NVIDIA unearths GTX 280 and GTX 260 graphics cards

Surprise! NVIDIA has officially unleashed its new GeForce GTX 280 and GTX 260 graphics cards. The GTX 280, NVIDIA's flagship model, is reportedly 50% faster than last year's 8800 GX2 when in its overclocked AMP! Edition, and it is loaded with around twice as many transistors as the 9800. The new single-chip processor packs some serious number crunching, such as a 142 GB/s memory bandwidth with a 512-bit memory interface. Other final specs look to include 1GB GDDR3 memory, two Dual Link DVI connectors, and, of course, an overclocked chipset. In short, it's the fastest graphics card you can get. Don't go nuts just yet, though -- the GTX280 with 1GB of RAM will run you a cool $649. The lower-end GTX 260 with 896MB is a more palatable $399. GTX280 availability starts tomorrow, and GTX 260s will hit the streets on June 26. And to finally put this joke to rest: Yes, they will run Crysis.

[Via CNET]

[bk7 @ Jun 16th 2008 9:46AM]

I wonder what you can cook with those 3 together like that..

[John @ Jun 16th 2008 9:49AM]

that's what she said

[Scott Lanning @ Jun 16th 2008 9:49AM]

i dunno about cooking, but it will certainly help cut down on your heating bill.

[Blaine Oliver @ Jun 16th 2008 10:10AM]

According to reviews, its a big dissapointment:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-gtx-280,1953.html

[Flashpoint @ Jun 16th 2008 10:30AM]

ITS THE FASTEST YOU CAN GET !

Till next month anyway.

[Daza @ Jun 16th 2008 10:51AM]

According to this, the GTX 280 does pretty impressive across a range of tests - http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/06/14/complete-gtx280-scores-here

[Ryan @ Jun 16th 2008 3:28PM]

Yeah, not too bad but priced a little high according this review:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?type=expert&aid=577&pid=2

Also, they take a look at the Folding@Home client and transcoding performance here:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=578

[Kurian @ Jun 16th 2008 11:00AM]

Its a scam. NO WHERE close to the hype. Like 20% faster than the GX2 at moderate resolutions.

It performs really well at insane resolutions. 3x faster than the GX2.

[j_g_puff @ Jun 16th 2008 11:15AM]

Holy Marmot! That's a big chunk of graphics!

[OneLove @ Jun 16th 2008 11:23AM]

Question: Does anyone really need that amount of graphics power for just games? 3 cards or 4? I can play games just fine with one 8500GT...and when will they redesign motherboards to better fix these slot wasters?

[Backlin @ Jun 16th 2008 11:36AM]

@OneLove

Just wait. In another year, an SLi setup may be required. Maybe to run Windows 7.

[Low Ranked @ Jun 16th 2008 12:29PM]

It doesn't cook anything, its a self cooking grilled-cheese sandwich.

Simply slide a Kraft single in between the drives and boot up, presto!

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 16th 2008 1:04PM]

BEHOLD, THE BEAST MASTER of FANs!
And yes it will easily tame the heat from those 3.
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/2571/fan-88/FrozenCPU_172x150mm_Fan_265_CFM.html?tl=g36c15s73
http://www.frozencpu.com/images/movies/fan-88.wmv

-------
Currently using it for 2 8800GTXs and 1 PhysX.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jun 16th 2008 1:58PM]

BK7, not sure about cooking, but I guess you could use them as a toaster maybe?

[james @ Jun 16th 2008 8:37PM]

But can it play DOOM?

[jpxdude @ Jun 16th 2008 9:46AM]

fugly

way too big!

[John @ Jun 16th 2008 9:49AM]

again, that's what she said

[Dave @ Jun 16th 2008 9:55AM]

Who cares its big?

[Dxw @ Jun 16th 2008 10:19AM]

Yeah, I hate unattractive graphics cards.

[jpxdude @ Jun 16th 2008 10:22AM]

I just don't like the concept of having my case dominated by something like that, which'll amount to average performance of the next single-slot solution a month after release. I'd take space over 2+fps improvements anyday.

[Mobius_1 @ Jun 16th 2008 10:52AM]

A computer case is your friend (one without those unsightly side windows and flashing blue lights), and sometimes, bigger is better

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Jun 16th 2008 12:07PM]

GTX280 alone is beating ATI 3870 X2.

So do not drool over three-card SLI setup - you need it only to run Crysis at 1080p.

Otherwise single card would be sufficient. And it is also quite power savvy. Again, compared to 3870 X2: last time I was looking at was something like 180W vs 240W.

[E71 @ Jun 16th 2008 6:25PM]

Totally agree... a lot of morons are defending these space-wasters and that's why the manufacturers continue to think it's okay to take up more slots.

I mean, just look at the article image, where the f*** is he going to put his fancy soundcard... he's stuck with onboard crap.

Unless if developers get off their lazy butts and optimize their code to fully utilize dual GPU/CPU hardware (which they don't appear to be), the performance gain is going to continue to be too minimal to entertain the expenses.

