NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250: A Rebadged 9800 GTX+
by Derek Wilson on March 3, 2009 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- GPUs
In the beginning there was the GeForce 8800 GT, and we were happy.
Then, we then got a faster version: the 8800 GTS 512MB. It was more expensive, but we were still happy.
And then it got complicated.
The original 8800 GT, well, it became the 9800 GT. Then they overclocked the 8800 GTS and it turned into the 9800 GTX. Now this made sense, but only if you ignored the whole this was an 8800 GT to begin with thing.
The trip gets a little more trippy when you look at what happened on the eve of the Radeon HD 4850 launch. NVIDIA introduced a slightly faster version of the 9800 GTX called the 9800 GTX+. Note that this was the smallest name change in the timeline up to this point, but it was the biggest design change; this mild overclock was enabled by a die shrink to 55nm.
All of that brings us to today where NVIDIA is taking the 9800 GTX+ and calling it a GeForce GTS 250.
Enough about names, here's the card:
You can get it with either 512MB or 1GB of GDDR3 memory, both clocked at 2.2GHz. The core and shader clocks remain the same at 738MHz and 1.836GHz respectively. For all intents and purposes, this thing should perform like a 9800 GTX+.
If you get the 1GB version, it's got a brand new board design that's an inch and a half shorter than the 9800 GTX+:
GeForce GTS 250 1GB (top) vs. GeForce 9800 GTX+ (bottom)
The new board design isn't required for the 512MB cards unfortunately, so chances are that those cards will just be rebranded 9800 GTX+s.
The 512MB cards will sell for $129 while the 1GB cards will sell for $149.
While the GPU is still a 55nm G92b, this is a much more mature yielding chip now than when the 9800 GTX+ first launched and thus power consumption is lower. With GPU and GDDR3 yields higher, power is lower and board costs can be driven down as well. The components on the board draw a little less power all culminating in a GPU that will somehow contribute to saving the planet a little better than the Radeon HD 4850.
There's only one PCIe power connector on the new GTS 250 1GB boards
Note that you need to have the new board design to be guaranteed the power savings, so for now we can only say that the GTS 250 1GB will translate into power savings:
These are the biggest gains you'll see from this GPU today. It's still a 9800 GTX+.
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SiliconDoc - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - link
" You forgot the 4850x2, ok it'S not being produced a lot which is weird considering it's some of the most interesting part from ati. kills completely gtx280 for a lower price?! "Is that a question or a statement ? You don't really know. You don't really want to fight x-fire either - with still NO GAME PROFILES - NO FORCING, STILL BELOW TWO TWO GTS250 BECAUSE OF THAT - AND MORE EXPENSIVE- CHECK THE EGG LIAR! Reply
SiliconDoc - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - link
Ahh, yeah since you're obviously a liar here's your big problem, proof of that !RE: value?? by SiliconDoc, 14 hours ago
The cheapest 4870 1G at the egg right now is 194.99 + shipping and they go up well over $200 from there -
The cheapest GTX260/216 at the egg right now is 179.99 + shipping.
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Now let's look further - in order ! (second # after rebate)
4870 1g
199.99
199.99/169.99
199.99/179.99
214.99/194.99
234.99/209.99
239.99/214.99
GTC260/216
189.99/159.99
208.99/189.99
212.99/177.99
229.99/199.99
232.99/197.99
234.99/214.99
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Oh well, another red fantasiacal lie exploded all over the place, AGAIN.
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Sorry red, YOU LIED. Reply
SiliconDoc - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - link
You're another red rooster foofer." Ati never wanted to compete with the higher end parts of GT200 they wanted to take on the midstream graphic processer which they did pretty well. Ati touches one of nvidia gt200 core(the gtx260) with it's radeon 4870 and everyone knows it, that's what heppened since it got first tested on anandtech. For a much lower price BTW. Yes 4850 is the best part bang for the bucks from ati but when you gotta choose between gtx260 or 4870, the price speaks by itself. "
I HAD to write up the price chart - go check page 9 or 10 - then get back to me with an APOLOGY on your pricing LIE.
DO IT redrooster. Reply
SiliconDoc - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - link
Yes, there is a clear view, if you can do so HONESTLY.For instance, the 4830 is a tremendous value - that's the card I like from the red crew - and it hit the egg at $74, and I'm still kicking myself for not buying a half dozen.
Don't be so quick to judge.
If I'm incorrect, I will take correction, and apologize, and thank you. Know that. Reply
SiliconDoc - Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - link
Great post."Thanks".
Don't forget to ask why the red roosters keep begging for nvidia to downgrade their gt200 core... they hope and pray nvidia acts that stupid, so that the sloppy g80/g92/g92b equivalent ati top best core they can make R770 core (4830) LOOKS BETTER and the "cover up" about the GT200 core STOMPING AWAY WITHOUT DDR5 is never known, never widely realized.
Yes, very insightful.
"Thank you." Reply
chrish89 - Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - link
"power consumption is slower" Replyickibar1234 - Sunday, June 02, 2013 - link
YAY! This card, according to the mininum system requirements, will play "Metro: Last night"! Sweet. Reply