Posted on Wednesday, June 02 2004 @ 18:08 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
NVIDIA is showing its NV45 at Computex. This card uses PCI Express, and is except that almost equal to the NV40. The NV45 itself is still an AGP chip, but it uses a HSI bridge, which makes it able to use PCI Express.
Earlier NVIDIA GeForce PCX product-line intended for PCI Express computers had the bridge chip placed onto the PCB of the graphics card, not directly on the substrate of the graphics processor.
It is not yet clear if the NV45 has any architectural changes comparing to the NV40 (GeForce 6800).
The new PCI Express graphics cards, including the NVIDIA NV45 and ATI RADEON X800-series will make use of a new type of 12V power connector to pour some extra power for high-performance graphics processors. Initially graphics cards makers plan to supply a special adapter that allows connecting widely-available Molex connectors to the new add-in cards, but eventually new power supply units are likely to provide the new type of connector for graphics cards.
Current high-end graphics cards from NVIDIA – the GeForce 6800 Ultra – have two Molex power connectors, while ATI’s RADEON X800-series products need only one Molex power cord.
The launch date of this card is still unknown.
Even though NVIDIA seems to demonstrate the code-named NV45 product now, a company’s spokesman said “NV45 is not a public product” and declined to comment on its specifications or shipping dates.
Various sources name Q3 2004, Q4 2004 and even Q1 2005 as presumable shipping dates for the NV45 part.
NVIDIA needs high-performance graphics technology to address the enthusiast and professional markets as soon as possible, as computer enthusiasts and workstation professionals are likely to be among the first to get the new PEG x16 platforms and powerful graphics cards for them starting from late June 2004.
Source:
X-bit Labs