HEXUS.reviews :: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2

[Bob Crabtree]

Can NVIDIA's new GeForce 7950 GX2 do the job that GeForce 7900 GTX hasn't, dethroning Radeon X1900 XTX as the compelling single-board graphics card purchase? We try to find to answer, starting off with just what a 7950 GX2 is.

Check out Rys's wart-and-all review and let us have your thoughts here. Oh, and don't forget to take in Tarinder's take on the SCAN 3XS Athlon 64 FX-62 AM2 system - Redux. It carries one of these new NVIDIA cards.

[directhex]

sorry guys, gotta link to http://www.planetdognine.com/feature...iles/bfast.jpg at this point

[Lee @ SCAN]

Originally Posted by directhex

sorry guys, gotta link to http://www.planetdognine.com/feature...iles/bfast.jpg at this point

That pic always make's me chuckle.

[awm]

Well the total PCB size is the same.

[Bob Crabtree]

Originally Posted by awm

Well the total PCB size is the same.

I'm clearly half asleep - it took me a couple of reads to get the joke.

D'oh!

[geo]

Whee. Compare Rys' conclusion with this hagiography:

Can we recommend this product to our readers? The answer is a resounding "Hell Yes"! We'd go so far as to say it will probably be a contender for product of the year, especially given the fact that it can run on many non SLI boards. Though the current number of compatible motherboards are somewhat smaller than we'd like to see for the general population, as you can see most of the enthusiast-level boards (both Intel and NVIDIA based) reside on that list. We're pretty sure with time, new motherboard BIOS, and new drivers that list will only be expanded.

http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=925&pageID=2306

"contender for product of the year"!

Did *anyone* other than Hexus put NV's mobo-compatibility claims to the acid test? Anybody? Somebody? Hellloooo, is this mic on? <tap, tap>

[Whiternoise]

So.. a single one was tested (albeit two GPU's) and you can put them in SLi.. i want one.. O.o

[chuckskull]

122celcius wtf. Can we get a coffee machine hooked up to it? Make use of that heat.

[ExceededGoku]

LOL at post #2, I think that motherboard makers (and indeed case designers are going to have to makea bigger form factor for all these graphics cards and other expansion slots. SLi and Crossfire is a rediculous technology in terms of space requirements and power requirements.
But anyway back on topic, I like the idea behind this card. Wouldn't get one, but I like it .

[Bob Crabtree]

I'm wondering when NVIDIA or ATI are going to come up with a "Conroe" equivalent GPU that adds a lot more grunt but runs at far lower temperatures than what's gone before.

Or haven't the graphics card companies realised that what they're doing by having ever bigger and hotter graphics cards is causing problems?

[emul8]

Originally Posted by Bob Crabtree

I'm wondering when NVIDIA or ATI are going to come up with a "Conroe" equivalent GPU that adds a lot more grunt but runs at far lower temperatures than what's gone before.

Or haven't the graphics card companies realised that what they're doing by having ever bigger and hotter graphics cards is causing problems?

Summed up quite nicely there Bob

I feel a whole lot better now having just ordered a 7900 GTX
I was very dubious about that little fan.
I sometimes wonder if ATI or NVIDIA think to much about the big race instead of whats the best way forward for GPU design.

[DeMilo]

Hmm.... Coffee machine seems the most logical approach for this card right now i think... maybe if it came bundled with the XFX package i may debate a purchase!

First Post! *pats himself on the back*

[kalniel]

Originally Posted by Bob Crabtree

I'm wondering when NVIDIA or ATI are going to come up with a "Conroe" equivalent GPU that adds a lot more grunt but runs at far lower temperatures than what's gone before.

Or haven't the graphics card companies realised that what they're doing by having ever bigger and hotter graphics cards is causing problems?

I think they know - next couple of generations will almost certain start heading in that direction, once consumer focus has been put on performance per watt/heat by the CPU marketeers.

I'm waiting for the first add-in graphics chip that you put in a spare processor socket.

[Whiternoise]

In regards to the fan set up, why don't they just put the fans so that they're outward facing? Since there doesn't seem to be much benefit shoving the intake right up against the back of the other GPU board then surely it would be more effective..