Official HD 2900 Discussion Thread

**Eastcoasthandle** · 05-13-2007, 07:09 AM

I'm in!!!!

**Noobie** · 05-13-2007, 07:10 AM

Among some of the new features of the 2000 series include a programmable Tessellation Unit. This feature enables the GPUs to apply image enhancements when support is written in games such that game developers have a much easier time doing up simpler graphics, and letting the GPU do the image enhancements. This also supposedly saves on GPU Horsepower as you can see below. You get 2.3x performance compared to a conventionally rendered scene.

Low Res with Tess:
840 triangles - 70 KB Vertex Buffer Size - 23 KB Index Buffer Size - 821.41 FPS - Resulting image has 1,008,038 triangles

High Res without Tess:
1,280,038 triangles - 31 MB Vertex Buffer Size - 14 MB Index Buffer Size - 354 FPS - Resulting image has 1,280,038 triangles

It's definitely a great feature if it works as advertised, but support on games is currently non-existent. When asked to name 3 games coming out with this support, the speaker was unable to disclose details.

Sounds like the re-introduction of hardware Truform to me, which the 8500 has (later series only had software truform), which is brilliant because TruForm allowed Morrowind to look well beyond it's time. Screenshots of Truform on morrowind can be found on http://tes.lanior.ru/tweaker/images/root.html

**mascaras** · 05-13-2007, 07:14 AM

link its OK but very slow , im in 1st page

Too bad they dont used the New 8.38 driver

**Sumanji** · 05-13-2007, 07:18 AM

Originally Posted by OBR

First real preview!

http://www.vr-zone.com/?i=4946

If anyone's already read it, could you please post numbers for us?

TIA

**triple_A** · 05-13-2007, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by Sumanji

If anyone's already read it, could you please post number for us?

TIA

Yeah, vr-zone is terribly slow.. must be due to lots of traffic i guess

**w0mbat** · 05-13-2007, 07:26 AM

download vr-zone review here: http://rapidshare.com/files/31092804...s.net.zip.html

**mascaras** · 05-13-2007, 07:27 AM

they used the 8.36 and 8.37 driver , they didnt try with new 8.38

anyway here some pics from the review in call of juarez

The most obvious difference is seen when looking at the much better-looking water effects, and High Dynamic Range effects.

It is slightly off tradition that the GPU company's flagship product sails off not to meet the flagship of it's competitor, but one target lower. Then again, the lower we go down the price pyramid, the bigger the audience, more people with the budget to spend. I'd say that there is no clear winner between the 8800 GTS and X2900XT, the GTS displayed more consistent performance behavior while the X2900XT fluctuates around due to the in-matured driver.I would say that despite the heat thrown out by the GPU, the X2900XT overclocks better than the 8800GTS by 8-10%, but that's putting out a lot more heat and drawing more power than it already consumes. So this is something potential XT buyers should take note of, the heat produced by the card is no small amount, nor is the power consumed by it - more than 60w over the GTS. What you would be investing in is a higher potential of upcoming performance boosts (including the latest pre-Alpha 8.37.4.2_47323 Catalyst just released 3 days before this review) and full HDCP support with integrated audio controller. And of course the new programmable Tessellation technology which we will probably not see support in games until much later.

Not the fastest video card in the market for sure, but definitely holds it's own at it's current price-point. We only hope that supply will be adequate and not lead to an indirect increase in prices due to short supply. We hope to see some interesting implementations from various card partners as well, be it overclocked specifications, or improved coolers.

I

**Eastcoasthandle** · 05-13-2007, 07:29 AM

Quake 4 performance for the HD out performs the GTS 320/640 when 4xAA or better is used.

There are some 8.37 driver issues with games like Lost Coast and BF2142 as it performs worst then the 1950xtx when AA is turned on.

**Noobie** · 05-13-2007, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by w0mbat

download vr-zone review here: http://rapidshare.com/files/31092804...s.net.zip.html

Cool! Am reading it now.

**7he ]-[0rr0r** · 05-13-2007, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by jagt

Ah yes, that's correct. I've always used Catalyst AI as it gives me slightly higher 3Dmark scores. I'll try disabling that tomorrow and test.

What is it, and why would it matter? I mean, the AA works if I rename the .exe to Oblivion.

Since it took me so long to respond i figured that I would pm too:

catalyst ai as far as i understand it does recognize applications so by renaming the exe you tricked it. It may be that it was applying to many quality short cuts for the sake of speed or that the optimizations did not work for that game and somehow canceled out the AA.

**Bartflaster** · 05-13-2007, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by w0mbat

download vr-zone review here: http://rapidshare.com/files/31092804...s.net.zip.html

Thanks, but getting file corrupted, I will try again, anyone else ?

EDIT**
Oh I forgot, fileshare doesnt like me .. 1 download then after that it tells me I exceeded my DL limit

**dragonhunter** · 05-13-2007, 07:49 AM

Just double checking, any 2x HD2900XT will run crossfire, right?
Not like the old days that required a crossfire edition card (master card).

**Tim** · 05-13-2007, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by dragonhunter

Just double checking, any 2x HD2900XT will run crossfire, right?
Not like the old days that required a crossfire edition card (master card).

Yes.

