NVIDIA outs the first 300 series GPU

NVIDIA out the First 300 series GPU



Since people first heard of the ATI 5000HD series, people started wondering "What about NVIDIA?" "When are the GT300 series coming out?"

Well, NVIDIA has done it very quietly. Following the release of the GT240 for desktops, the first of the GT300M GPUs appear at the Official NVIDIA Website. The GT310 has surfaced on NVIDIA's website, the GT300 series are starting to appear.

Is this a desperate response to the ATI 5000HD series, which shifted the balance to AMD/ATI side as the best GPU? Or is this really what NVIDIA promises it will be? Next up are the specs of the GT310, entry level GPU from NVIDIA:

HTML:

GPU Engine Specs:
CUDA Cores	16
Graphics Clock (MHz)	589 MHz
Processor Clock (MHz)	1402 MHz
Memory Specs:
Memory Clock (MHz)	500
Standard Memory Config	512 MB DDR2
Memory Interface Width	64-bit
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec)	8.0
Feature Support:
NVIDIA PureVideo® Technology*	
NVIDIA CUDA™ Technology	
Microsoft DirectX	10.1
OpenGL	3.1
Bus Support	PCI-E 2.0
Certified for Windows Vista	
Display Support:
Maximum Digital Resolution	2560x1600
Maximum VGA Resolution	2048x1536
Standard Display Connectors	DVI
VGA
DisplayPort
Multi Monitor	
HDCP*	
HDMI*	 Via dongle (DVI-HDMI or DP-HDMI)
Audio Input for HDMI	Internal
Standard Graphics Card Dimensions:
Height	2.731 inches
Length	6.60 inches
Width	Single-slot
Thermal and Power Specs:
Maximum GPU Temperature (in C)	105  C
Maximum Graphics Card Power (W)	30.5  W
Minimum System Power Requirement (W)	300  W

So, the question now is, will this GT310, the direct replacement of the GT210, be a much better architecture, or will we see the renaming story of the 8xx0 to 9xx0? Time will tell.

 

They should have outed the first GT300 series GPU with their next desktop monstrosity (ie GTX 380).

[Joker voice!] "Gotta say... I'm a little disappointed..."

 

It uses only DDR2 memory. And if you ask me, this seems like the GT210 renamed...

Check the specs of the GT210, looks very similar:

HTML:

GPU Engine Specs:
CUDA Cores	16
Graphics Clock (MHz)	589 MHz
Processor Clock (MHz)	1402 MHz
Memory Specs:
Memory Clock (MHz)	500
Standard Memory Config	512 MB DDR2
Memory Interface Width	64-bit
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec)	8.0
Feature Support:
NVIDIA PureVideo® Technology*	
NVIDIA CUDA™ Technology	
Microsoft DirectX	10.1
OpenGL	3.1
Bus Support	PCI-E 2.0
Certified for Windows Vista	
Display Support:
Maximum Digital Resolution	2560x1600
Maximum VGA Resolution	2048x1536
Standard Display Connectors	DVI
VGA
DisplayPort
Multi Monitor	
HDCP*	
HDMI*	 Via dongle (DVI-HDMI or DP-HDMI)
Audio Input for HDMI	Internal
Standard Graphics Card Dimensions:
Height	2.731 inches
Length	6.60 inches
Width	Single-slot
Thermal and Power Specs:
Maximum GPU Temperature (in C)	105  C
Maximum Graphics Card Power (W)	30.5  W
Minimum System Power Requirement (W)	300  W

 

Even the GPU Looking/Model of GT210 and GT310 are the same. OMG.
Sounds like it's an enhanced version of GT210 only. DDR2 and 64bit Buswidth as well as DirectX 10.1 only. Fail.
Didn't the GT300-Series is DirectX 11 Supported?

 

Doesnt seem to be.

IIRC I read a report from NVIDIA saying that DX11 was NOT their main selling point for the Fermi...who knows. But this is on the official NVIDIA website.

 

While it is on nVidia's website ( http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_310_us.html) I have my doubts that it is fermi. From all my research, Fermi only supports DDR5, DX11, and following history, nvidia announces their new models with the flagships. This looks more like a rebrand than anything else. Either that, or nvidia screwed up a huge batch of fermi and scrapped what they could and resold it at the 310...

 

No idea...it is posted as GT 310...so this is the first attempt? Rebranding the low end GT200 series and then getting out the faster higher-end ones?

Well, lately NVIDIA has been quiet. But not inactive. The GT240 was not even announced, but was added, and this no low-end GPU, not the flagship either, but they have been keeping a low profile.

