Parhelia!!!

[Ali]

I think DX9 features are finalised, but I dont know if the implementation is locked down yet.

That means Matrox could have trouble if they release a card that is meant to be DX9, but MS changes the way the data is meant to be accessed.

If the Next Big Thing is programmable, such as the SoundBlaster Live series, they could write an upgrade to change how it interprates data.

Then they could release it now, saying DX8.1 compliant, with some DX9 features (Displacement mapping MUST be Matroxs baby, so that will be compliant). Then after DX9 is released, they could release a firmware update if needed to implement the DX9 only features.

This way they gain another few months for driver development. If the DX9 features can be ignored until the DX8.1 ones are fully optimised, all the better. It will be probably another 6-12 months after the release of DX9 untill any of its features are used in anything other that benchmarks/demos that optimisations can wait.

Ali

[Nappe1]

DX9 goes to beta testing in June. and on case of DX8, it took almost half year before release.

[Dr Mordrid]

AFAIK displacement mapping is a Dx9 feature.

Dr. Mordrid

[Evildead666]

Since most of the pixel shaders and stuff are heading to the 'fully programmable' way, i agree that some of the functions may be able to be written in at a later date if need be.

They must have forseen the DX9 component;
If its a DX8.1 card, its too late....

I don't think there will be anything to worry about.
It will kick ass anyway!

[isochar]

From the latest Anandtech article:

With DirectX 9 on the horizon the major hardware firms are diligently at work on their next-generation GPUs, from R300 to NV30 to something else being shown now behind closed doors - as usual, the graphics market always keeps us busy. Stay tuned.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1608&p=17

WOOHOO!

[Ant]

Woohoo indeed

[Dr Mordrid]

Gee.....

"it'll be interesting to see what happens if a capable third manufacturer returns to the scene"..."something else being shown now behind closed doors"

I wonder what he's talking about...hmmmm????

Naysayers: I have a nice recipe for upland fowl that could be adapted to crow

Dr. Mordrid

[cjolley]

Yes, but could it be adapted for hat?
chuck

[Dr Mordrid]

Sure. Just sprinkle with meat tenderizer and cook for about 10 hours in a crock pot

Dr. Mordrid

[Evildead666]

Yes, this all looks VERY promising...

There aren't very many other card manufacturers out there that can fathom to compete with Nvidia and ATi....

sis? don't think so.
Matrox? YES YES YES!!!

any others are relatively new to the idea of high-end consumer market chips, or they are just happy with OEM or integrated chipsets.

By the end of the week we shall know. (a prophecy)

[Nappe1]

umm...
would you be disapointed if Matrox next gen would be only partially DX9 compliant?

I have a strong feeling about this... that it will be Dx8.1 card with few DX9 things and with best performance...

DX9 isn't needed anything over half a year... SiS, for example, has DX9 chip in their roadmap, but it is coming in spring 2003...

so DX8.1 with few DX9 featrues will be enough for me. DX9 shaders will take large amount of transistors and I think Matrox could have something better use for that...

and I think Matrox comes up with DX9 part (updated parhelia core, like G200 -> G400) in next year.

[GT98]

Originally posted by Nappe1
umm...
would you be disapointed if Matrox next gen would be only partially DX9 compliant?

I have a strong feeling about this... that it will be Dx8.1 card with few DX9 things and with best performance...

and I think Matrox comes up with DX9 part (updated parhelia core, like G200 -> G400) in next year.

I think DX9 compliancely is a little over kill right now with a product. Only real world differance its going to make is that ATI/Nvidia etc can say oh our chipset is DX9 complaint and you wont see games for at least 2 years or so that need DX9 to use them. From what I've been buying game wise lately...there still isnt really a killer app for T&L that I've seen or played and thats been out over 2 years or so now! It boils down to marketing....theres alot of neat stuff out there that ATI does and I'm sure Nvidia offers graphicswise, but I dont see it being implemented in any games...yet. Hardware is pretty far ahead of software at this point in the game when it comes to gaming.

Scott

[MK]

What a nice day !

<font size="5">****************
Welcome, Parhelia !
****************</font>

MK

[Nappe1]

Originally posted by GT98


I think DX9 compliancely is a little over kill right now with a product. Only real world differance its going to make is that ATI/Nvidia etc can say oh our chipset is DX9 complaint and you wont see games for at least 2 years or so that need DX9 to use them. From what I've been buying game wise lately...there still isnt really a killer app for T&L that I've seen or played and thats been out over 2 years or so now! It boils down to marketing....theres alot of neat stuff out there that ATI does and I'm sure Nvidia offers graphicswise, but I dont see it being implemented in any games...yet. Hardware is pretty far ahead of software at this point in the game when it comes to gaming.

Scott

this is pretty much what I tried to say.

DX8.1 is fine, as long as we got support for Displacement maps and maybe internal higher precision rendering as DX9 features.

[thop]

Originally posted by isochar
WOOHOO!

Originally posted by Ant
Woohoo indeed

make that another WOOHOO from me