R520 scores 10K+ in 3Dmark05

[Cybercat]

For 10k in 05, 16 Pipe 6800GTs in SLI can do that at 400 Core...which means 16x2x400 = 12,800 Theoretical Fill Rate...which 24 Pipes can match with a Core of a mere 534 Mhz. (24x533 = 12,816 Theoretical Fill Rate) . So yes, 24 Pipes should own sli quite easily...except when high resolution FSAA comes into play, that's when the 24 pipes will not be able to keep up with 2x X850XTPE/6800Ultra in performance.

Perkam

Two 6800GTs at 400 are basically two 6800 Ultras, minus the memory speed. Maybe I was mistaken but two 6800 Ultras in SLI at stock speeds don't quite make it to 10k. link here But honestly I wouldn't compare the clockspeeds of a NV40 series card to something from ATI, because the NV40 series does not rely on fillrate performance. They are two completely different architectures (at least compared to the current ATI cards), and 400MHz on an ATI card means a lot less than 400 on an NVIDIA NV40-based card.

[Shadowmage]

When overclocked, if R520 scores 10k 3dmark05 stock, then I definately see it breaking 20k

[perkam]

Two 6800GTs at 400 are basically two 6800 Ultras, minus the memory speed. Maybe I was mistaken but two 6800 Ultras in SLI at stock speeds don't quite make it to 10k. link here But honestly I wouldn't compare the clockspeeds of a NV40 series card to something from ATI, because the NV40 series does not rely on fillrate performance. They are two completely different architectures (at least compared to the current ATI cards), and 400MHz on an ATI card means a lot less than 400 on an NVIDIA NV40-based card.

Good Point...I'll compare with ATI CFire results when they are published to the ORB.

Perkam

[marius7]

I have an question. Can I put 2 Ati in Crossfire on an DFI nf4 board ?

[NeGe0]

I have an question. Can I put 2 Ati in Crossfire on an DFI nf4 board ?

I think you can but you need the crossfire card.

[mcnbns]

I have an question. Can I put 2 Ati in Crossfire on an DFI nf4 board ?

I would say that's a definite no. nVidia is not going to let anyone use dual ATi cards in Crossfire configs on their chipsets.

[kryptobs2000]

I would say that's a definite no. nVidia is not going to let anyone use dual ATi cards in Crossfire configs on their chipsets.

Nvidia has no control over that.

edit: besides, why would they do that? If someone wants crossfire and they're willing to spend 1000$ on the cards, I'm sure they'd be willing to spend ~200$ on a new mobo.

[Super strokey]

anyone see some dfi ati chipsets? Or Maybe some MSI ones as i perfer them?

[Super strokey]

Nvidia has no control over that.

edit: besides, why would they do that? If someone wants crossfire and they're willing to spend 1000$ on the cards, I'm sure they'd be willing to spend ~200$ on a new mobo.

also i do think that nvidia would have some control over that seeings how its a nf4 board. Im sure there would be work arounds but i wouldnt count on a nf4 board ever hosting dual ati cards

[Stuperman]

I would want to see performance of cfire on Nforce 4 and SLI on RD480 (? the cfire chipset). See if it would even run. and a performance comparo.

[Sentential]

I really really hope nV know's what they are doing. If the R500 walks all over the G70 this is not good.

[zakelwe]

I think you can forget the 32 pipes theories, it may be able to process 32 pixels internally but I do not think 300 million transistors is enough for 32 pipe output because they will have to add silicon for SM3.0 as well.

Fudo is implying that 2 of these will double performance but even Ati say Crossfire gives only up to 60-70% gain, so that is bs. If that is bs then you have to wonder if his 3dmarks amount is bs too , maybe, maybe not, Ati are always good when it comes to fast shaders.

My guess (still) is a 16x1 or ( slightly possible 24x1) arrangement at 600Mhz with SM3.0 and heavily beefed shaders being able to process 2 pixels per clock internally but not 2 per clock output.

Regards

Andy

[[XC]Atomicpineapple]

I remember reading something during Computex (dont ask me where, I've no hope of remembering that!) that someone tried to install the crossfire drivers on a NF4 chipset mobo, and they refused to install, could be true, could well be BS too I guess.

[turtle]

I remember reading something during Computex (dont ask me where, I've no hope of remembering that!) that someone tried to install the crossfire drivers on a NF4 chipset mobo, and they refused to install, could be true, could well be BS too I guess.

That is indeed true, as I read it as well. I looked for the article so I could qoute and link it, but no success. Just know you're not going crazy.

I think eventually someone will find a way for it to work, even if it's not officially supported by either Nvidia's chipset or ATi's gfx drivers. Someone will make it so. If it works on Crossfire and 955 boards...and probably VIA boards as well...and there doesn't seem to be anything too special about the chipset it'sself (other than the fact a "master card" isn't needed apparently with ATi's chipset/NB according to DFI) my guess is eventually it'll work, but will require the master card to do so.

