NVIDIA release today the GeForce 6800 Go. Like its desktops’ counterpart, this chips’ architecture is based on the GeForce 6 and includes 12 pixel pipeline and 5 vertex engine. These architecture new functionalities like the Shader Model 3.0, FP16 full compatibility and PureVideo engine are also present. We are however still waiting for the PureVideo drivers. And of course the GeForce 6800 Go integrates the laptop energy saving function.
The MXM format (third version) is naturally used for the first NVIDIA PCI Express Mobile GPU. The MXM is a graphic module open format for laptops. With this format manufacturers are able to easily change the graphic part. We might even hope that some laptop manufacturers will provides MXM cards for “upgrade”.
The GeForce 6800 Go frequency is still unsettled. The basic version will be clocked at 300 MHz for the VPU and DDR 256 bits instead of 325/350 for the desktop GeForce 6800. NVIDIA however indicates that with an appropriate design some laptops (like the desktop replacement) should be able to reach 450/600 thanks to the DDR3. But this information still has to be verified.
For the moment laptops used to demonstrate the GeForce 6800 Go performances are far from 450/600 frequencies. NVIDIA clocked these versions at 275 MHz for the VPU and 300 MHz for the DDR memory. With this frequency the GeForce 6800 Go reach 2724 with 3DMark05 according to NVIDIA. This result has to be compared to the ATI Mobility Radeon 9800: 2303.
Here are also the results of several desktop graphic cards: the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro reach 2408, the 9800 XT 2951, the 6600GT 3250 and the 6800 3233. The GeForce 6800 Go provides the highest score so far with laptops in spite of unsettled frequencies. So with this type of platform it is beginning to be possible to play with high resolutions. You should be able to play in 1280*1024 if you are able to buy these laptops. They will be sold approximately at $2500.
For the time being the only laptops announced with this solution are desktop replacement. These computers aren’t really laptops but are rather “transportable” computer. They include the 915P and the Pentium 4s. The release of the Alviso which will bring the DDR2 and the PCI to the DDR2 platform is connected to this choice. Initially expected during the third quarter 2004, it has been postponed to the first quarter 2005 by Intel. So “real” laptops equipped with this graphic card should be released simultaneously to this chipset.