 

a blatant rebadge. exactly same as gt 210.

 

It's another re-badge. Again. http://www.semiaccurate.com/2009/11/25/nvidia-g310-spotted-just-renamed-g210/

 

I dont get it. ATI has the advantage. Since the 4000HD they got an edge. Now the 5000HD killed NVIDIA, and they even dare to rename the GT200?

I hope I am corrected, but this is not looking good. With no competition ATI can loosen up a tad...and we costumers get the side-effects.

What is wrong with NVIDIA, their GTX295 is below the 5970HD, yet they are not pushing it? And this is the most worrying: http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/16566/1/

And the punch line is:

 

Lets compare the official 210 Website.

With the one of the 310

They seem to be pretty similiar, dont they?




I found this little Gif Animation, to point out the difference between the two cards.

 

The gt240 is indeed a low end gpu the gddr3 version is weaker than a 9600 gt and there is only one gddr5 version out right now and in several titles its performance is lower than a 9600 gt.

 

OMG! It's like what a GT210 would look like zoomed in! [applies same upgrade to epeen... WOW!]

 

Isnt it 128bit bus and the refresh of the GT130, which is the refresh of the 9600M GT?

HTML:

Note: The below specifications represent this GPU as incorporated into NVIDIA's reference graphics card design. Graphics card specifications may vary by Add-in-card manufacturer. Please refer to the Add-in-card manufacturers' website for actual shipping specifications.

GPU Engine Specs:
CUDA Cores	96
Graphics Clock (MHz)	550 MHz
Processor Clock (MHz)	1340 MHz
Memory Specs:
Memory Clock (MHz)	1700 MHz GDDR5, 1000MHz GDDR3, 900MHz DDR3
Standard Memory Config	512 MB or 1 GB
Memory Interface Width	128-bit
Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec)	54.4 GB/sec

Whoever names the NVIDIA GPUs is VERY creative. It is so hard to keep up with their branding...

 

I don't know which GPU you're listing there - the GT130/9600 had 32 shader cores I thought - this looks like a slightly pimped up GTS250/GTS260

I don't know what Nvidia can do with respect to laptop gpu's as I'd imagine they'd either have to wait for shrinks to get fermi mobile, or severely gimp it to keep it in tdp. The only thing left is to rebadge old g92 gpu's, or keep pushing their 200 series gpus and get something to replace the gtx280m/260m's before ATI get the mobility 5000 series out and beat them in price and performance compared to the current offerings.

 

The HD4xxx already did.

 

The GT240 desktop version. I was asking about it, considering Rorschach said it was a low-end GPU, and I thought it was a mainstream one...anyways back to topic.

Indeed.

 

They just try to show they are not dead & they have something for next gen.

Hardly try to grab some attention from people....poor nVIDIA.

 

Just a re-badge, not even DX11.

 

hmm well perhaps we have different standards for mainstream and low end lol. I think anything thats 128 bit with gddr3 is low end. Cards with 64 bit belong in only a home theater pc. 128 bit with gddr5 could be considered mainstream and 256 bit and higher cards with gddr3 or 5 are enthusiast cards.

 

i think that's the consensus for desktop cards. a bit too harsh for notebook cards though.

 

You do realise that 128 Bit with GDDR5 is pretty much the same in performance as 256 Bit with GDDR3?

 

I thought the first fermi gpu going to be release is the GF100?

 

I got the impression that the GTX 280M still had the Mobility 4870 beat. Apparently not eh.

Note, not disagreeing since I haven't kept track, just making an observation.

 

I certainly do, but for some reason the gddr5 version of the gt240 didn't even come close to the 9600 gt in several games. Hopefully its just something to do with the drivers.

 

Dx 10.1!!!!!!

What happened to nvidia these days!!!!

AMD for now....

 

I think perhaps that is. I see 128bit GDDR3 as mainstream, this is as the "whatever" GPU for some light gaming from time to time and the whatnot.

I would call the 128bit GDDR5 as high end and the 256bit GDDR3 enthusiast. There are some cases where the larger bus has some advantages over the faster memory, but that is not always the case.

And 256bit GDDR5 is the top. ATI 5870HD+ FTW!

Perhaps it was drivers. I mean, the GT240M is supposedly the upgraded version of the 9600M GT passing by the GT130M. And considering it has even faster memory, either the drivers are not working good, or you got a lemon?

 

Cries!
They just recently released the DirectX 10.1 cards and already started rebranding them?