The fact it works on 955 chipsets is the key, as I imagine there is no "ATi" tech in that chipset, just 2x16 slots. The fact it works on a chipset other than their own makes me think all the work is done by the cards, drivers, and dongle. If that is so, there's gotta be a way to make it work on an SLI board, unless Nvidia does some monkey voodoo to make it propriatary, to which I imagine they'll have some very angry xtremers on their hands...but I just don't foresee that happening...But who knows, I could be wrong.

[Funny_S]

The fact it works on 955 chipsets is the key, as I imagine there is no "ATi" tech in that chipset, just 2x16 slots.

Yeah they have 2 PCIe16 slots but they will work as 16 and 4 so I don't think putting a "fudo" in the PCIe4 slot will have much use.

[kryptobs2000]

Yeah they have 2 PCIe16 slots but they will work as 16 and 4 so I don't think putting a "fudo" in the PCIe4 slot will have much use.

bandwidth is so overrated, agp8x isn't even used fully yet, it won't be a big deal, you'll lose a few fps, thats it.

[turtle]

The top end of the x800 gen uses what, somewhere between 2-3x lanes in reality, right? You're right then, the 4x slot will probably limit a fudo crossfire setup somewhat, but methinks it'd still be worth it to someone that wanted to use it. But just the fact the crossfire tech will work out of the box (seemingly) without any ATi tech in the chipset makes me think it'll work on other chipsets with two 16x slots, such as nvidia and via boards. I just say this because it seems when it was announced the 955 would work with crossfire, it seemed like it was announced as an afterthought...which would explain why it works at 16x4 and wasn't planned to be 2x8 like SLI and Crossfire chipsets. You'd think if they planned the compatibility they would of future-proofed a little more and made it able to do 2x8.

Isn't it even foreseeabley possible it could work on ultra chipsets that have the 2nd 16x slot or 4x slot (like MSI and DFI)?

Even if it requires the chipset to know how to split the lanes into 2x8 like SLI and crossfire boards, 16x and 4x like the 955 chipset (and the old now defunkt MSI ultra nf4 SLI hack) , or 16x and 2x (like DFI's also defunkt "ultra sli"), the nf4 chipset still has that capability. Also, since both SLI and Crossfire use AFR and SSR (SFR), that's one more step towards compatibility.

Totally specualtion, but doesn't it seem plausible?

[[XC]Atomicpineapple]

It could have been due to beta or early revision drivers which may be sorted before widespread availability occurs, however if its not, I'm sure modded drivers will appear in due course. Also, the way I see it at least, it'd be silly for nVidia to stop Crossfire working on NF4 boards, as that instantly makes its entire range of NF4 chipsets off limits to a lot of people, which cant be good for sales.

[Afterburner]

There's an editorial @ Penstar Systems that suggests that ATI is havin severe R520 yield problems explaining the supposed delays. On the other hand some are sayin ATI is jus waitin for X850 stocks to clear up before releasing the Fudos. Disturbing nonetheless.......

Source

[Afterburner]

Grayskull........care to comment ?

[Spanky Deluxe]

I can't believe that Nvidia would stop people using crossfire in nforce powered boards. Think about it, if they made their boards compatible with ATI's crossfire then their boards would be handle dual graphics cards from both leading manufacturers as opposed to ATI's that can only deal with crossfire. What would you buy?!!

[saaya]

they dont want to sell a few more mainboards though, they want to doninate the marketi with their boards with their cards, and i wouldnt be surprised if future chipset drivers might cause problems with crossfire bundles in nforce boards...

i hope it wont happen though

[Afterburner]

No one seems trouble by the 'appparent' R520 problems...........

[STEvil]

they managed 48 pipes for R500 on ~75m... although its a slightly different architecture (or is it?).

I think you can forget the 32 pipes theories, it may be able to process 32 pixels internally but I do not think 300 million transistors is enough for 32 pipe output because they will have to add silicon for SM3.0 as well.

Fudo is implying that 2 of these will double performance but even Ati say Crossfire gives only up to 60-70% gain, so that is bs. If that is bs then you have to wonder if his 3dmarks amount is bs too , maybe, maybe not, Ati are always good when it comes to fast shaders.

My guess (still) is a 16x1 or ( slightly possible 24x1) arrangement at 600Mhz with SM3.0 and heavily beefed shaders being able to process 2 pixels per clock internally but not 2 per clock output.

Regards

Andy

[Afterburner]

Latest: The word is when R520 arrives, a 90nm G70 w/ 32 pipes will be ready.

I really wonder if it is possible. I also wonder if Shamino is able to shed some light since his visit to Nvdia's HQ Grayskull......are you intending to give this feedback to ur CEO