NVIDIA to simplify product range as it courts consumers

NVIDIA isn't joking around when it says it's after a dominant position in the consumer tech industry, and it's apparently willing to take some aggressive steps to get there -- like totally revamping its product lines. Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz, NVIDIA veep Roy Taylor (the same guy who said Intel was "dead", you remember him), said that his company needed to "simplify the product line for consumers," and that if NVIDIA is going to "widen our appeal, there's no doubt we have to solve that problem." No specific plans were offered, but might we suggest a moratorium on the random-numbers-and-letters product-naming scheme? Just a thought.

[BigDaddyM @ May 7th 2008 6:24PM]

It used to be very simple.
M

[Pip @ May 7th 2008 9:07PM]

I say get rid of the letters.

For example,

instead of 8800 GS, GT, GTS, GTX etc.

just do 8810, 8820, 8830, 8840, 8845, etc.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ May 7th 2008 6:27PM]

Its about time they simplified the numbers and the stupid GTs and GSs and the GSOs.

[phanbouy @ May 7th 2008 6:28PM]

just to finish off the old style they should release a GTFO

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ May 7th 2008 6:32PM]

or why not go the whole hog and release an omg version for oh my god this card rocks.

[happy_penguin @ May 7th 2008 6:44PM]

Hehehe@phanboy

[digitallysick @ May 7th 2008 8:02PM]

@phanbouy

haha yeah seriously should be the nividia quad sli 10000 GTFO series

[monkfishbandana @ May 8th 2008 6:23AM]

I agree, my desktop PC at the moment was of the highest possible spec when I bought it (around 3 years ago), but when I decided a few months ago "Yeah, it's really about time I upgraded" I had never been so confused in my whole life!

And it's not only Nvidia I'm having a go at here with the numbers and such, Intel are no better either. They have E's and T's and goodness knows what else.

I think I may just buy a new PC.

[Johan S @ May 7th 2008 6:29PM]

Thanks. Finally.

I thought Apple was the only company to have the sense to have a simple product range.

[Kamokazi @ May 7th 2008 6:57PM]

Apple is too simplistic to the point it becomes problematic:

"Is that dock compatible with my iPod?"

"Well it depends, if it's 4th gen standard or earlier then no, also if it's 3rd gen video or later, and this feature doesn't worth with the Touch, and which generation Nano did you say your girlfriend had? It may not be compatible either."

"Okay, what about this case...."

The same thing can generally apply to their computers too. The MacBook Pro can have a wide variety of hardware and it's not easy for the average person to tell the difference. At least with a model number schemes you're pretty certain of what you have....the problem is nVidia and many other companies get all fancy on the end of them and add letters to further confuse the issue.

[bobartig @ May 8th 2008 12:05AM]

Apple is a tiny bit too simplistic, but that's part of apple's obsession with simplicity. It's a lot better than any other computer maker's names. Like, what the hell is a Dell Optiplex 8160, or whatever?

[Niraj @ May 8th 2008 1:21PM]

@bobartig:
It's funny you mention that Dell example, because they're generally amongst the most reasonable when it comes to naming. Optiplex immediately tells you it's their business line of desktops, while the 8160 tells you what class/level of machine it is. And newer versions of the same line will get newer numbers. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell%2C_Inc.#Scope_and_brands )

Compare that to Apple where it's always called a MacBook Pro or an iPod no matter how many generations there have been. In the case of the iPod, it's a pain to figure out what works with what, and the fact that there was even a 5.5G iPod (which a lot of people still can't differentiate from the 5G) has been an issue that I've seen a ton of posts and questions about.

[Rod Munch @ May 7th 2008 6:31PM]

I think nVidia's naming conventions are ok, its ATI that is really confusing.

[helloUser @ May 7th 2008 6:33PM]

Nah, its pretty much the same:

Theres a standard GT, GTS, GSO, GTX.........thats pretty confusing.

ATI is XT, XTX.....

[phanbouy @ May 7th 2008 6:47PM]

i hear ya, Rod Munch

[Rollins @ May 7th 2008 6:50PM]

Well, if you only count the ATI cards starting with '3", it's as simple as looking for the higher number. And 3870X2, coincidentally, is two 3870s!

