Inflexible GT300 and RV800, Meet Free Larrabee
Hey guys! Icarus here with more on the latest hardware tech!
So I’m going to start out w/ a simple question: have you ever had a girlfriend/boyfriend who was an absolute control-freak?
Well, a typical control-freak would:
1. Watch your every move
2. Tell you what to do
3. Scream/Get mad/Become violent/etc. to you if he/she doesn’t get his or her way
So, how does this relate to the new GPUs I’ve been talking about?
Well, I’ve just recently read up on what’s going on with how the vendors are taking GT300, RV800, and Larrabee.
Many graphics card vendors in Asia are extremely fed up with NVidia and AMD. Now the vendors are eagerly waiting for the Intel Larrabee for its flexibility.
Wanna know why? Well, it’s because NVidia and AMD designed GT300 and RV800 in a way that completely control the vendors.
Here’s how NVIdia and AMD did this:
1. The original layout of the GT300 and RV800 is extremely inflexible
2. NVidia and AMD gets a percentage of any reworks and re-layout-ing the vendors did on the cards.
So let’s get crackin’!
1. The Layout
Well, any layout of any hardware is extremely important, especially ones that can be revamped and sold by many vendors.
Each graphics card vendor does their own little tweaks on the original design, and optimize it according to their standards including quality, efficiency, and price.
So, a flexible layout is obviously good for vendors because it allows vendors to tweak the layout easier than normal, and it also takes less time to do so. This generally leads to a quicker release of a new piece of hardware.
Well, NVidia and AMD apparently have inflexible circuit layouts for their GT300 and RV800 GPUs, and the vendors are becoming frustrated.
An inflexible layout will cost a vendor at least a few weeks to tweak, and cost them a lot of the profit they could receive if the layout had been more flexible.
Consumers get frustrated with the delayed release, and vendors lose profit and loyal consumers.
2. NVidia and AMD’s Profit from Layout Changes
Well, this one is understandable… if the layout wasn’t flexible.
An inflexible layout will also force vendors to make changes in the layout that wouldn’t have to be made in a flexible layout. This means NVidia and AMD get more profit, but it also means the vendors will be delayed a few weeks, lose some loyal consumers, and lose profit.
So in a way, it seems like AMD and NVidia structured their layout and their overall plan in a way that will give them the most profit.
Now, where does the Larrabee come in?
Well, according to many sources, Intel seems to have hit a jackpot with the layout of the Larrabee. Vendors eagerly await its release because the layout is much more flexible than that of GT300 or RV800.
Larrabee provides much more freedom to the graphics cards vendors.
So, GT300 and RV800, meet Larrabee, your new and powerful competition.
Well that’s all I’ve got for today! Stay tuned for more on the latest computer hardware technology!!
And don’t forget to comment!!! I love criticism, further analysis, and suggestions on what new hardware you want me to review!!!
And stay tuned, because videos are coming up!
Cheers!
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Icarus and Computers Top
June 30th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
It would be great to have a new player in the next round of video card battles, just to shake things up.
July 9th, 2009 at 10:58 am
I agree, a new player on the field would be great from a consumer POV. Personally, I stick with nVidia, but not because I’m a fanboy. I’ve always had excellent experiences with nVidia products and their support is much better than AMD/ATI… I use several OSs not just Winblows and nVidia has the best all round driver support by far, hands down. They also have the only native 3D support at the moment (although that part is M$ only)…
July 9th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Hahaha I admit, I’m somewhat of a Windows Fanboy, and I haven’t gotten around to using the other OSs yet. But from experience, NVidia has given me the best price, and best performance-for-the-money.
But also, keep in mind that Intel is delving into a market that’s already been paved by NVidia and AMD. They will have to do a phenomenal job with the Larrabee(and so far, it seems like they will) to overcome all odds. This will be one heck of a race.