[Hat @ Jun 20th 2008 5:30PM]

I agree. When are manufacturers going to stop making their cards bigger and more power hungry, and start downsizing? Remember our whole obsession with miniaturization? Where'd that go!? I'm not buying a new video card until they start cutting back how much power they use, and decrease their size. Have fun paying your electric bill.

[cesium @ Jun 16th 2008 9:48AM]

crysis still owns this card at higher resolutions

[matt|H @ Jun 16th 2008 9:50AM]

But does it own three of them? ;)

[z0phi3l @ Jun 16th 2008 9:51AM]

And how in the hell would you know that?

Have you played Crysis on one already?

Or are you just being in general an ass?

[GenBanks @ Jun 16th 2008 12:48PM]

Read the reviews, 1920x1200 with 'Very High' settings is still unconquered by any single slot solution.

Maybe two can handle it though, there just aren't very many SLi reviews. All I know is that at launch two gtx 280's costs £960 in the UK from my nearest retailer, yoyotech (just phoned them up). That's nearly $2000.

:o

[cesium @ Jun 16th 2008 12:56PM]

^^ its in the reviews dipshit

[Jeremy K. @ Jun 16th 2008 5:52PM]

Poor cesium... I don't know why you've been marked low. You're 100% correct.

[initialxy @ Jun 16th 2008 9:51AM]

wait where is radeon HD 4000? isn't radeon supposed to be released ahead of geforce?

[cesium @ Jun 16th 2008 1:01PM]

no. the 4800s come out at the end of june

[Laughing Man @ Jun 16th 2008 2:52PM]

Yes, this guy is an idiot. Nvidia pushed their release date back because they ran into a major error in Beta testing. They are working out the kinks now, but that means the ATI HD 4000 will be out on schedule in late June and the Nvidia 280 will be out in mid July.

[initialxy @ Jun 16th 2008 3:24PM]

@Laughing Man, huh? you are confusing me even more. This article (as well as CNET) states that GTX280 will be available tomorrow (June 17th). Radeon is scheduled to be released by the end of June and GTX280 was originally expected to be released in July (i know that). My initial concern was, what made them decided to push its release date a month ahead, which is now ahead of radeon.

[Derk Kooi @ Jun 16th 2008 9:52AM]

Alone it runs Crysis @ 1920 x 1200 with 4 x AA and High graphics. Just image what Tri-Sli can do.

[pathogen @ Jun 16th 2008 9:54AM]

Srsly is Dx10.1 that complicated?

[barry99705 @ Jun 16th 2008 10:48AM]

It relies on Windows, so yes.

[Pochi @ Jun 16th 2008 11:38AM]

@barry99705

Install your wireless card in Windows.
Now install it in Linux.
Now you tell me which is complicated.

[Garver @ Jun 16th 2008 12:42PM]

@ barry

Imagine the pain with a Broadcom Wireless card....Its bad.

[Good_Bytes @ Jun 16th 2008 12:45PM]

@pathogen
Direct X 10.1 does not offer anything related into gaming... it's more for CAD and stuff like that... And anything that Direct X10.1 (which is like 3-4 features) can be done with the video card alone, even a Geforce 8800 can do it.

[vosester @ Jun 16th 2008 12:52PM]

@Pochi
well if the disto comes with the driver then i would have to do nothing at all.
but with windows no mater what WLAN card you use you have to install drivers

[Pochi @ Jun 16th 2008 2:25PM]

@vosester

So basically what you are saying is, "if I don't have to install it, it's really easy!"

No shit...!

[telepheedian @ Jun 16th 2008 3:14PM]

@vosester:
My Netgear card was automatically detected and installed when vista was. You fail, sir.

[triforceOFcourage @ Jun 16th 2008 3:15PM]

@vosester: Totally untrue. Installing things in Vista is actually incredibly easy...almost as easy as a Mac. All you do is plug the card in, wait for the system to do a hardware scan (seconds) and it'll locate a driver for you. When did Linux do that? And if you're relying on the distro to contain all your drivers, what kinda bloated release are you using? Ubuntu?? :P

[vosester @ Jun 16th 2008 7:58PM]

Vista hahahah
You use windows DRM, err Vista and you calling Ubuntu bloated
for god's sake.

All good wireless card in Ubuntu will works because most of the drivers
are in the kernel and modules are only a few hundred Kilobyte's compared
to the 10MB+ windows drives (mostly installers take up the space)

I not say in it has been easy with linux and WLAN cards.
But Linux has been brilliant in this department consider most
manufacturers won't release there specification.

[Dave @ Jun 16th 2008 9:54AM]

I wont believe that this can run Crysis on Ultra High DX10 settings until i see it with my own eyes...

[Will @ Jun 16th 2008 9:55AM]

...Crysis, perhaps. But do they play Doom?

[Sime @ Jun 16th 2008 10:20AM]

OMFG i knew someone was gonna say that. die kthx

[Will H. @ Jun 16th 2008 10:26AM]

Don't listen to him, you're hilarious.

[Will @ Jun 16th 2008 10:37AM]

You're only saying that because we have the same name!