Radeon 9800 'XT' - R360?

[Hanners]

Saw this (http://www.driverheaven.net/#article_2601) over at DriverHeaven - I'm assuming this is referring to R360:

Beyond 3D's Dave Baumann (http://www.beyond3d.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5945) has started speculation about a new ATI 9800 XT card.

Basically, the 9800 Pro 256 meg card comes equipped with DDR-2 memory rated for 450Mhz, but ATI decided to run it at 350Mhz probably due to OEM demand. Also, the current PCB layout on the 9800 Pro 256 meg card doesn't appear to allow the full 450 as it looks like it was originally done for DDR-1. So by slightly adjusting the PCB layout ATI could produce a faster card and re-take the marginal performance lead nVidia has in some benchmarks / games over current ATI cards.

[The Baron]

So if the number is increased by 10, then does that mean the R360 has only 6/5 of the performance increase of R350? ;)

Sorry, I'm still feeling underwhelmed by the R9800 in all its forms.

Give me 450Mhz DDR2, and I'll reconsider ;)

[MUYA]

Dave also said;
"IMO, 'R360' is a falacy. It will probably be A13 revision silicon of R350 - I'd be highly skeptical that there is actually a chip called 'R360"

So who knows what ATM. We need Mufu, Uttar and the gang to well give us our "rumours" fix soon. :P


MUYA

[Uttar]

MuFu talking about ATI things right now is a likely as nVidia going bankrupt tommorow. And I got no info on the R360/RV360. I rarely get ATI info anyway.

I guess Dave is right on that one, but it's just a guess.


Uttar

[GlowStick]

Im sorry to say,

But my guess is the Radeon 9800Pro XT is a OEM model they will be selling to DELL. Kinda like the Radeon 9700Pro TX, but with the X infront of the T!!!!!!

[StealthHawk]

Wow, sounds craptacular :(

[mikechai]

Originally posted by GlowStick
Im sorry to say,

But my guess is the Radeon 9800Pro XT is a OEM model they will be selling to DELL. Kinda like the Radeon 9700Pro TX, but with the X infront of the T!!!!!!

Dell already selling Radeon 9800 TX in their dimension series PC.

[GlowStick]

Originally posted by mikechai
Dell already selling Radeon 9800 TX in their dimension series PC.

Hm, could it be a miscommunication?

I find it hard to belive they would make a TX with craptacular preformance, turn around make a better preforming card and call it the XT!

In the past anytime they thorw an an extention to the name, it means less preformance.

Radeon LE
Radeon VE
etc etc.

so i really think its just a low end of some product.

[mikechai]

By looking at the Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB being clock at core 380MHz and memory 700MHz, there are a few reasons they do so.
1. They want to keep the power requirement down for OEM market.
2. It is no point to run at higher core speed if the memory clock can't keep up.
It has been shown that the core has no problem running at > 425MHz, the problem is they can't run the memory at more than 800MHz even when fast ram chip that is capable to run at 900MHz being used. Maybe they need to have a cleaner signal by using > 8 layer PCB. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
3. To keep the yield high enough. They can't fulfill the demand according to the inquirer (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=9533).

If the so called 9800 Pro XT being clocked at core 425+ memory 850+, it will definitely able to match or beat FX 5900 ultra and keep the performance crown at least until NV40 come out later.

[mikechai]

Originally posted by GlowStick
Hm, could it be a miscommunication?

I find it hard to belive they would make a TX with craptacular preformance, turn around make a better preforming card and call it the XT!

In the past anytime they thorw an an extention to the name, it means less preformance.

Radeon LE
Radeon VE
etc etc.

so i really think its just a low end of some product.

I don't know, but I think XT stands for XTreme.
They might call it Radeon 9800 Pro Xtreme instead.
I see no point releasing a lower performance part ....

[GlowStick]

Originally posted by mikechai
I don't know, but I think XT stands for XTreme.
They might call it Radeon 9800 Pro Xtreme instead.
I see no point releasing a lower performance part ....

Well there is a bigger reason for releaseing a lower prefomring/CHEEPer part than releaseing a better one. The OEM's LOVE it when a compnay makes a great high end product but sells them cheep oem product under the same name.

eg dell adds are like

OUR NEW DELLS have a Radeon 9700Pro

<cough><Cough>


TX


<cough><cough>

[mikechai]

Originally posted by GlowStick
Well there is a bigger reason for releaseing a lower prefomring/CHEEPer part than releaseing a better one. The OEM's LOVE it when a compnay makes a great high end product but sells them cheep oem product under the same name.

eg dell adds are like

OUR NEW DELLS have a Radeon 9700Pro

<cough><Cough>


TX


<cough><cough>

The thing is dell already selling the 9800 TX.
Why should ATI release another oem 9800 class product ?

[GlowStick]

Originally posted by mikechai
The thing is dell already selling the 9800 TX.
Why should ATI release another oem 9800 class product ?

Again, the oem market is so huge, why not!

XT could mean Xetreme, sounds pritty good.

Im not saying there is not a next product, but in their history they never did an upgrade by adding something on to it, its allways been the exact opposate!

Also, im sure OEM's would request they get a new name, so they can try snowwall their consumers, for example.

Guy: "So is the Radeon 9700Pro XT better than Dells TX?"
Gateway: "Oh yeah, XT is way more better than TX"

[Gar]

9900pro to go up agains 5900ultra. Done.