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The New Nvidia 6800 Ultra DDL Graphics Card

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the what-does-it-mean-man dept.

Dr. q00p writes "Since Apple doesn't offer much information on the new Nvidia 6800 Ultra DDL graphics card (and NVIDIA even less) which is required to drive the new 30-inch Cinema HD Display the readers of Slashdot might be interested to read a reply from Ujesh Desai, Nvidia's General Manager of Desktop GPUs, to a series of questions from Accelerate Your Mac."

24 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. That was “interesting” by sebi · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Reading that "interview" I can almost see the lawyer going over every answer and neutering it before it went out. Either that or Mr Desai is the most boring and lifeless fellow in the history of electronics.

    --
    Hank! White!
    1. Re:That was “interesting” by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Mr Desai is the most boring and lifeless fellow in the history of electronics.

      And that's saying a lot.

  2. Man that card is HUGE! by Gentoo+Fan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Also, I liked this:

    * Do you have any idea how performance compares on the Mac between the GeForce 6800 Ultra and the ATI 9800 Pro/XT card?

    GeForce 6800 Ultra represents the largest leap forward in graphics performance in our company's history. As expected, they are much faster than previous generation products from ATI. We will let the benchmarks speak for themselves.

    Translated: We'll release some actual numbers when we sell more of these mini-space heaters.

  3. It's costs... by _PimpDaddy7_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    more than some PCs. Amazing!

    From the site:
    "The combination of a GeForce 6800 Ultra with a dual processor Power Mac G5 driving two 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Displays is the definitive tool for the creative professional."

    Yes because I need 2 30" screens to watch Carrie Ann Moss on one screen and Natalie Portman on the other :)

    1. Re:It's costs... by Quobobo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Argh. No, it's not. There's 2 (two) dual-link DVI ports, each of which can drive 1 (one) 30 inch monitor. Take a look at the pictures from WWDC where they had a G5 driving two of those monitors.

  4. you can't replace me by nighty5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    It won't replace my S3 - 1 meg

    Never..

    Never......

    Never !!!!

    1. Re:you can't replace me by skinfitz · · Score: 4, Funny

      I was going to write a long reply but then you wouldn't be able to read it all as it wouldn't fit on your screen.

  5. Article Text: Im AC 'cause i dont want the karma by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Q & A with Nvidia on the Mac
    Nvidia 6800 Ultra DDL Graphics card
    Posted: 7/20/2004

    Shortly after Apple announced the Mac Nvidia 6800 Ultra DDL card for the PowerMac G5s (which is required to drive the 30in Cinema Display), I sent a series of questions to a contact at Nvidia on the card. Yesterday I received the reply from Ujesh Desai, Nvidia's General Manager of Desktop GPUs. Although some questions didn't get as complete an answer as I hoped (often due to the fact Apple controls OEM Mac Nvidia products), I appreciate his taking the time to reply.

    * How does the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL card for the Mac differ from the PC version (i.e. Does the PC version have dual link DVI?)

    The GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL card was designed specifically for the Mac to provide two dual-link outputs to support Apple's displays.

    * Does the Apple version of the GeForce 6800 Ultra GPU run at the same core/memory clock as the PC version?

    The Apple cards run at 400/550, just like the GeForce 6800 Ultra GPU on the PC.
    (Note: Some vendor's 6800 cards are clocked higher than the standard/reference design.)

    * The GeForce 6800 Ultra for the PC has two Molex power connectors - does the Mac version source all the power from the G5's AGP pro slot? (or does it have a aux power connector?)

    There is an on-board power connector on the graphics card and the motherboard to provide power, so there is no need for an external power connector from the power supply.
    (although the only Mac 6800 photos I've seen are tiny, it appears there's a stub connector on the card that (I suspect) uses the ADC (28V or 24V usually) DC power connector on the motherboard that's normally used for ADC display power to provide additional power (regulated down) for the 6800 card. That eliminates the need for Aux. (Molex) P.S. connector(s) like the PC/standard 6800 card versions have.)

    * Does the GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL have a low-noise fan?

    Yes, the GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL runs very quiet.

