Could revised Parhelia be modified to use DDRII?

[Goc]

A question for all you chip gurus...
After NVidia's NV30 paper launch a thought crossed my mind: what are the chances of redesigning Parhelia core to use 128 bit bus and DDRII memory? That could lower the cost of the board beacuse I think it would be cheaper to produce 128bit PCB's in comparison to current 256bit... Or am I totaly off-track with this?

[GT98]

Well if certian posters are to be believed, well I think we might not see a P2 or much else out of MGA.

[Voyager3D]

The Parhelia is build on a 512bit core and 256bit mem design, that isn't somthing you just simply change back to 128bit...

Besides.. Those mem chips that Nividia will use, will moste likly be very expensive in the first long time..
And remember they are not even real DDR2 modules...
SDRAM transmit 1 bit pr clock..
DDR transmit 2 bit pr clock..
And DDR2 should transmit 4 bit pr clock...

Geforce FX ram modules are only transmittien 2 bits pr clock... so they are not real DDR 2 modules, but they run damn fast...

[thop]

i have no idea about DDR2, but as things seem to be now they need a flux compensator on it

[Novdid]

No you're wrong Voyager, DDR2 is the same DDR as we are used to with some enhancements to make it run faster than usual DDR. What you're talking about is some future implementation of SDRAM tech that transfers 4 bit/clock.

DDR= Double Data Rate, QDR= Quad Data Rate

[Indiana]

Novdid, you're right and wrong.
DDR2 is the same as DDR1 with some enhancements and some downsides to DDR1 to be able to get higher frequencies.
On the downsides there is a raised latency in comparision to DDR1, so DDR2 at the same clockspeed most likely will be somewhat slower than DDR1. It's a bit of a "Pentium4 vs. Pentium3" like design decision here.

[Novdid]

Yes I'm aware about the downsides, I just wanted to to keep it as simple as possible.

[Nappe1]

to keep it simple:
yes I don't see a reason why Parhelia's memory Controler could not be changed to support DDR-II standard.

but right now, it seems that it's all about Parhelia II or then pretty much nothing. It seems to be pretty clear that there isn't anymore New Revision. I don't know why they would have canning it, but based on rumours about Pitou's tape out over a month ago, it could be that they decided not to use resources making upgrade to old Parhelia core, because it would be coming more or less obsolete after the release of Parhelia 2.

but that's just my IMO

[VigilAnt]

Originally posted by Nappe1
to keep it simple:
yes I don't see a reason why Parhelia's memory Controler could not be changed to support DDR-II standard.

but right now, it seems that it's all about Parhelia II or then pretty much nothing. It seems to be pretty clear that there isn't anymore New Revision. I don't know why they would have canning it, but based on rumours about Pitou's tape out over a month ago, it could be that they decided not to use resources making upgrade to old Parhelia core, because it would be coming more or less obsolete after the release of Parhelia 2.

but that's just my IMO

Of course it's just your opinion, but it's not correct. The revision of parhelia is done. They can release it any time, but it won't matter much if they kill off the people who write the software and support it. They seem to be more intent on releasing another low dollar card right now, and Pitou is officially canned.

VigilAnt

[MetalCartman]

....and Pitou is officially canned.

WTF???

The design is taped out, so why not produce the f*ckin' chips? It smells like another wrong decision by management...

[VigilAnt]

Originally posted by MetalCartman


WTF???

The design is taped out, so why not produce the f*ckin' chips? It smells like another wrong decision by management...

When the powers above see falling profits and sales, their solution seems to be to cut salary costs accordingly, and as such the layoffs are happening. Without the support of a full work force an advanced card such as Pitou is not going to happen. So who is to blame, management or ownership? Chicken or the egg..

VigilAnt

[MetalCartman]

In this case: both are to blame!

VigilAnt, your information is highly appreciated, so I don't want you to feel offended by my post. It's not your fault, that [M] is going down the drain...

Cartman

[Pace]

If there's *any* revised Parhelia's Matrox...sell me one! I'll pay top dollar

[Chrono_Wanderer]

i will pay 1000 yen !!!

[K6-III]

The only card that could motivate me to upgrade over the Parhelia is Pitou....I just hope that Matrox knows that....