ATI's R600 graphics chip hits snag

We've had our eye on ATI"s new top-end R600 graphics chip for some time now, first getting a look at some impressive early benchmarks and then being taken aback by the foot-long graphics card the chips will call home (at least in some configurations). Sadly, it seems that those with money and power (as in 270W) to spare will have to wait a bit longer to slot one of the behemoths into their own PCs, with The Inquirer reporting that the R600 chips, and consequently the graphics cards based on 'em, have been delayed yet again, now pushed back to sometime in the second quarter of this year. There doesn't seem to be any word on the reason for the delay, but the news apparently came straight from ATI parent company AMD. Given what the cards are likely to cost, however, we're guessing that at least some won't be too disappointed in the delay, with the extra time allowing you to save up some more money and make some more excuses for why you're spending so much on a graphics card.

[Via TG Daily]

[Passarinhuu @ Feb 21st 2007 3:24PM]

StinkyChink - DX10 no longer requires different code paths for each manufacturer of graphics cards, so, the performance should be quite the same in both nVidia and AMDs rigs.

[Karl @ Feb 21st 2007 2:50PM]

And so begins the life of the ATI Radeon: Forever

[Revrant2394 @ Feb 21st 2007 3:32PM]

Duke Nukem has company. ;)

[Matt @ Feb 21st 2007 3:01PM]

Owned. I was planning on buying one of these when they came out, but I don't know if I want to wait another 4 months... Those 8800GTS/640's are looking mighty nice right now, it would probably go along well with a new Core 2 Duo machine.. My last machine was a Athalon 64 with an ATi x850 and I have always liked AMD and ATi, but now it seems that the tides have changed and Intel and nVidia seem to be the way to go.

[Scabies @ Feb 21st 2007 3:47PM]

There was a posting about this at Techpowerup (http://www.techpowerup.com/?25870)
Personally, I like the sound of "Streamlining and perfecting," maybe they can make it more heat efficient somehow and drop the power need by about a kilowatt. Better than being like HERE IT IS, WE'LL FIX IT LATER

[Eh @ Feb 21st 2007 4:12PM]

This sucks bad, I really dont want to get an Nvidia card since theyve shown themselves to be completely incompetent with drivers. I cant even play games with my 6800 using the newer drivers (as in CANT play them, they freeze at the loading screens).

There is a glimmer of hope though, the magic words "The Inquirer" were spoken. I cant remember them ever getting a release date right, or even remotely close. Theyve always been way too fast to announce release dates. Im certain the release date will change again just as it has so many other times when theyve announced a release date.

[Aprime @ Feb 21st 2007 4:27PM]

Read: The Inquirer

(you know, the fools that tend to believe 3/4 of what they're told)

[Aprime @ Feb 21st 2007 4:28PM]

-

[shimman @ Feb 21st 2007 4:44PM]

oh my..this is the biggest die i have ever seen. no wonder they cannot release it. i wonder how much they will ask for x2900xtx or whatever they will call it.

[Blackster @ Feb 21st 2007 5:11PM]

you've never seen a gpu-die before then i guess?

[Ian @ Feb 22nd 2007 3:26AM]

Ah the inquirer. That bastion of accuracy.