    * Will there ever be a control panel with 3D/GL/FSAA controls for the NVIDIA cards on the Mac platform? (ATI's retail Radeon cards (and OEM models with the 3rd party patch) have a '3D/GL overrides' feature - which is seen as a big plus by many end users.)

    Apple provides all the drivers for NVIDIA-based add-in cards. We supply them with the source code and they provide the final driver.

    * Regarding the previous question - if there's no chance of an Apple supplied NVIDIA card control panel (for advanced features/FSAA, etc.) - if a 3rd party wanted to do this, can NVIDIA provide some assistance?

    Apple is our customer, so if this is something that they requested, then we would support it.

    * There's been talk of previous NVIDIA cards taking a bigger than expected performance hit from using some types of shaders (on the Mac) - is this a concern with the GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL?

    GeForce 6 Series GPUs have the most advanced shading engines on the market. Compared to previous generation parts, the vertex and pixel shader engines on GeForce 6 Series GPUs have been completely redesigned from the ground-up. Pixel Shader performance is 4 to 8 times faster. Vertex shader performance is twice as fast. Performance numbers have been outstanding.

    * Will there updated/new drivers for the GeForce 6800 Ultra?

    Yes. Apple provides all the drivers for NVIDIA-based add-in cards. We supply them with the source code and they provide the final driver. Apple will control the release schedules for drivers that provide even more performance, features and image quality enhancements.

    * Do you have any idea how performance compares on the Mac between the GeForce 6800 Ultra and the ATI 9800 Pro/XT card?

    GeForce 6800 Ultra represents the largest leap forward in graphics performance in our company's history. As expected, they are much faster than previous generation products from ATI. We will let the benchmarks speak for themselves.

    (Note: There's no Mac 6800 perf

  6. Re:Set up by angrist · · Score: 3, Informative

    Nope, they should each show up as a single monitor.
    The "dual-link" label is misleading, it's mearly an update to the DVI standard (like DVI-I, DVI-A, etc) too allow for more data.

  7. Worthless read by Achoi77 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Heh. After reading that interview I get the feeling that this guy doesn't know anything about the product he is selling. Generic one-liner answers that dance around the questions with emphasis on market speak. Here's an excerpt:

    GeForce 6 Series GPUs have the most advanced shading engines on the market. Compared to previous generation parts, the vertex and pixel shader engines on GeForce 6 Series GPUs have been completely redesigned from the ground-up. Pixel Shader performance is 4 to 8 times faster. Vertex shader performance is twice as fast. Performance numbers have been outstanding.

    Absolut (tm) Garbage!! Here's another, this time with the question:

    * Do you have any idea how performance compares on the Mac between the GeForce 6800 Ultra and the ATI 9800 Pro/XT card?

    GeForce 6800 Ultra represents the largest leap forward in graphics performance in our company's history. As expected, they are much faster than previous generation products from ATI. We will let the benchmarks speak for themselves.

    Talk about trash!! A simple NO would have sufficed. Looks like he's made the most of his Business-for-dummies Manual. Man, why am I so angry over this?

    1. Re:Worthless read by Exitthree · · Score: 4, Insightful

      While Apple does tend to make products that are often incompatible with older products, there is no way to make the 30" display compatible with older hardware since it requires a new port which isn't available on older products. And don't say, "Well, Apple should have stuck with the old port," because vanilla DVI doesn't support the resolution of the 30" display.

    2. Re:Worthless read by Exitthree · · Score: 3, Insightful

      VGA connections are prone to distortion. There is a reason the industry is switching to DVI (and subsequently DVI Dual Link). You are the first person I have ever heard suggesting that VGA would be preferred over DVI.

  8. Interview in a nutshell by hcdejong · · Score: 4, Funny

    For n=1 to 12 Q: Blah[n] A: 42! Next n

  9. Article Summary: by Erwos · · Score: 4, Funny

    The 6800 DDL is just a 6800 that supports the new ADC. Apple releases the drivers, don't bitch at us if you don't like the drivers. No, we're not going to tell you about our contract with Apple. The X800 sucks.

    Much faster to read, no PR speak to deal with.

