Graphics card names are the bitter end
Posted by Daniel Fleshbourne on 06 September 2004 - 16:07 · 57 comments & 1587 views
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Full name: Daniel Fleshbourne
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Forum name: Daniel
Contact: via forum PM
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#1 Posted by pmh on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:10
- Thats the way I'm starting to feel as well. However, I would always just research before I actually bought something. I mean, it isn't to hard to google it.
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(3 replies)
#2 Posted by jerry on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:13
- I think the real problem is the partners who come up with their own names and make the name even more confusing. Just look at some of Gainward's naming schemes
Also the case when PowerColor & Tul name the 128 bit 9800 as "Platinum Edition".
Anyway, I guess you cant blame the company for their partners naming schemes but what about Nvidia intentionally naming XT (ATi's higher-end) to their lower-end cards ? One of the many real cheap shots by Nvidia.
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#2.1 Posted by Ecion on 06 Sep 2004 - 17:03
- Cheap shot by nvidia yes. but look at ATI, same thing - 9550 and 9250 are lower models than the orginals, where as nvidia's 5950 was a high end.
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#2.2 Posted by jerry on 06 Sep 2004 - 18:38
- Still Nvidia was the first one who started the "pie throwing" contest.
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#2.3 Posted by Overlord368 on 07 Sep 2004 - 02:23
- no you started it
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(3 replies)
#3 Posted by Cube on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:18
- I agree, its a total joke.. Plus ati's scheme where they are up to x800 (10800), whats the next gonna be. x1800? Then people will think the 9800 is better than a 1800
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#3.1 Posted by DjmUK on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:21
- In roman numeral:
X.800 (10.800)
XI.800 (11.800)
But why the '8'00 in the name? that's just wierd. -
#3.2 Posted by jerry on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:27
QUOTE But why the '8'00 in the name? that's just wierd.
Let me get this straight, you find the 800 odd in ATi's naming scheme ? Nvidia does it too.
Nvidia 5800 
Nvidia 6800
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#3.3 Posted by DjmUK on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:31
- Good point. In that case, why do both ATi & Nvidia need those 3/4-digit numbers 'x'/'8'00?
Just call it:
- GeForce 1 ("a,b & c" editions)
- GeForce 2 ("a,b & c" editions)
- GeForce 3 ("a,b & c" editions)
- GeForce 4 ("a,b & c" editions)
- GeForce 5 ("a,b & c" editions)
- GeForce 6 ("a,b & c" editions)
And the same goes for ATi's Radeon range.
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#4 Posted by Sporkguy on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:18
- After being out of system building for a year, i came back to quite a surprise when I came to build my current system - which gfx card to choose? there were way too many choices.. whic was better for my money? I had no clue.
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(2 replies)
#5 Posted by jmc777 on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:19
- I want an ATI Radeon X800STFU.
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#5.1 Posted by DjmUK on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:22
- Or an:
"Nvidia GeForce 6800 GT Ultra XT PE SE (Special Edition), with PCIe & SLI Support"
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#6 Posted by DjmUK on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:20
- I understand the variety of cards (because of different price tags), but the naming scheme is annoying (which one is higher than the other GT, PE, XT or Ultra etc.)
Why not go for a simpler approach:
- GeForce 6800 a
- GeForce 6800 b
- GeForce 6800 c
- X800 a
- X800 b
- X800 c
Instead of:
- GeForce 6800 Standard
- GeForce 6800 GT
- GeForce 6800 Ultra
- X800 Pro
- X800 XT
- X800 XT PE
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(3 replies)
#7 Posted by Skyfrog on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:25
- I agree, and I am getting really sick of the names Radeon and Geforce. They've all caught the Pentium marketing bug. Remember when each new card had a completely unique and interesting name? It would also be nice to see some more companies competing instead of the same two all the time. AMD vs Intel, nVidia vs ATI, Coke vs Pepsi...
Boooring. -
#7.1 Posted by dreamthief on 06 Sep 2004 - 17:07
- there are several reasons why they stuck to a name
1) marketing, branding
2) instant recognition
3) use your common sense, why not you go promote every single graphic card that the company released?
4) Try thinking of good names for each and every one
Here's a non boring task for you. Name every single card ever released by nVidia or ATI (you could limit the graphic cards to the recents one), but then let's see how well you do. -
#7.2 Posted by Skyfrog on 07 Sep 2004 - 10:57
- I know why they do it but thanks for the lecture. I even mentioned marketing in my post if I'm not mistaken. That doesn't mean I'm not allowed to get tired of the same old names every year.
