Theory on X1900 XT shipping delays...

[milozauckerman]

The secret launch makes absolutely no sense.

If they were delaying specifically to give you the latest and greatest, they'd be telling anyone who'd listen and they'd have it on the configuration page - the x1950 justifies a longer wait for those holding out, makes Apple look good, generates sales from people who don't want the x1900 anymore, etc..

It's entirely possible that you'll get an X1950, but if it happens, Apple wasn't planning anything - they just can't find their arse with their hands.

 

[Mr. Mister]

... wow your dullusional

Maybe you could have used a few of these spare parts:

"delusional"

"you're"

","

"."

Now that he got schooled, back on topic:

I think Apple should send out an email asking if you'd want to pay $50-$100 extra for the X1950 XT.

 

[ammon]

I think Apple should send out an email asking if you'd want to pay $50-$100 extra for the X1950 XT.

If they did, I'd sure put up the extra $50!

 

[Mr. Mister]

Otherwise they'd be dicks if they added it a week or two later.

 

[ammon]

Well, I guess I won't be too disappointed if we only get the X1900 XT like we ordered.

I was just looking at some benchmarks on The Inquirer and I'm not all that impressed. I thought the difference would be much bigger!

In Quake 4, there is less than 1 frame difference for any resolution under
2048x1536. Even at that resolution it the X1950 XT only gets an extra 1.6 fps.

In Doom 3 there is less than 3 fps difference across the board w/o FSAA. Even with it there is still only 4.5 fps difference.


Granted the X1950XT is a little faster than the X1900XT, but that is it. Only a "little" faster. Even the reviewers state that they were not that impressed. After all, it is only going from the 1900 - 1950. How much difference can there really be in only 50?

 

[Mr. Mister]

It's not about the speed, it's about the image quality, which the X1950 features more features to increase.

 

[ammon]

It's not about the speed, it's about the image quality, which the X1950 features more features to increase.

Not exactly. The GPU core (R580) is basically the same. The only real difference is a faster memory controller and a better cooling system. Period.

So, no. Speed is the only difference.

 

[Mr. Mister]

Well, I guess I won't be too disappointed if we only get the X1900 XT like we ordered.

I was just looking at some benchmarks on The Inquirer and I'm not all that impressed. I thought the difference would be much bigger!

In Quake 4, there is less than 1 frame difference for any resolution under
2048x1536. Even at that resolution it the X1950 XT only gets an extra 1.6 fps.

In Doom 3 there is less than 3 fps difference across the board w/o FSAA. Even with it there is still only 4.5 fps difference.


Granted the X1950XT is a little faster than the X1900XT, but that is it. Only a "little" faster. Even the reviewers state that they were not that impressed. After all, it is only going from the 1900 - 1950. How much difference can there really be in only 50?

The real problem is that there aren't any games that bring either of them below 80 frames per second. Right now it seems that they're limited by have quickly the CPU can work out the polygons, if there was an absolute crashtest of a game that gave 30FPS or so, then we might see one come through over the other.

 

[napolihos]

Not exactly. The GPU core (R580) is basically the same. The only real difference is a faster memory controller and a better cooling system. Period.
So, no. Speed is the only difference.

According to dailytec - The "Radeon X1950 will retain all of the features of the Radeon X1900, and really only have the added benefit of a new cooler, GDDR4 memory and different frequency clocks." Additionally, according to the inquirer article that macgeek2005 mentioned, a version of the card should also have support for HDCP. With similar performance between the 1900 and the 1950, to me, the quieter/cooler card and the HDCP support of the 1950 are the more important factors. As the HD-DVD v Blueray war settles out, we're all going to need HDCP caple cards AND displays/TVs in order to watch the hi-def content these drives serve up. Personally, I'd rather get an HDCP capable card with my new Mac Pro if at all possible.

Of course, the stumbling block in all this is that my new 23" ACD (also ordered with my new system) isn't currently HDCP capable. I'll be upset about dropping a grand on this display if Apple refreshes their Cinema line with HDCP support a couple of months from now. That's honestly a bigger deal to me than the vid-card.

Honestly, I hope the theory in this thread is true. I'd love to have the most capable and future proof card I can get in my system. But either way, some of us are going to be pissed about dropping a ton of money on components that won't play well together as this whole hi-def, DRM, connector battle plays itself out.