    -Erwos

    --
    Plausible conjecture should not be misrepresented as proof positive.
  10. usually good, but ... by for_usenet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm a heavy mac user, and I read this site pretty much on a daily basis, as the guy responsible for the site puts up a LOT of decent Mac hardware and software info on there. But this has got to be one of the most UNinformative, useless things he's posted. I know there's a desire for info about this card - but shouldn't we wait till some more detailed specs are released, or till someone has some actual silicon so benchmarks can be run ?

    Yet another example of "no news" being news ... As many other people have said, "Nothing to see here. Move along !!"

  11. Re:Wow, what useless responses... by Achoi77 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Well, there was one question that he did give a precise answer to:

    * Does the GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL have a low-noise fan?

    Yes, the GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL runs very quiet.

    I think this was the only question he was capable of answering.

  12. Tom's Hardware by pajamacore · · Score: 4, Informative

    There was actually a really great, informative article about the 6800 on Tom's Hardware a few weeks ago.

    "NVIDIA has seemingly pulled out all stops in an attempt to deliver cutting edge graphics with its GeForce 6800 Ultra. After gamers for too long have had to be content with mere incremental improvements to graphics performance, NVIDIA new card delivers a performance jump not seen for a long time. The device is also solidly engineered as well as insanely fast."

  13. Wait... not a Motorola 6800... an NVidia 6800.... by DeckerEgo · · Score: 3, Funny

    My brain kept thinking that they were talking about the old Motorola 6800 chipsets that Apple used nine years ago... not a GPU marketed as "6800"... I got so confused...

    Wait - I sold those things nine years ago!?!? Damn I'm old.

  14. Mac user's number 1 hardware question by gsfprez · · Score: 3, Interesting

    why can't we buy and use "PC" Video cards? What is it that makes vendors have to build EPROMs differently (Different?) for the Mac vs. Windows machines for the exact same card otherwise?

    It reduces our choices and makes $100 cost $400.

    --
    guns kill people like spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat.
    1. Re:Mac user's number 1 hardware question by Synesthesiatic · · Score: 4, Informative
      A Mac-specific ROM is required for full Open Firmware support. Apparently a card will work without an OF ROM but won't be plug and play. That's pretty important for a Macintosh.

      Since Sun uses OF as well, I wonder if the same card could be used for Macs and Sun workstations.

    2. Re:Mac user's number 1 hardware question by addaon · · Score: 3, Informative

      PCI and AGP are both specified to be little endian regardless of platform.

      --

      I've had this sig for three days.
  15. A note from the author by saddino · · Score: 4, Funny
    My answers were designed specifically to provide little information, so there is no need for criticism. The site provided questions and I supply them with answers, if more details are requested, then I would support it. Compared to previous generation interviews, I redesigned my answers from the ground up and I think my word count was outstanding. Yes, Apple provides the answers sometimes. We supply them with talking points and let our quotes speak for themselves. The guys at ATI do a good job of squeezing out interesting information during their interviews, but our answers have a lot more headroom. Other differences include:
    • I support my pants with suspenders and they do not.
    • I speak marketing-speak fluently, and they don't.
    • I am the first one to make my points using bullets.

    I answer questions with no add-ins of emotion. There is no technical reason why I would answer otherwise.

    Sincerely,
    Ujesh Desai
  16. If you meant... by daveschroeder · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ..."the new ACD", as in "the new 30" Apple Cinema Display", ok.

    But if you actually meant ADC, or "Apple Display Connector", that is no longer used. With the new line of displays, Apple has (thankfully) gone back to standard DVI for the displays and for their future OEM video cards.

  17. Seems to be a lot of confusion over dual-link DVI by shawnce · · Score: 4, Informative

    The 30" monitors from Apple have a resolution that cannot be fed by a single-link DVI connection. So they use dual-link DVI. Both single-link and dual-link are part of the DVI 1.0 standard, nothing Apple specific about them.

    The difference between single-link and dual-link is how many of the pins in the connector is used for transmitting data, in a nut shell 12 pins for the former and 24 pins for the later.

    Apple is using DVI-D (digital only) DVI connectors with a dual-link pin out for the 30" display. So one dual-link DVI-D connection is capable of driving one 30" display. The 6800 adapter used for these displays provides two dual-link DVI-D outputs, so one adapter can drive two 30" displays.

    As a reference...

    DVI connector type summary
    DVI 1.0 specification (PDF)