AMD Coming On Strong Again

After announcing a new upper shift to the low end, with the Pisces platform, AMD now releases the Radeon 4890 graphics chip, already flowing well on several manufacturer’s boards, with a great story to tell.

isn’t is strange that ATi is still so prominent, instead of AMD?

While it isn’t challenging the top position, currently occupied by nVidia, it does make a large charge into the sweet spot for many gamers, $250. It’s enough money and performance to give huge street cred and bragging rights, and not so much money, that people not so disposed to buying one will think that the buyer has lost a few marbles while becoming independently wealthy.

My son has been pushing for a 4850 board to put into Quadzilla, so he can crank up the games he plays to a much higher resolution. While I don’t really need it, I have been considering it for his needs (it’s funny how teenagers wants are always stated as needs!).  Now, I think I might wait a bit longer, perhaps until I can find a 4890, with its idle power consumption lowered to reasonable levels, at around $200 – perhaps when the new ones come out at 40 nm, then these at 55 nm will, for a very short while, be blown out quickly.

Ars Technica has a great article comparing the 4890, to the nVidia GTX 275, which seems to be floating right now at the same price point.

looks nice, and sits at a good price point…when will Newegg have a sale?

Since the AMD/ATi model is so much more efficient at idle, I am really getting excited about this one.

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