Matrox (finally) announces G450 !!!

[Livius]

I still don't get it. While 64bit memory interface may cut the cost of the PCB, the cost of DDR over SGR is higher. So what you save over here you actually spend over there. I still need an explanation (other than it's another OEM checklist trick)

[franksch3]

SDRAM like the DDR-RAM hasn't got a 128 bit interface. What they normally do is put more chips in parallel so that their datapaths together form a 128 bit memory interface. Ever wondered why they don't decrease PCB size by just using 1 32 MB chip instead of 4-8 4 MB chips. ;-)

They have stated that the external memory bus is 128 bit and they use 64 bit DDR-SDRAM chips. In theory they need 2 chips to make 128 bit.

(However I might be completely wrong.)

[dupdob]

I may be wrong, bug it seems that we have a new (minor features) 'Antialiased vectors' in the G450. It may have been present in the G400, but the driver never enabled it.

[Salmonius]

I think that the g400 chip is mostly a microprocessor that's pretty fast and can be programmed to do all sorts of things, specifically graphics stuff. So, in order to add a little feature, they just need to change the program so that it's added. With the g450 being faster than the g400, they may have decided to add some extra things like 'Antialiased Vectors'. They could probably add T&L if they wanted it to but with the speed of CPU's it would probably not be worth it other than for marketing purposes. Note that the preview at tweak3d mentions FSAA for the g450 but I don't think I've seen that anywhere else.

I intend to get a g450 whenever it's available but I am disapointed that it's not out yet, although not surprised.

[dneal]

So......where's the G800. Matroxs' competitors are about to announce some amazing stuff. You'd think the G800 would be announced soon too...........


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ABIT BF6, Pentium III SL35D 450MHz -> 630MHz, 192MB PC100 SDRAM @ 140MHz, Toshiba 6X DVD, Quantum Fireball Plus KA, Quantum Fireball ST,
Matrox Millenium G400 DH @ 160/200, Creative SBLive Value, 3Com Fast Etherlink XL PCI
Supermicro SC701A ATX 300watt TurboCool PC Power & Cooling PS, Panasonic Panasync S17

[AJ]

Salmonius - nice catch.

Hmmm, that little bit on FSAA is interesting. Unless they do something clever with the hardware, I would guess there'd be a pretty big hit in using it. To me it seems that 2x isn't enough improvement and 4x kills fillrates by too much (in current cards).

Anyone playing flight sims would benefit (I saw the v5 preview over at SimHQ, FSAA makes a huge diffrence in flight sims).

I think FSAA would make a big difference in my favorite game (Tribes) because of outdoor environment. I also play UT, which I don't think would be much improved by FSAA (and high framerates are more important than in Tribes). Hopefully the G800 will have enough fillrate to spare so I can run Tribes2 in 4xFSAA (without emptying my bank account!).

Bixler - Ok, (dneal started it), I would really like to see some ballpark numbers on the G800, aside from just 2x the fillrate of the G450 which hasn't even been disclosed yet!

(was that a decent rant?)

I heard rumors that the g800 already is in silicon, who knows (well, only those with NDAs!).

-AJ

[andrei]

We've all beeen talking about the features but we forgot about the price and availability.
If they pursue the same marketing strategy as they did with the MAX, than the chances of geting my hands on one are small.
So what will happen ? Will they make the MAX more available to the normal retail channels and put the G450 on the "only get through Matrox Online Store" list ?

[LrngToFly]

If Matrox is logical, they'll replace the entire G400 line w/ G450 based cards.

They're too similar of a product to have both coexist.

They probably will have multiple types of G450 cards. Dual/single head, 16/32 MB.

Again though, they had better announce the G800 soon. The G450 just won't be competitive for gaming.

[andrei]

You got me wrong, what I mean is, will I be able to walk into the local PC store and find a G450, the best version of the G450 ? or will they only sell it online as they did with the G400 MAX ?

[zippy]

Check out March 10 here at MURC. There is a chart that shows when the G400 line ends...so yes, the G450 will prolly replace it.

I am getting worried when the G800 will be released...what with the g450 getting released in Half 2 of 2000.

PaulS---the g400s have been used in OEM machines...generally business ones! :P The G450 is just more meant for it I s'pose you could say. It is also gonna really kick the llama's a$$ in graphics design with 64MB of DDR RAM and a faster/better core and a second RAMDAC.

[Dr. Matrox]

What a bout the software T&L in the G450?

[Jutai]

i think the G450 is the realization of what they wanted the g400 sieries to be and we did see a timeline where the G400MAX was discontinued in Q2 2000 and the G450 enters the arena so this is looking more true that the G450 will replace the MAX they will probably have a marvel version but hopefully the G800 is coming quickly because over at ATI they announced their new chipset and it has everything and a bag of EMBM the only cool feature it lacks is DUALHEAD but they are really making a run for the money with their new chip and if they actually release it on time it will be a major player. I really do wish Matrox would release the specs of their new chips so we could drool over them instead of speculating but oh well they like their secrets... hhhmmm if i started a hardware site maybe i could get in on some of those NDA's and smell what the "M" is cooking. well until then i hope it will be well worth the wait. Can someone who knows at least tell me that much will it stand against the ATI raedon?? only time will tell
-Chris k.

[Dualbuzz]

Wanna take a look at G450 card?

Here it is (source: IXBT)

<center><img border="0" src="http://ixbt.stack.net/short/pics/g450.jpg" width="379" height="370"></center>

[YoKoMo [1]]

It's pretty, but just not pretty enough for me to justify the upgrade

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PIII 650E at 805Mhz, V3 3000 (for now), Asus P3B-F (ain't none better!), 384MB PC133 Memory, 2 Seagate 18GB Cheeeeetazzzz.

[Kruzin]

Hmmm.
Something just don't look right there.
I don't think this is a G450.
Aside from the obviously bad cut-n-paste job on the chip label, the card has different size heads (would be hard to hook up a VGA to that second head), and there is no connectors (or place for connectors) for an RR-G.
I think this pic is some guys "concept" of what the card might look like...