AMD really hit gold with their ATI 5000 line it seems, but thanks to TSMC they cant meet the demand.

 

NVIDIA
If they already started re-badge the desktop card, so there is high possibility that the 300M series mobile GPUs will be using GT 200M core rather than new architecture of Fermi GPU.

I am an NVIDIA fan but it looks like my next laptop will has ATI chip inside.

 

he's talking about the desktop card with 96 shaders.

 

DirectX11 is not a huge issue at the moment as there are still not many DX11 games released, but the problem is that they are coming (Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will implement full DX11 support @ retail launch). Nvidia isn't even preparing for it. I think ATi is going to have nothing but smooth sailing for all of fiscal year 2010, and it will be Nvidia's turn to ride the share holder roller coaster!

 

Another NVDIA EPIC FAIL! Time to start getting ATI Cards but when are they going to get something like PHYSX...

 

ATI uses Havoc IIRC, or was it Bullet? They have a physics engine too.

On other news, Fudzilla just made me laugh with this article. They made NVIDIA look terrible.

NVIDIA Launches First 300 series "and yes it is a rebrand"

 

this isn't fermi.

 

Bullet is an open source physics engine using OpenCL with plans to work on both ATI and Nvidia GPUs.


It's true this isn't Fermi....and Nvidia never said that all 300 series cards would be Fermi-based. Given their track record why is anyone surprised if their low end cards don't use their new tech.

DirectX11 will be handled through CUDA software so there's still a chance it can be added to these cards later on but even if they're not most new dx11 features not supported by dx10.1 won't be missed on cards that can't handle games on the higher settings anyway.

 

What's with that cuda cores? This GPU has only 16 cores where a 8700M GT has 32 cores. Are they compared liked this or something else?

 

Huh? What are you comparing exactly?

 

I am sorry but I dont understand the question.

 

Serg, are you sure you didn't copy-paste the specs for the GT 210 for both the GT 210 and the GT 310? They're exactly the same.

Really though, there's no reason for nVIDIA to do this other than marketing. It's the same as the GeForce 9 to GeForce 100 rebranding - all marketing, and no substance. Charlie Demerjian wasn't kidding when he said there was no difference. Makes GeForce 8 to GeForce 9 look like a gigantic leap - because relative to this, it was.

And the title to this thread is too generous, really. It should be more like, "NVIDIA rebrands GT 210 as GT 310".

It's a shame TSMC couldn't/didn't produce enough ATI 5xxx chips this autumn. ATI deserves to reap the rewards of their current chips while they can.

dtwn: GTX 280 probably is more powerful than 4870, but good luck finding it at as reasonable a price.

 

@spradhan01:Why the comparison between the GT310 with the 8700M GT? One is a desktop card while the other one is mobile. Of course it's going to feature less shaders as the GT310 entry level.

Way to usher in a new series of cards. *Sigh*

Wait, I thought the Fermi GPUs would have the 100 something moniker?

 

Actually nVIDIA copy paste the specs for both GT210 & GT310

 

300% sure. Using NVIDIA official website I grabbed the specs of the 210 and the 310 from their respective specs sheets.

It is a mere rebrand...this is new from them

 

Changing the name of a product and said it's new.
It's more like changing a Rabbit name to Tiger and the "Tiger" eats vegetables.

 

Because some buyers going after new name not the specs....

 

"some"? Most consumers dont know anything about specs, and the marketing they get is all they have...so if NVIDIA says "the GT310 is the best GPU and the newest one" people will fall for it...

 

I don't think anyone in the market for a serious high-level GPU would be considering a GT 210/310 in the first place. Let's see how the upper end 3xx series turns out before everyone starts bashing nVidia.

 

LOL LAMO....

 

Right you are, especially when they're using products with an apple logo and drinking kool aid too.

 

Have you ever seen the amount of threads saying "nvidia GPU" on the WNSIB? Tons of people prefer NVIDIA just because. And while I dont blame them, I prefer ATI for that matter.

This logo

was great marketing, and that is why people hear NVIDIA and they simply dont know/care about what it is. NOTE: by people I mean the average joe, not the tech guys like us...^^

 

Lawl @ tiger. Hell, that makes more sense than this!

And you are right about the marketing aspect, Serg.

When Dell had to replace my system, they downgraded certian aspects, and replaced my 8800m GTX with 9800m GT. Same card, rebranded. It took days to argue the downgrade, because they kept insisting that 9800m GT is a 'compensation upgrade'. The rep. said that it is a new upgraded GPU with new features by Nvidia.