**Next Gen Rumors Thread**

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: AlexR
Also I dont really think such cards are needed. What games would need them?

not yet

Unreal III engine will make full use of them as will the Doom III engine (when it is fully utilized) . . . . lots of game engines at High Resolution and with AA/AF (plus SM 3.0 and HDR) will choke the fastest current cards.

chronicles of riddick is a good example of being more than current cards can handle. that SM2.0++ path jus kill performance, and even on the SM2.0 path its gets bogged down in heavy firefights. you could argue bad coding or porting since it was an xbox game, but either way i think you'd need SLI 6800GTs at least to approach max settings with smooth frames

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: AlexR
So ATi sli can run four cards or somthing?

i think so, i think both versions are capable of more than 2 cards, just Nvidia is concentrating on a two card set up at the mo

 

[Regs]

It feels like it was just yesterday that the 6800 and x800 came out. Can someone tell those guys to slow down?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Thanks for all the participation. More to come as i find or am notified of it. Thanks for the compliments as well.

I dont know about everyone else but i definitely want the new cards to come out... always is exciting to wake up on launch date and be pleasenlty suprised with a nice long article

All links have been updated.

-Kevin

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

I dont know about everyone else but i definitely want the new cards to come out... always is exciting to wake up on launch date and be pleasenlty suprised with a nice long article

-Kevin

me too . . . . i am looking to get that cheap 6800u or gt.

edit: by cheap, i mean ~$200-$250 for an ultra . . . which will "hold me" till dual core/PCIe.

 

[Megatomic]

And I will nab myself a sweet X800XT PE when they drop to $300. That ought to hold me over until I go PCI-e next year.

 

[Drayvn]

Does anyone think that the ATi AMR would need profiles, or would it work on everything without needing to set it up in a program or something?

 

[Fenuxx]

Personally, I think that ATI's AMR will be the same situation as NVIDIA, unless it works and entirely different way, which I doubt. Who knows, maybe it won't, but I wouldn't put my money on it.

 

[UzairH]

Echoing otispunkmeyer and apoppin, these uber-powerful next-gen cards are most definitely needed, and not just for super-high res goodness. Doom 3 as it is now was actually stripped down technologically to enable it to run on current cards. And its general knowledge that the Unreal 3 demo shown by Epic on the 6800 Ultra totally brought it to its knees, something like 15 fps, and that too at a resolution of 640x480! So I'd say yes the next-gen cards when they come will the new games coming then (Quake 4, Unreal 3, Far Cry 2?) to run sweetly enough.

 

[ohnnyj]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: AlexR
So ATi sli can run four cards or somthing?

i think so, i think both versions are capable of more than 2 cards, just Nvidia is concentrating on a two card set up at the mo

Yes, nVidia's is capable as well, hence the name Scalable Link Interface (as someone else mentioned in a previous thread). They just need to implement it in the drivers and have a mobo manufacturer supply a board w/3, 4, 5+ PCIe slots and at least 8 lanes for each (not likely).

 

[ohnnyj]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: AlexR
Also I dont really think such cards are needed. What games would need them?

not yet

Unreal III engine will make full use of them as will the Doom III engine (when it is fully utilized) . . . . lots of game engines at High Resolution and with AA/AF (plus SM 3.0 and HDR) will choke the fastest current cards.

With my two 6800GTs and can get up to 1920x1200 and 2xAA and 16xAF in HL2. Even then the fps can dip into the 30s. To keep the fps above 60 w/even greater IQ and res, faster graphics cards are definetely needed, and always will be. That is until games are photorealistic.

 

[slash196]

Originally posted by: UzairH
Echoing otispunkmeyer and apoppin, these uber-powerful next-gen cards are most definitely needed, and not just for super-high res goodness. Doom 3 as it is now was actually stripped down technologically to enable it to run on current cards. And its general knowledge that the Unreal 3 demo shown by Epic on the 6800 Ultra totally brought it to its knees, something like 15 fps, and that too at a resolution of 640x480! So I'd say yes the next-gen cards when they come will the new games coming then (Quake 4, Unreal 3, Far Cry 2?) to run sweetly enough.

Tim Sweeny of Epic said that a 6600GT would be able to run the engine fine. But I agree, future games will require this massive technology.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: slash196

Originally posted by: UzairH
Echoing otispunkmeyer and apoppin, these uber-powerful next-gen cards are most definitely needed, and not just for super-high res goodness. Doom 3 as it is now was actually stripped down technologically to enable it to run on current cards. And its general knowledge that the Unreal 3 demo shown by Epic on the 6800 Ultra totally brought it to its knees, something like 15 fps, and that too at a resolution of 640x480! So I'd say yes the next-gen cards when they come will the new games coming then (Quake 4, Unreal 3, Far Cry 2?) to run sweetly enough.