[iofthestorm @ May 7th 2008 7:02PM]

Yeah seriously, ATI totally cleaned up their naming schemes with the 3xx0 series, now there's only numbers and no letters. And usually ATI only had two versions with the same model number, usually a Pro and an XT and sometimes XTX. Nvidia's got the 8800GTS 640MB, 8800GTX 768MB, 8800GT 512MB/256MB, new 8800GTS 512MB... that has got to be the most convoluted product line of any tech product. Of course, if you know what you're looking for you will get what you want (probably 8800GT) but telling the old and new 8800GTS's apart is just stupid.

[Rod Munch @ May 7th 2008 7:33PM]

I admit the GT, GTS, GTX etc is a bit confusing, but atleast you can tell a 8800 is better than an 8600. I really dont understand the ATI conventions for different ranges.

[JohnTitor @ May 7th 2008 7:34PM]

what about those manufacturer versions?
e-VGA GeForce 9950GTAIV SuperClocked XXX

[Josh @ May 7th 2008 8:44PM]

eVGA confuses me too - like my 7800GTCO +++!)#$(!@#$(*@4 [insert random crap]

^it got a bit maddening really...

glad to hear he wants to clean it up, the numbers worked decently well until recently - the 8800 series is pretty much 2 generations of cards with different letters that all look really similar.

crazy...

[CosterMonger @ May 7th 2008 6:32PM]

320MB and 640MB 8800 GTS < 512MB 8800 GT < 512MB 8800 GTS

[TheWakeUpCall @ May 7th 2008 6:34PM]

How about they make the "Crysis Scale", it's a scale from 1 to 10 how well it handles Crysis lol. :P Then you don't even need a product name, you know how well it will perform straight away without reading reviews.

Anyway, i'm joking for those who don't have their sarcasm meters turned on.

[phanbouy @ May 7th 2008 6:37PM]

thanks. your "lol. :P " didn't really give it away

[Pochi @ May 7th 2008 7:30PM]

Preadolescent alert!

[ThomasamohT @ May 7th 2008 7:37PM]

So a 10 on the crysis scale means you'd get a constant 10 FPS??

That would have to be a pretty awesome card.

[TheWakeUpCall @ May 8th 2008 7:09PM]

It's a shame the reply system wasn't working for me last night, I couldn't reply to your useful comment phanbouy. I have long been insecure about whether "lol :P" really does portray my laughter and humour and shows that a comment is intended as a joke. So it was nice to have it ratified by you, someone who thinks that homophones are the works of comedians. As for Pochi, I am sure you were aware when you were writing that I am not preadolescent or anything close, though once again, like phanbouy, I am sure you were trying to work hard to help others for the common good, warning them of when children may be present and reading so that people avoid swearing and using harsh language. As a community we thank you.

[phez @ May 7th 2008 6:40PM]

Where's ma Ti 9900?

[tcc3 @ May 8th 2008 9:21AM]

I agree, the old MX/TI naming scheme made it easy.


If you wanted basic, no frills, no game performance get the MX. If you need game performance get the highest number TI card you can afford.


The last few gens have been very confusing name wise. Im always afraid 'ill get the modern equivalent of a crippled MX card by mistake

[taka @ May 7th 2008 6:59PM]

I agree, and ATI should go to a crysis-FPS scale to compete with Nvidia, like ATI 1, ATI 2, all the way up to ATI 15, which would probably be like $6000

[uberlemurguy @ May 7th 2008 7:25PM]

lol

[WiiFTW @ May 7th 2008 7:09PM]

I personally feel NVIDIA should emblazon "But can it play Doom? We're not sure." They'd double their sales.

[John Strickland @ May 7th 2008 7:11PM]

I always thought AMD and Intel would do this first... Name them what ever the hell they want and then put a score next to it.

Like a AMD 3 core, 1.6 ghz with 512kb of L1 and 2MB of L2...

Well I don't know if that is better than an Intel core 2 xxx random letters xxx with 512Kb of L1 and 1MB of L2....

Now lets take a 1.0ghz PIII and benchmark it against other CPUs... that way all CPUs would be scaled against one thing.

So an AMD 3 core at 1.6GHZ might score a 6.1, because it would take 6.1, of the 1.0GHZ PIII's to do the same thing.

[MeatyPi @ May 7th 2008 7:22PM]

Thanks for that, real enlightening.

[Rollins @ May 7th 2008 7:59PM]

What would really help is if Intel and AMD put their Vista "Windows Experience" scores on their processor boxes. I know those aren't the be-all end-all of benchmark results, but they're definitely simple and good enough for the "average consumer" to understand. Of course, Microsoft would have to raise the maximum score above 5.9 for it to cover everything, but most processors fit somewhere on the scale.