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(2 replies)
#8 Posted by anog on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:31
QUOTE few things draw readers like a headline about 34 graphics card roundups testing everything iD has ever made from Commander Keen to Doom3
LOL How many Frames per second can your card archieve in Commander Keen?
It's like the mobile phone business... A few years ago 1/2 models came out each year for each market, like, 1/2 mobile phones a year that where top of the range and 1/2 that were affordable for most people and everybody knew just about any mobile phone that was on the market. Now it's more like 10 new models a week... -
#8.1 Posted by Skyfrog on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:48
- Old DOS games like Commander Keen don't use the graphics card though so it wouldn't make any difference. I still have it on a floppy disk somewhere; I think I'll dig it out and play through it again.
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(3 replies)
#9 Posted by Shifty on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:32
- answer to all graphics card specs...
http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?a...artno=88&pgno=0 -
#9.1 Posted by DjmUK on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:34
- Nice list, thanks for the link - I'm copying/pasting the page now (why? because I'm a geek).
P.S.
Nvidia page: http://www.rojakpot.com/showarticle.aspx?a...artno=88&pgno=1 -
#9.2 Posted by T-Metal on 06 Sep 2004 - 17:24
- If you're a geek, you would've already known about Rojakpot's list.
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(1 reply)
#10 Posted by DjmUK on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:38
- Nvidia has 20 GeForce 5 cards..! (I had no idea there were so many).
Nvidia:
GeForce 2 Models: 8
GeForce 3 Models: 3
GeForce 4 Models: 13
GeForce 5 Models: 20
GeForce 6 Models: 7
GeForce PCIe Models: 4
TOO MANY MODELS!
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#11 Posted by Shifty on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:46
- These graphics card companies need to stop polishing the turd and
have 3, maybe 4 models for consumers to choose from.
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#12 Posted by Wolfsglen on 06 Sep 2004 - 16:58
- Article has a good point, i get sick of all the bull****zoid naming conventions. I definitely preferred it when it was simpler such as Geforce 2 - Geforce 2 Ultra etc So much bloody easier, and makes more sense.
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#13 Posted by phgreer on 06 Sep 2004 - 17:01
- Yeah, it's getting almost as complicated as ordering a cup of coffee.
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#14 Posted by dmbandfan22 on 06 Sep 2004 - 17:42
- It got too confusing after the ATI 9000's and the nVidia 6000's. Their marketing departments must be having so much fun thinking of cool two-letter combinations to slap to the end of model numbers.
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(2 replies)
#15 Posted by nonick on 06 Sep 2004 - 17:43
- the FU model rocks..
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#15.1 Posted by SandmanXP on 06 Sep 2004 - 18:54
- Yeah but, the STFU model looks cooler in a modded case
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#16 Posted by PsykX on 06 Sep 2004 - 19:05
- ATI's numbering made sense...
9000 for DirectX9, 8000 for DirectX8, that was clear. But making a 9200, 9200 SE and 9200 Pro made it complicated... and it's not the only card that has SE, Pro, I am aware of this.
Why don't they just go like :
Geforce9 -> DirectX9 Compatible -> Geforce9-1, Geforce9-2, Geforce9-3
Geforce9B -> DirectX9B Compatible -> Geforce9B-1, Geforce9B-2, Geforce9B-3
Geforce9C -> DirectX9C Compatible -> Geforce9C-1, Geforce9C-2, Geforce9C-3
The -3 card would be the best one. 3 cards for each DirectX version... it still makes a lot, but I think it is clear to people. And who cares if they jump to Geforce9 really? I know softwares who jumped from 4 to 6 and 4 to 7 and nobody complained.
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#17 Posted by ANova on 06 Sep 2004 - 19:19
- I never have understood why each company feels it necessary to release five or more different models for each level.
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#18 Posted by DirtyLarry on 06 Sep 2004 - 19:31
- interesting read, definitely agree.
to bad a damn thing is not going to change... fanboys need fuel to add to the flames. as the article states, what is usually the semi-irrelevant difference between the "High End Model 1a" and "High End Model 1b," is what give's us all the ammunition to argue about something so materialistic to begin with... especially when you sit back and realize it usually winds up being a matter of 5-10 FPS in the first place.
how many ATI is better than Nvidia threads or vice versa have been on these forums, especially in the past half a year (actually year at least, when we all first though HL2 would be coming out), when originally the thread was a "I need a new graphics card" or something not supposed to cause a debate?
as soon as we stop caring, chances are the the companies would too...
but then what fun would there be in that?? it is all a catch 22.
i pre ordered my 6800 Ultra as soon as it was available, so I am just as guilty as anyone else.