Tim Sweeny of Epic said that a 6600GT would be able to run the engine fine. But I agree, future games will require this massive technology.

Like a Radeon 8500 runs Doom iii or HL2, "fine".
:roll:

6x4 or 8x6, minimum details at 30+ FPS is "fine" for most casual gamers . . . .

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: apoppin
Like a Radeon 8500 runs Doom iii or HL2, "fine".
:roll:

6x4 or 8x6, minimum details at 30+ FPS is "fine" for most casual gamers . . . .

My overclocked 9100 played HL2, 1024x768, medium detail, ~40 fps. That's fine by me.

Doom OTOH, was painful.

 

[Fenuxx]

Thats exactly it. You don't want nor care if the game isn't running at 1600x1200 with 4xAA and 16xAF, because, well, you don't care. For some, if you have to apply anything but the best settings, it isn't good enough. Those are the people running FX-55's and dual 6800U's. For others, like you, OS, it doesn't really matter. For me, I don't care up to a certain point. If I have to go below 800x600 at medium detail settings, then I am in trouble, and get the urge to upgrade. This is why I usually go 2 years between major upgrades. My current setup should last AT LEAST 2 years for me, and maybe (actually, hopefully), longer. That is the reason that these insanely priced, over-the-top cards are created. For those who HAVE to have only the best, they are willing to pay a premium over even something that is only slightly slower. And, I will expect that when the next-gen cards come out, there will be more than a few on these forums, and elsewhere, that pay $700+ for their graphics card. Just not me, and just not about 80% of the rest of the computing world.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: OS

Originally posted by: apoppin
Like a Radeon 8500 runs Doom iii or HL2, "fine".
:roll:

6x4 or 8x6, minimum details at 30+ FPS is "fine" for most casual gamers . . . .

My overclocked 9100 played HL2, 1024x768, medium detail, ~40 fps. That's fine by me.

Doom OTOH, was painful.

exactly

 

[Avalon]

Keep in mind that the Unreal 3 demo was NOT a polished product. It will run much better on this gen of cards when the game is released. It would be stupid for only this next generation of video cards to have the ability to run the game at decent res/detail. You're not going to get 16x12 AA/AF in the game with a 6800U, but I'd imagine 10x7 AA/AF or 12x9(or 10, for you LCD folk) will be perfectly smooth.

 

[ohnnyj]

Originally posted by: geforcetony
Thats exactly it. You don't want nor care if the game isn't running at 1600x1200 with 4xAA and 16xAF, because, well, you don't care. For some, if you have to apply anything but the best settings, it isn't good enough. Those are the people running FX-55's and dual 6800U's. For others, like you, OS, it doesn't really matter. For me, I don't care up to a certain point. If I have to go below 800x600 at medium detail settings, then I am in trouble, and get the urge to upgrade. This is why I usually go 2 years between major upgrades. My current setup should last AT LEAST 2 years for me, and maybe (actually, hopefully), longer. That is the reason that these insanely priced, over-the-top cards are created. For those who HAVE to have only the best, they are willing to pay a premium over even something that is only slightly slower. And, I will expect that when the next-gen cards come out, there will be more than a few on these forums, and elsewhere, that pay $700+ for their graphics card. Just not me, and just not about 80% of the rest of the computing world.

Couldn't agree more. I am one of those who must play with as high of detail settings as possible. If I can't enable all the eye candy I feel I am not truly experiencing what the game has to offer. I used to have a GeForce3 w/1.4 T-bird that in its hey day would get comfortable fps at 1024x768 w/no AA or AF, maybe 1280x1024 if I was lucky and depending upon the game. But now that there are graphics cards available that will allow me to run at insane resolutions w/AA and AF I am in video game heaven. This actually truly shows the progression of graphics cards in general. Just two generations ago we were playing at setting as stated above but now AA and AF and high res are the norm all the while games graphics have increased in IQ in leaps and bounds. The future is definetely bright.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Avalon
Keep in mind that the Unreal 3 demo was NOT a polished product. It will run much better on this gen of cards when the game is released. It would be stupid for only this next generation of video cards to have the ability to run the game at decent res/detail. You're not going to get 16x12 AA/AF in the game with a 6800U, but I'd imagine 10x7 AA/AF or 12x9(or 10, for you LCD folk) will be perfectly smooth.

Please remember it's not just about framerates and resolution . . . Unreal3 engine is a DX10 product . . . the current generation will still be a "generation behind" . . . as the r8500 is behind the current generation. Remember r520 is supposed to support DX 10 extensions.

