Following our GeForce3
Performance FAQ, we've put together a few more Frequently Asked Questions for GeForce3.
1. Why does it cost so much more to make a GeForce3
compared to the GeForce2 Ultra?
GeForce3 has faster DDR SDRAM (3.8ns) than the GeForce2 Ultra (4.0ns). Also,
the GeForce3 chip has 700 pins. That's 208 more pins than the GeForce2 Ultra,
which only has 492. This
means packaging costs have increased, as higher routing density circuit board
must be used under the GeForce3 chip.
2. Who should buy a GeForce3 immediately?
Tim Sweeney, the lead programmer at Epic Games, has a good
answer:
"If you are a game developer, you need a GeForce3 immediately and you should camp out in front of your favorite computer store to buy them the moment they're available. For gamers, the need is less pressing. If you're cool with the idea of buying a $500 graphics card, go grab one. If price is a concern, you can always wait a few months. The prices will go down over time, and games really thoroughly taking advantage of the card are 6+ months away."
3. What's the maximum amount of frame buffer
memory GeForce3?
The GeForce3 architecture supports up to 128MB of frame buffer memory, but we expect board producers
to offer only 64MB boards for now. This is due primarily to memory costs. The extremely fast DDR SDRAM
required for the board means a 128MB GeForce3 would cost twice as much as a 64MB
GeForce3!
4. How much power does the GeForce3 consume?
GeForce3 consumes no more power than the original GeForce 256 core did (15W) at the chip level, and boards built with GeForce3 will consume substantially less power than the
maximum defined by the AGP specification.
5. How many pins on the GeForce3 chip?
There are 700 pins on the GeForce3 chip. For additional background, there are 492, 454 and 423 pins on
a GeForce2 chip, an Athlon Thunderbird (socketed) and Pentium4, respectively.
6. Will be there a Quadro3, a professional version of GeForce3?
Anti-aliased lines and two-sided lighting, both key features for good CAD performance,
aren't listed as supported features for the GeForce3. Based on nVidia's product
history, considering the GeForce 256/Quadro and GeForce2/Quadro2 Pro, there is very high probability that
there will be a Quadro3.
7. What is the estimated selling price for GeForce3 board?
NVIDIA expects boards to be in the neighborhood of $599, while consumers at present may preorder one at
a price of
$529.
8. Can we preview those never-before-seen visual effects in games 6+ months away that
take full advantage of GeForce3?
Even if you don't own a GeForce3, you can get a first-hand look at the incredible
effects GeForce3 can produce. Just view these the video clips of NVIDIA demos.
