The GPU market needs some standardization - Rant -

Getting tired of both nVidia, ATi and their partners taking what should be a singe configuration and butchering it in some way.

Lets take for example the 8600M GT. nVidia allows it to come in two flavors, DDR2 and DDR3, which have a rather large performance gap. Were not talking 10% here, we are talking at least 30%+, which means that the 8600M GT DDR2 and 8600M GT DDR3 should be completely different model numbers. But instead, nVidia allows the chip to be configured in a way which butchers its performance. To make matters worse, the laptop manufacturers do not willingly and openly post what configuration is in said laptop. In fact, you can almost be sure that if it doesn't flat out advertise the faster DDR3 version, by default it is DDR2. But, even so, that doesn't remove the problem entirely. You may have a typo on the website that claims one spec, but is something different. When it comes to specifications, most people, even the ones who are supposed to get it right are often wrong. Allowing one model model with two configurations with a huge gap in performance between then only serves to deceive the consumer. Shame on nVidia, Shame on ATi and shame on most of the Laptop Manufacturers.

Lets move on to the 8800M GTS. For as long as nVidia has made video cards, the 8800GTS has always been better than the GT varient Now, the idiots in marketing department decide that the 9800M GT will now be the better model than the 9800M GTS. Real smart guys! Way to confuse! and with the way the models numbers have been with nVidia lately, I have to only presume that their desire to trick the consumer. There is no other way to explain the 9 series naming scheme, both in their desktop line, and in their mobile line.

ATi is no better on the mobile front. They allow their chips to be paired with ****ty DDR2 within the same model number that DDR3 can be found. Not to mention the laughable 1GB models that come out for both nVidia and ATi. Wow, lets put 1GB of Vram on a ****ty 16SP GPU with DDR2 memory, that will sell some laptops. Sad part is, it does.. With the posts I have seen here on this forum over the last 2-3 years, I can feel sorry for them, because they have been fooled.

Even if nVidia and ATi never did it right to begin with and were unable to correct it on their end, the laptop manufacturers could solve the problem, so the fault must fall on them as well. Unfortunately, from my experience of shopping for laptops the last 2-3 years, you find that they make it difficult to determine just what the hell is exactily in their laptops. You have to do extensive research before you purchase a laptop just to see if the Video Card that is listed for the specifications is the ****ty one with DDR2 or if it is properly paired one with DDR3.

For those ATi and nVidia viral marketers, be sure to take this back and report it to them. Start getting their **** together with their GPUs. They are only hurting the consumer, which I guess probably doesn't bother them as sales continue...

I suppose I should provide what I believe is the solution.

Each model number should have only 1 configuration. That means, if the MFG wants to put a slower and cheaper card in the laptop, then they must downgrade to the model of their desire - Not butcher an existing model by cutting the bus width, lowering clocks or pairing it with lower clocked memory (DDR2 Versus DDR3).

One model number, one configuration. Simple solution to the problem.

 

AMD has actually standardized their GPU monikers using just numbers, Nvidia will hopefully start transitioning to this system starting with the GTX series. All of the Nvidia Suffixes are horrendous and extremely confusing to non-enthusiasts. It took me almost a week to get the whole system straight way back when. It should be blatantly obvious when one card is better than another.

 

My opinion is that during manufacturing the ones that do not meet specs get bumped down to as the GDDR2, etc. Example would be for the 9800M series, ones that do not meet specs in having the 112 Shader Pipelines to be called GTX, get bumped down to GTS or GT models, etc. That way the GPU's in the die that do not meet specs are not wasted and still used. Just like what AMD is doing with its Phenom CPU's. God Bless

 

I completely agree. They need one spec per model, not a whole bunch of variants that confuse people. Like I have a 512 Meg 128bit 8600m GT DDR2, yet there is a 8600m GT 256meg DDR3 that out performs me. I don't know, guess if both companies are doing it, who's to set the standard?

 

I wish they would just all start using GDDR3 entirely.