Last edited by 34384 on 06 Sep 2004 - 19:38
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(1 reply)
#19 Posted by allfive6 on 06 Sep 2004 - 19:42
- For Ati and Nvidia it is all about $$$$.
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#19.1 Posted by Aaryn Kasra on 06 Sep 2004 - 23:40
- no different than any other company or business
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(3 replies)
#20 Posted by xtatic43 on 06 Sep 2004 - 20:10
- and might i point out this is why apple is so successful. simplicity. and durability. 5 computers to choose from 3 desktop and 2 laptops.
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#20.1 Posted by rIaHc3 on 06 Sep 2004 - 21:47
- stop being a troll......apple is not successful at the level of any other mejor company. Period.
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#21 Posted by IntelliMoo on 06 Sep 2004 - 20:29
- Graphics card names?? Forget that. What about car names lately?! LOL
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#22 Posted by GT on 06 Sep 2004 - 22:17
- Whats wrong with GT....
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#23 Posted by l77Il7H on 06 Sep 2004 - 22:19
- these stupid names are getting out of hands! my mind can only hold so much detail about a card!!!
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#24 Posted by cscheatsforyou on 06 Sep 2004 - 23:11
- yeah this is pissing me off also , im annoyed by this already
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#25 Posted by frazell on 07 Sep 2004 - 00:18
- Agreed with the article...
Its making keeping up with hardware all the more challenging, but thats what these companies want. If you fall into the hype and start replacing your card every 6 months they will be more happy. I think they need to slow down naming and releasing cards... Who needs a new graphics card every 6 months for what 10 FPS in a game??? **** you cant even see 10FPS differences!...
2/3 new cards a year from each company is enough. Naming conventions like "Home", "Pro", and "Extreme Pro" or the like would be more than enough for people to know what was going on. With 1 year releases (or longer) they could actually make cards that are worth upgrading too...
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(1 reply)
#26 Posted by NinjaOfLove on 07 Sep 2004 - 00:42
- Graphics cards marketing gimmicks and hype? Who'd a thunk it?
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#27 Posted by frankchn on 07 Sep 2004 - 00:57
- someone should come up with a cheat sheet for it
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#28 Posted by Zeni on 07 Sep 2004 - 02:07
- They need to simplify the naming scheme.
Example
ATi Radeon Could Be Faster
ATi Radeon Sure Why Not
ATi Radeon Good Enough
ATi Radeon Hey, It's Fast
ATi Radeon Check Your Wallet, Buddy.
Somehow, I think it would be a little less confusing than "ATi Radeon 1965 Xtreme PE Plus Edition 2.0x"
Or Possibly
Nvidia GeForceFX Fast
Nvidia GeForceFX Faster
Nvidia GeForceFX Fastest.
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#29 Posted by plati on 07 Sep 2004 - 11:11
- It took me long enough to get my head around the GF4 Ti4200,4400,4600 and the MX line.
I used to keep up with what cards were good value, had good power and stuff. But now Ive just lost total track, all this 9800XT, X800 crap. Its verging on ridiculous
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#30 Posted by [ timko ] on 07 Sep 2004 - 11:24
- Give me a X800-SMBU (Smack-My-Bi0tch-Up) any day of the week
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#31 Posted by Hills420 on 07 Sep 2004 - 22:39
QUOTE there seem to be twelve more models. XT, GT, PE, FU,
FU
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#32 Posted by qoa on 08 Sep 2004 - 22:11
- The real reason they do it is so that dumbasses on forums can make thier stats about thier pcenis longer.
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#33 Posted by MicroZombies on 12 Sep 2004 - 20:38
- You think that is Bad -> Microsoft puts out "Version 5, 6 & 7" of Software that previously didn't exist!! Version 5? How about Version 1!!!!!
To be fair, there are good reasons why there are nineteen different flavors of each chip, this week, and it is one of the things I hate most in the world, marketing. Yes, those little critters are at it again, and we all pay the price. Know the memory width of an ATI 9800XT? How about when you step down to a 9800Pro? Does it drop when you go to the non-Pro? How many pixel pipes does a NVidia 6800Ultra have? It goes down when you go to the normal, non-suffixed 6800, but where does the 6800GT lie in this scheme?
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