Nvidia: new graphics processor fastest gaming platform

Stan Beer
Thursday, 03 May 2007 16:07

Your IT - Home IT

Graphics chip specialist Nvidia isn't mincing words when it boldly claims that its new graphics processing unit (GPU) is the fastest gaming platform in the world. However, starting at US$829, the GeForce 8800 Ultra graphics card had better live up to its claims.

According to Nvidia, the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 Ultra, which boasts support for both Blu-ray and HD DVD content, performs an average of between 10 and 15% faster than its predecessor the GeForce 8800 GTX.

For your extra money you get a GPU with extra speed achieved by cranking up the clock speeds by around 10 to 15%.

GeForce 8 Series GPUs are the first shipping DirectX 10 GPUs and are the reference GPUs for Microsoft DirectX 10 API development.

"The definitive gaming platform is built around the fastest components available and today there is no disputing those components include the GeForce 8800 Ultra GPU and an NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-ready motherboard," said Ujesh Desai, general manager of desktop GPUs at NVIDIA. "The graphics industry evolves extremely quickly and it is quite an achievement when you can leapfrog your own performance milestones in succession like we have done with these GeForce 8 Series GPUs."

Reaction to the Nvidia announcement in the blogosphere was mixed, with some posters commenting that the new GPU is too expensive, while others care little about the high price tag, describing the new performance specs of the GeForce 8800 Ultra as awesome.