 

I totally agree with you.

 

I agree with you, but I doubt it is going to happen. They sell a lot more GPUs as things currently are.

 

I agree with you as well. In a sense, I was fooled by this naming scheme. When I was buying my Vostro 1500, everyone was still trying to figure out if it is DDR2 or DDR3. Sadly, as someone who never brought a mid end + video card before, I never know there are differences in Vram. So long story short, I through I was getting a much better card, but I wasn't.

P.S. GPUreview.com had the GDDR3 version and I thought that was what I was getting...

 

I agree. I get so freaking confused with video cards these days. The GTX 260, is that better than the 9800 GT? I get so confused. Why cna't they stick to a simple series of numbers. Even with ATI, i have a 9250, which SOUNDS better than a 4850. But no, you can't even compare them. Then why the **** does the better card have lower numbers?!!!

 

Hear Hear! Glad you brought this up. Many of us enthusiasts get confused, which shows that it is really fubar.

Even if there are multiple memory speeds it should always be consistent. For example 8800m GT < GTS < GTX < SLI and if it has DDR2 or GDDR3 have a designation for that like GT2 or GT3 or simply use 8800m GT DDR2.

 

Although the difference in a ddr2 and ddr3 8600mGT is <1000 3dmarks, I agree that there needs to be a change. I still find it funny that there are so many variations of a certain card.

 

ati is alot better than nv at naming their cards.

You are SO right, this market needs to be regulated, not just nv and ati, manufacturers and resellers are to blame too.
there are people trying to sell a 8400m/9300m as a gaming card for christ sake! most people aren't techniclly knowlegable like us, and companies are taking unfair advantage of them.

actually, it's not standardization we need, we need regulations by authorities. information is assymetrical in this market, the firms know ALOT more about their product than the consumers, a trademark of a failed market.

 

actually IMO its also partly those peoples' faults because they should have enough brains to do thorough research before making large scale purchases such as computers

 

but it's the firms resposibility to provide thorough info on their product and how they perform for the consumer.

 

yes, i agree with that; but i kind of disagree on your point of "it is the companies' fault that some consumers aren't technically knowledgeble". if the person is not tech-knowledgeble then he/she should do the research needed instead of being so ignorant and thinking all laptops are the same. however, in order for this not to be the companies' fault then they first need to, as you said, "provide thorough info on their products and how they perform for the consumer".

 

true, there are people who buy laptops like they are all the same but with different looks, noobs.

 

I would imagine they do it for commercial reasons. Not explicitly describing specifications means that the layman can't directly make comparisons, and relies on the extremely knowledgeable sales staff pushing cheaper, lower spec models which makes joe bloggs think he's got a fantastic deal.

Unfortunately, even with technical products, the marketing and commercial department will always win when it comes to decision making, even though many of their decisions can often only be at best described as ludicrous.

Once the product has been manufactured, they don't care, they'll market it using whatever method they believe will bring in the most money, whether it's a loaf of bread or the latest processor.

 

Best Buy considers any computer with 4 GB of RAM a "true gaming machine" whether it has decent graphics or not if you look at their little advertisement labels in their stores in regards to their notebooks

But yes, I'm very appreciative of ATi's numbering system, it makes sense for the consumer and gamers too.

 

I agree with you on the Naming scheme that Nvidia handles. They got a load of names and sometimes the GT is better and the other time the GTS. Its not handy. Tough they are trying to correct this error with the GTX 260 - GTX 280, they are not out for notebookes yet

As for the DDR2 and DDR3 variants. This is something ATI Nor Nvidia controll (unless they feel like loosing money) Only the core chips are made by ATI / Nvidia. The rest of the Graphics board, PWN / DDR2 / DDR3 and its amount are controlled by the notebook manufacturer.

 

On my dekstop, I own an Nvidia 8800GTS 640MB

My buddy also has an 8800GTS but with only 512MB

Guess who has the better GPU?