Looks like we're out of luck with the G800

[Damien Green]

Well I've just read the news about the G800, and I'm afraid to say that I'll be swithching to an ATI Radeon or Radeon II before long. There seems to be no definate relase date, and it looks like more than ever that the G800 doesn't even exist (or even if it does, it's at a very preliminary stage - 2002 anyone?). I know Matrox want to push the business sector, and this is very commendible, but at the same time I do feel that they're leaving their gaming/power roots behind. I think when the G800 (or whatever) does finally arrive it will be far far too late, which is a real pity since for 2D quality, nothing can match the Matrox line of cards.

With a heavy heart, I think it's going to have to be farewell Matrox (at least for the time being) which is a real pity.

How do the rest of you feel - disgruntled or very very patient?

[Joel]

And you know what is sadder than Anandtech's misinformation?

The people who believe it.

Joel

[Greebe]

I feel both. :\ Problem is, these BS rumous just keep getting worse and worse and yet none of these twits have real information. It's all based on speculation and rumours (mostly originating from here).

[Ant]

Misinformation? Did I miss something, is the G800 out then?

[Damien Green]

So Joel - do you really think the G800 might see the light of day sometime soon - you've just managed to raise my hopes! I'm willing to hang on, but only till around summer time!

[Tom]

I'll be saving my pennies until GDC in spring.....I should have a new video card picked out by then.


------------------
Matrox G400MAX
PIII 616
Asus P2B-L
128MB
Quantum Fireball KX 27.3
ADI G66
Sound Blaster Live!
Motorola CyberSURFR
Pioneer DVD-103S

[Damien Green]

I agree with Ant - the G800 is not out! What Anandtech says just about makes sense - Matrox are going very business orientated - you would think by now there would have at least have been an announcement - but nothing.

I know Matrox like to play things tight lipped - but if they're not carefull - there won't be anyone left to buy the G800 when it does (don't hold you're breath) finally come out.

Also - for us Brits add a fair few months on top of any release dates to actually see the card (G400 max memories anyone?)

[This message has been edited by Damien Green (edited 24 November 2000).]

[good health to all]

I'm sure if this info on Anandtech's site is wrong Matrox will release some press release, telling us the truth. If we don't hear anything then its a safe assumption to believe it does have truth. News like this is not good news. Having a company ignore a market that is making NIVIDIA the richest card company only makes investers upset. Even ATI, a business and OEM card maker, is getting into producing some type of strong 3D card. Even they know just being a business card maker is not the smartest. What is Matrox doing? There going to focus completely in the business sector.
I really hope this is not true.

[Elie]

When Matrox is ready for an announcement, they'll announce it, end of story!

Elie

[Joel]

Having a company ignore a market that is making NIVIDIA the richest card company only makes investers upset.

Which is not a problem for Matrox since they are privately held. And since they don't have to answer to investors they can take the time needed to develope a high quality product instead of releasing a half assed product every six months.

Joel

[This message has been edited by Joel (edited 24 November 2000).]

[Greebe]

Good, if Matrox does anything it'll be their PR dept contacting Anand and having a few words with him about his disinformation. But nothing else.

[Barbarella]

hi,

i don't care anymore about disinformation, but as ANT said, where is the G800 ?

I bought my G400 16 months ago, and now ! well nothing. I can play my favorite games because i upgrade memory, processsor and motherboard. Sure P3 933 MHz + 256 Mb PC133 222 help a lot, but now i'm feeling tired.

I love and need Matrox 2D quality and if a G450 PCI come out i will buy one so i could use a real gamer GC on the agp slot.

What i don't understand is why didn't they made something like a G400 ultra a G400 with 0,18 process 166 MHz and 166 Mhz DDR. Just to keep us tuned. It's to late for such a GC and had not been a low cost product, but i'm sure that a lot of Matrox's fan had bought it.

Well .... don't know what i shall thing about Matrox, do you ?

[Novdid]

I´ve played with that thought aswell, Barbarella. A G400 clocked at 233MHz(0.18 466Mtexels) and with 333MHz DDR memory. It could be able to compete with those Geforce DDR at high resolutions.

[mj12]

*sigh* Well Joel, I guess it's nice to dream. Even if it is a pipe dream.

Which is not a problem for Matrox since they are privately held. And since they don't have to answer to investors they can take the time needed to develope a high quality product instead of releasing a half assed product every six months.

Wow! was that ever an idiotic statement. Let's follow the logic, I'm glad they are private so they can move slower than a snail and make bad business decisions because hey! We don't have to answer to stock holders! Matrox would be a great company if they were public because then they'd get off their stupid asses and put out something competitive once in a while. The whole 6 months thing is getting tired. Technology is advancing at tremendous rates and you either stay caught up and get left behind. You can't keep the same release schedule you had 5 years ago when technology allowed slow advancements. I am not a zealot of any one companies products hence the reason why I now own a GeForce2. And before that I had a G400max. You know what would of happened if I had been narrow minded and stuck with Matrox. I'd be playing few new games and the ones I'd be playing would be too choppy to enjoy. This leaves the only thing that Matrox zealots try to hold on to.... Image Quality. Doesn't matter anymore because nvidia is catching up. I do agree that Matrox has had better image quality but it doesn't matter if I can't enjoy it. And the difference is VERY small.

[Ant]

Releasing a half-arsed (that's ass for you North Americans ) product every 6 months is one thing, going on for 2 years between releases is another which is the way it is looking like it will shape up if "misinformation" is to be believed. From the sketchy knowledge that I have of the G800 release it was initially a Q3 2000 product but has for some time looked like being a Q1 2001 product with a very outside chance of a Xmas release.

I do think the statements made by a couple of sites that Matrox will in future be concentrating on the business/OEM market are very misleading. This has always been Matrox's biggest market and continues to be so, the retail market is just a small sideline for them. Matrox have never been a leader in gaming cards (except for the m3D that is**) and I don't expect them to start being one. Having said all of that it is very concerning to see them suddenly go so long between new products (I mean chips here and I'm not counting the G400s retarded brother**).

The problem for Matrox is that they do sell to the retail outlet, to the general bod on the street and in this market expectations are very high. This means that a very small percentage of their (potential) customers make 99% of the noise about Matrox, and at present most of that is negative unfortunatley. The noise made is very loud though and so at some point you must expect it to be heard by the large business/OEM buyers that line Matrox's pockets with gold.

I think where Matrox have gone a little wrong is in putting so much effort into the G450, they should just have released it as they did with the G250, a quiet OEM/busineess affair which is what they said they were going to do.

**please insert tongue in cheek at appropriate points when reading this message