 

[Mr. Mister]

Problem is, neither Apple nor Mac OS X acknowledges the existence of HDCP and Apple has made no announcements that they will ever integrate HDCP DRM tech into their operating system. Right now the big HDCP advocate is Microsoft.

 

[padré]

reply

though i don't think that the mac pro's will ship with the x1950, i shure hope so...

anyways i noticed that when you go to the home page of ati their is this movie that showcases some games using the X1950 the screen they use look A lot like a mac screen :s, maybe its a clue, on the other hand it might be me just hoping for to much

 

[macgeek2005]

though i don't think that the mac pro's will ship with the x1950, i shure hope so...

anyways i noticed that when you go to the home page of apple their is this movie that showcases some games using the X1950 the screen they use look A lot like a mac screen :s, maybe its a clue, on the other hand it might be me just hoping for to much

What? On the homepage of apple? What are you talking about? Link please?

 

[padré]

reply

here is the link, http://www.ati.com/ (sorry i ment the homepage of ati)
the movie will start automaticly...

i know that the monitor doesn't show any manifacture label but it looks a lot like one of apple's.

anyways if its not you might tell me what kind of monitor that is because I need a new one when i have my mac pro

 

[Daspeed]

here is the link, http://www.ati.com/ (sorry i ment the homepage of ati)
the movie will start automaticly...

i know that the monitor doesn't show any manifacture label but it looks a lot like one of apple's.

anyways if its not you might tell me what kind of monitor that is because I need a new one when i have my mac pro

It probably is a cinema display, but they are nice screens and often buyed by 'non-applers' too.

By the way, am I the only one that has seen his shipping date going from 15 to 21 Sep and delivery date from 20 to 26 Sep?
My Mac Pro was ordered August 11th.

 

[jordansampson]

yep mine was pushed back as well.. but they addes express shipping for no charge.

 

[kered22]

I ordered on the 19th of August, got a date of the 19th of September for shipping and delivery by the 21st. Been like that ever since. Though I had a dream last night that it changed to a much earlier date. LOL Think the waiting is getting to me.

Be nice if Apple would do what they did with the GeForce 4 Tis, ship the systems out with the stock video card, then ship the high end card when they're ready.

 

[Daspeed]

I ordered on the 19th of August, got a date of the 19th of September for shipping and delivery by the 21st. Been like that ever since. Though I had a dream last night that it changed to a much earlier date. LOL Think the waiting is getting to me.

Be nice if Apple would do what they did with the GeForce 4 Tis, ship the systems out with the stock video card, then ship the high end card when they're ready.

Did you order the X1900, bluetooth and airport?

yep mine was pushed back as well.. but they addes express shipping for no charge.

Nothing changed on my order I believe

 

[macgeek2005]

That's funny, I ordered only 2 days ago on August 22nd, and my ship date is the 20th of september, with delivery on the 27th. My dates haven't been pushed back.

 

[Daspeed]

That's funny, I ordered only 2 days ago on August 22nd, and my ship date is the 20th of september, with delivery on the 27th. My dates haven't been pushed back.

Do you have X1900, airport and bluetooth?

 

[kered22]

Did you order the X1900, bluetooth and airport?

Just the X1900, 2.66Ghz, 2 GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive.

 

[Daspeed]

Just the X1900, 2.66Ghz, 2 GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive.

Then the delay is probably in the bluetooth or airport.

 

[napolihos]

Did you order the X1900, bluetooth and airport?(

I ordered my mac pro on 21 August with following upgrades: x1900xt (1950xtx), Airport/BT, and 2 gig ram - estimated ship date of 19 Sep and hasn't changed.

 

[Glen Quagmire]

My dates have been bought forward by two days (from the 27th to the 25th of September).

This is for a Mac Pro with the X1900 graphics card, Airport and Bluetooth, as well as 2GB of RAM, the 3Ghz CPUs and a smaller hard drive. I ordered it on Sunday 20th August.

 

[macgeek2005]

Do you have X1900, airport and bluetooth?

Yes. I have everything.

 

[UnixMac]

too add fuel to the rumor of upgrades..

Here is the email I got from Apple re: the iMac I just ordered for my kids..

To Our Valued Apple Customer:


Apple is pleased to let you know that we have upgraded the iMac you recently
ordered from the 160GB Serial ATA drive to the 250GB Serial ATA drive at no
additional charge.

Did they do it because I dropped close to $10K in the past week? or were they out of 160GB's?? or is the new spec for the iMac 250GB?? Who knows... maybe the X1950XTX is not too far fetched!