI 9700 Pro, for example, was released long before DX9, and there never was a problem with DX9 (fully complient). I expect the same true for the 8800.

provided it is not another stumble like the FX was in dx9...

...doubtful they would do that again, but you never know. 😉

I serously hope the 8800 isn't another FX. But I think nVidia learned it's lesson.