Nvidia firms up Fermi specification
By Darien Graham-Smith
Posted on 18 Jan 2010 at 10:53
Nvidia has released the first technical details of its next-generation PC graphics hardware, codenamed Fermi.
The new core is officially dubbed the GF100, and the first boards will include 512 execution cores, 48 render output processors and a 384-bit GDDR5 bus.
Specific product names and price points haven’t been confirmed, but speaking at the launch in San Jose, Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang announced that the architecture would extend right across the company’s GeForce, Quadro and Tesla ranges.
Fermi cards are designed with a focus on code execution as well as gaming performance, bringing a new memory architecture that allows developers to write GPU-based routines in C++.
This sophistication means the GPU features an unprecedented three billion transistors — a reason, perhaps, why the company is taking so long to get cards to market.
Fermi was announced last September, but cards aren’t expected to go on sale until March.
From around the web
Hurry up, Nvidia
I've been waiting for these new cards to come out for ages. I'm due a new PC and it doesn't make sense to shell out on a new card that doesn't support DX11. It seems Nvidia's main focus isn't on desktop gaming-grade graphics anymore. It's a shame they're neglecting their core fanbase that have brought in all their income over the years...
By theloz1 on 18 Jan 2010 
I hope these cards will allow GPGPU accelerated video compression and raytracing. I know this can be done with older cards but the extra architecture should hopefully allow Adobe and Autodesk take advantage of all this processing power.
By hadphild on 18 Jan 2010
Now what to do now get the 5870 now or wait for this so call graphic card
Mark
By mprltd on 18 Jan 2010
Beginning of the end for PC gaming?
Looks like they think there won't be a lot of profit in PC gaming hardware and are moving early to grab a share of what they think will be a more lucrative market?
By Mark_Thompson on 18 Jan 2010
END OF INTEL
Has anyone though about the possabilities of porting Linux or windows or indeed osx to the graphics GPU.They are becoming far more powerful than X86 Processors.How about a Fermi or Radeon Motherboard.Could this at some stage bring an end to the Intel or ATI bandwagon ?.Just a thought.
By Jaberwocky on 19 Jan 2010
I think AMD and ARM/NVidia have had a few END of Intel thoughts, hence Bulldozer and Tegra 2!
By skgiven on 21 Jan 2010
A few years ago the thinking - mainly from Nvidea Fanboys - when was Nvidea going to buy out ATi or even AMD.
A lot change since then and you could arguee could it be the other way round
Mark
By mprltd on 21 Jan 2010
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