The ATI Radeon 5XXX Thread

[***Deimos***]

The only computer company immune to the whims of the industry, consumers, recession etc is INTEL.
Whether you are buying a Notebook, HTPC, Netbook, Desktop, Server, Workstation
If your OS choice is Mac, Windows, or Linux.

GRIM REALITY
There's a 80-90% chance it will be INtel system. 90% of which use Intel chipset. And at least half of desktops and notebooks with integrated Intel graphics (which FYI holds MUCH more graphics marketshare than either AMD or nVidia).

TOUGH CHALLENGES
So the challenge for nVidia and AMD (especially since first with DX11 and trying to sell Phenoms):
- powerfull marketing to turn consumers off integrated. nVidia's "balanced PC" is too little too late.
- back 5 years ago, it was easy to point out lack of video acceleration, shaders and game compatiblity... but IGP is catching up.
- convince existing HD4870/GTX275 owners their shiny almost new DX10 hardware is crapola.
- have enough new features (btw I find DX11 Tessellation and Compute Shaders to be just a rehash of same old...)
- new must have DX11 games... where are they?

AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL... netbooks
Finally, most (non-super elite lv60 wizzard with Ferrari in driveway) consumers have limited budgets. Consumers are going to be tempted to spend money on CPU/mobo (ie Lynnfield, 32nm Westmere etc), 42" HDTV, an Intel SSD flash drive... or best of all, the exploding thin notebook and/or netbook segment, where there is no market whatsoever for HD5850 or any add in graphics card at all. Also recall, only Intel makes wide range of mobile CPUs and is the defacto choice.

Once again all your bases belong to Intel.
Bottom line.. I dont think HD5850/HD5870 will have as good sales as HD4xx series... at least as long as gloom of recession is around.