Also, Longhorn will be out and people are expected to make this leap to better gfx.

 

[ohnnyj]

Originally posted by: apoppin
Please remember it's not just about framerates and resolution . . . Unreal3 engine is a DX10 product . . . the current generation will still be a "generation behind" . . . as the r8500 is behind the current generation. Remember r520 is supposed to support DX 10 extensions.

They might just let it be an option or render path just like HL2 where it decreases the graphics quality depending upon which DirectX version one's video card supports.

Originally posted by: apoppin
Also, Longhorn will be out and people are expected to make this leap to better gfx.

Your a little optimistic about Microsoft's release dates .

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: ohnnyj

Originally posted by: apoppin
Please remember it's not just about framerates and resolution . . . Unreal3 engine is a DX10 product . . . the current generation will still be a "generation behind" . . . as the r8500 is behind the current generation. Remember r520 is supposed to support DX 10 extensions.

They might just let it be an option or render path just like HL2 where it decreases the graphics quality depending upon which DirectX version one's video card supports.

Originally posted by: apoppin
Also, Longhorn will be out and people are expected to make this leap to better gfx.

Your a little optimistic about Microsoft's release dates .

Of course the paths will still be there . . . however, look at Doom III or even HL2 on a dx8.1 8500 and you really are missing - a lot.

Unreal3 and DX10 and Longhorn (and SM 4.0 later) are comming out in '06-'07 time perios - fairly close together - and probably in that order. . . . for a reason.

edit: yeah, i'm optimistic . . . Longhorn was expected out already
:roll:

 

[ohnnyj]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: ohnnyj

Originally posted by: apoppin
Please remember it's not just about framerates and resolution . . . Unreal3 engine is a DX10 product . . . the current generation will still be a "generation behind" . . . as the r8500 is behind the current generation. Remember r520 is supposed to support DX 10 extensions.

They might just let it be an option or render path just like HL2 where it decreases the graphics quality depending upon which DirectX version one's video card supports.

Originally posted by: apoppin
Also, Longhorn will be out and people are expected to make this leap to better gfx.

Your a little optimistic about Microsoft's release dates .

Of course the paths will still be there . . . however, look at Doom III or even HL2 on a dx8.1 8500 and you really are missing - a lot.

Unreal3 and DX10 and Longhorn (and SM 4.0 later) are comming out in '06-'07 time perios - fairly close together - and probably in that order. . . . for a reason.

edit: yeah, i'm optimistic . . . Longhorn was expected out already
:roll:

I see what you are saying, as current gen cards may be able to play at a good res an quality within what features they support but won't be getting the full force of what the engine is capable of.

I hope we get Longhorn next year, its been a long time coming, and it's about time Microsoft took some more of my money away .

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Avalon
Keep in mind that the Unreal 3 demo was NOT a polished product. It will run much better on this gen of cards when the game is released. It would be stupid for only this next generation of video cards to have the ability to run the game at decent res/detail. You're not going to get 16x12 AA/AF in the game with a 6800U, but I'd imagine 10x7 AA/AF or 12x9(or 10, for you LCD folk) will be perfectly smooth.

Please remember it's not just about framerates and resolution . . . Unreal3 engine is a DX10 product . . . the current generation will still be a "generation behind" . . . as the r8500 is behind the current generation. Remember r520 is supposed to support DX 10 extensions.

Also, Longhorn will be out and people are expected to make this leap to better gfx.

Then it's not the game bringing the card to its knees, but the DX Next spec, isn't it?

 

[Regs]

You're forgetting that big games like HL2, Far Cry, and future games are all going to have engine patches using SM3. HDL and all those shiney surfaces you saw in HL2 previews that didn't make it to retail are going to be in the near future.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Avalon
Keep in mind that the Unreal 3 demo was NOT a polished product. It will run much better on this gen of cards when the game is released. It would be stupid for only this next generation of video cards to have the ability to run the game at decent res/detail. You're not going to get 16x12 AA/AF in the game with a 6800U, but I'd imagine 10x7 AA/AF or 12x9(or 10, for you LCD folk) will be perfectly smooth.

Please remember it's not just about framerates and resolution . . . Unreal3 engine is a DX10 product . . . the current generation will still be a "generation behind" . . . as the r8500 is behind the current generation. Remember r520 is supposed to support DX 10 extensions.

Also, Longhorn will be out and people are expected to make this leap to better gfx.

R520 will not support the next DX. Nor will Nvidia. It is not a problem with Nvidia or ATI its just that microsoft hasn't even released the required spec, or any specs for that matter of this new DX.

-Kevin