**mascaras** · 05-13-2007, 08:06 AM

From Vrzone review

As said before, I had results from both the Catalyst 8.36 and Catalyst 8.37 Drivers. How did performance improve between this small driver jump of 0.01 version?

Taking a setting at 1600x1200 with 16xAF, I saw a major increase in performance, particularly Company Of Heroes and Quake 4. Performance went up by 11% on COH and 42% on Quake 4! This shows that the drivers is still very raw on this card, with just a minor driver revision boosting up performance that much, it gives us quite a lot of hope for a fair bit of improvement to come. Let's hope for that!

. When Anti-Aliasing is turned on, the X2900XT showed that it carries it off with great efficiency in games that the drivers are optimized for, performing significantly better than the GTS; while the AA efficiency is piss-poor in some games due to the raw driver which has not fully blossomed to take advantage of ATi's new GPU technology. Just take a look at how performance has boosted from Drivers 8.36 to 8.37, that shows the potential in performance growth... a whole lot of it to reap.

**triple_A** · 05-13-2007, 08:10 AM

Originally Posted by w0mbat

download vr-zone review here: http://rapidshare.com/files/31092804...s.net.zip.html

thanks!

It comes close to the 8800GTX sometimes, i think with some proper drivers this card will kick some 8800gts a$$

or i hope so

**mascaras** · 05-13-2007, 08:14 AM

another review ( ATI 8.361 (for HD 2900 XT) )

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/11...ves/index.html

regards

**insurgent** · 05-13-2007, 08:21 AM

kinda off topic but when can we expect HD 2600 reviews?

**cantankerous** · 05-13-2007, 08:22 AM

just finished reading the downloaded preview and I must say, for the most part I am impressed with the performance over an X1950XTX. I was worried it wouldn't be much faster than the X1950XTX by some earlier results that were leaked. This doesn't seem to be the case so performance wise it should definitely be better than my current card.

What I am disappointed in slightly is how the GTS beats this card even in situations where I think it shouldn't. The 320mb GTS wsa beating the card however this could just be due to driver issues so I won't hold it against the card in that respect.

What really disappoints me is how the AF hasn't been improved at all since the X1900 series. Yes the AF was already extremely good, however, the 8800 bested even that and I was hoping the X2900 would at least match, if not beat the 8800 in terms of AF quality. It seems ATI felt the AF quality was 'good enough' considering the X1900 was the best card for IQ comparisons. Now that the 8800 shows better the ATI card feels 'lacking' in this department. Surely they could have done better seeing as though Nvidia did, and they were always far INFERIOR IQ wise than ATI was. This is something I can't see changing with drivers either as it seems to be how the hardware itself applies the filtering. I am glad AA is slightly better however.

**Shintai** · 05-13-2007, 08:25 AM

I really hope they come out with the 65nm x2900XL/XT soon. I really dislike the power consumption alot. Else overall a good candidate for a card instead of a 8800GTS.

Maybe we can get rid of nVidias crappy new super price on their Ultra too.

**XS2K** · 05-13-2007, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Eastcoasthandle

Quake 4 performance for the HD out performs the GTS 320/640 when 4xAA or better is used.

Well yeah,because they use Best AA and for 8800GTS would be 16X CSAA if I am not mistaken anyway I look forward to another review with a better driver...

**mascaras** · 05-13-2007, 08:33 AM

it seems all reviews are with 8.36 or 8.37 , i think we have to wait few more days to see a review with 8.38

regards

**Shintai** · 05-13-2007, 08:35 AM

mascaras....relax...we can read the reviews. You almost sound like AMDs Richard...

Just because one driver made a big difference BEFORE the card was released doesnt mean the next driver will bring miracles.

You even post the same thing several times...

**mascaras** · 05-13-2007, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Shintai

mascaras....relax...we can read the reviews. You almost sound like AMDs Richard...

Just because one driver made a big difference BEFORE the card was released doesnt mean the next driver will bring miracles.

You even post the same thing several times...

im not talking of next drivers , 8.38 it was released few days ago , my friend have it for 4 days now

i dont want miracles , the actual driver its very good in 3dmarks , now i want a good driver for games , i understand its dificult and takes time ( nvidia takes 6 months to get a good performece driver (158.19/19) i just want a good game driver fast

**Eastcoasthandle** · 05-13-2007, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by bingo13

The majority of reviews should be using the 8.37.4 drivers, the 8.38s (early beta 2) still have a lot of issues, especially under Vista with CrossFire and OpenGL. Also, the 8.38s do not have all of the IQ settings optimized yet, so a lot of those reported increases are not exactly fair comparisons.

However, the final 8.38 drivers will improve performance over the 8.37.4 drivers, AMD is expecting 5~12% improvements.

Looks like tweaktown used 8.36

. I am not expecting much from this review site:
-no gts
-no max fps, just min and average
-no updated drivers

I am sure that the Power Supply Unit: Seventeam 500-watt is good enough PSU.

**Shintai** · 05-13-2007, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by mascaras

im not talking of next drivers , 8.38 it was released few days ago , my friend have it for 4 days now

If it was so important, then im sure AMD would have given the review sites it and made an effort to tell them to use it. Or get your friend to make a full review. No NDA to worry about...

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