[Michael @ May 8th 2008 8:24AM]

The letters and numbers after the Intel processors aren't random. U is for low voltage, Q for quad core, etc. Also, the numbers too stand for things. IE, the Q6600 is a 65 nm Quad, while the Q9300 is a 45 nm one. I think Intel's system isn't that complicated.

[uberlemurguy @ May 7th 2008 7:25PM]

Why can't they name them like: bad, okay, middle, good, better, best.

I can see it now: Nvidia 10 - Best, only $700 after mail-in rebates!

[!!! @ May 7th 2008 7:43PM]

Yeah, I'd love to see how these guys, who have built their entire client base on graphics-oriented users (i.e., gamers and graphics designers), actually pull off this diversification. Especially since outside that base (which constitute at most 20% of computer users), users don't really care about graphics. Or Crysis, for that matter.

[tekdroid @ May 7th 2008 10:25PM]

exactly.

It seem to me if they wanted to attract "average Joe" (and even the females) they'd maybe consider dropping the GeForce branding while they're at it - especially if the general-purpose computing "Intel is Dead" thing is going to have some meat behind it.

GeForce seems to be very gaming-centric male-targeted branding.

[John Strickland @ May 7th 2008 7:44PM]

I always thought AMD and Intel would do this first... Name them what ever the hell they want and then put a score next to it.

Like a AMD 3 core, 1.6 ghz with 512kb of L1 and 2MB of L2...

Well I don't know if that is better than an Intel core 2 xxx random letters xxx with 512Kb of L1 and 1MB of L2....

Now lets take a 1.0ghz PIII and benchmark it against other CPUs... that way all CPUs would be scaled against one thing.

So an AMD 3 core at 1.6GHZ might score a 6.1, because it would take 6.1, of the 1.0GHZ PIII's to do the same thing.

[Mujeeb @ May 7th 2008 7:48PM]

No no I love picking between GS, GT, GTS, GX, GTX, GX2, 2XG, XXX, GT2, TXG, GX OC, OCGS, and any other combination of G,T,C,X,S and O that they come up with in their meetings. Morons....

[r3loaded @ May 8th 2008 2:09AM]

Lol, the GT2 is actually a Porsche 911 :P

[LC @ May 7th 2008 7:51PM]

Good thing to. I don't think I can remember much more cards within the same 100% range of performance.

8500GT < 8600GT < 8600GTS < 8800GT 256MB < 8800GTS 320MB < 8800GS = 9600GSO < 8800GTS 640MB < 9600GT < 8800GT 512MB < 8800GTS 512MB = 9800GTX = 8800GTX < 8800 Ultra < 9800GX2.

In terms of performance. Though, the 320MB and 640MB GTSs may be misplaced.

[Josh @ May 7th 2008 8:48PM]

now THAT is impressive sir!

[vileta2 @ May 8th 2008 12:00AM]

Forgot the 8800GS.

Nice try though.

[vileta2 @ May 8th 2008 12:00AM]

Disregard that, I suck cocks.

[wjousts @ May 8th 2008 8:35AM]

What about the 8800 GTS 512Mb? That's the one I brought recently to upgrade my computer and I still have no idea whether I made a good decision or not.
The card is f**cking enormous thought.

[w00t @ May 7th 2008 7:51PM]

Great!
Hopefully no more trying to work out which out of the GT, GS, GTX, GTS, X2, 3X29BQ or pile of random symbols in no particular order is the better card!

Ok made the last two up but they make about as much sense as the rest, please nvidia can we just have a budget, midrange and enthusiast version and that's it??

[decapitor @ May 7th 2008 8:17PM]

But what exactly do they mean by the name changes? Are we going to get birds of prey and predatory felines or just simpler numbers? The current system works fine for anyone who actively follows computer hardware, and anyone who doesn't can spend 5 minutes on the internet to figure out which card to get. Tom's has monthly reports on the best card deals for any price range. I don't really see how they could magically make buying a graphics card easy for the average Joe. Any consumer, regardless of whether they are tech-savvy, should be researching a decision like this online and good advice is not hard to find, whether the cards are called Cheetah Destroyer or 9800GTX is irrelevant.

[d840 @ May 7th 2008 10:25PM]

haha @ "Cheetah Destroyer"

Maybe the budget card could be something like the "Feral Menace".....

The marketing guys would have a field day!

[joe_bruin @ May 7th 2008 8:32PM]

I'd just like to take the opportunity to give a big "fuck you" to the person or people who have been naming Nvidia's cards thus far.

Thanks for listening.