Possible GeForce 7950 GS?

[Kougar]

Thar be unconfirmed reports of a 7950GS in the works.... Scott, please say it ain't so! :P

We have just received a word from a video card manufacturer. Speaking off the record, the source claims that Nvidia is working on a GeForce 7950 GS. The details are still blurry at this moment due to the premature revelation. As you probably figured from the name, the 7950 GS will be a bit slower then 7950 GT, and it will be cheaper in order to counter ATI’s X1900’s price.

Anyway, since the GeForce 7900 family is getting crowded due to the latest releases of the 7900 GS and the GeForce 7950 GT, as well as the upcoming 7900 GTO. We believe that there are only two likely possibilities: AGP version or OEM only.

Nvidia offered the 7900 GS as OEM only until recently when they launched it as a retail card, as well. They might offer the 7950 GS as OEM only at first, but my better assumption is that Nvidia will make it as another AGP version like the GeForce 7800 GS. This is more likely due to the vast amount of solutions already available in PCI Express.

Nvidia already introduced mid-range AGP solutions – the 7600 GS and the upcoming 7300 GT. It’s more likely that they will try to offer a better solution than the 7800 GS – especially now when there are some rumors circulating about possible AGP cards from ATI.

At this moment we are trying to obtain some more information about the 7950 GS. We will update you when we have some more solid information. Since this information has not been confirmed, consider it as a rumor and expect some details to change.

Source page: http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=articles&go=read&arc_id=113 (http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=articles&go=read&arc_id=113)

At least ATI is trying to consolidate their lineup, nVidia's is plain nuts if they release a 7950GS. Infact, it already is nuts, I've never heard of the 7900GTO... :???:

[darkorb]

what is OEM?

[Mirrim]

Original Equipment Manufacturers I think. Usually system builders like Dell and such. If you ever see equipment for sale as OEM, it usually comes in a plain box or even just an anti-stat bag. Usually no drivers, manuals, etc. are included.

[markkleb]

This is fron Directron:
OEM generally means "original equipment manufacturer." Sometimes it is referred to as "open-ended market" and used interchangeably with "bulk-pack," "white box," "brown box," and "gray market."

Almost all PC component and software vendors make two versions of the same product based on a difference in the distribution channels.

One is the retail boxed products that are sold mainly through retailers. Guess who is paying for the nice-looking packages which cost vendors extra material and labor to produce (and everybody more pollution)? Retail packages also takes up more spaces and cost more to ship.

The second one is the OEM products which are sold mainly to system builders, large ones such as HP and Dell (the OEMs) and many small ones such as the mom-and-dad shop on the corner and the DIY builders. These bulk-pack products do not have fancy packaging materials and are often produced in much higher volume, both of which result in much lower prices that have not been available to the public. The OEM products are of the same quality and often carry the same manufacturer warranty as their retail counterparts (the single-pack). They also often include supporting materials such as manuals and drivers when applicable.

Whenever we can, Directron.com distributes and sells the OEM versions for products such as microprocessors, memory, network cards, hard drives, and video cards, letting end-users and customers share the low cost. Finally, OEM quality and prices for the "little guys!"

Besides the packaging and prices, there are sometimes other subtle and not-so-subtle differences between the retail and OEM versions of a product. Here are a few examples.

Bundled Software: Sometimes the retailed version comes with bundled applications software, which the OEM version may not. This is especially true for high-end video and audio cards. How useful such bundled software is, is often questionable.

Manual and Support: The hard-copy manual for the OEM version may be limited to one per shipping box. However, most of the information is on a CD or on manufacturer's web site. Some manufacturers claim that they do not support their own OEM products. The OEMs are supposed to do the support. In such cases, Directron.com will provide the technical support.

Warranty: Most OEM hardware components come with the same warranty as retail boxed ones. One well-known exception is microprocessors. The retail boxed processors often come with three-year warranty while the OEM ones come with a much shorter one, typically 30 days for Intel and 90 days for AMD. Please check the product page for Limited Warranty information where applicable. We believe the extremely low failure rates of microprocessors justifies the difference in the warranty.


(They explain it pretty good.)

[DragonMaster]

Yup, OEM means no nice packaging and bundle. One of my local store seems to be selling what comes with bundle in retail versions and what doesn't in OEM version, if they don't have both. When you buy an optical drive, you get all the box and bundle, but with an HDD or floppy, it's just a small plastic box or sometimes just an anti-static bag. With processors, graphic cards, tv tuner cards, sound cards(unless OEM), motherboards, there's a box.

[Kougar]

That all pretty much covers what OEM is... NewEgg sells a bunch of OEM stuff, along with the same items but in their full retail kits. Epsecially when it comes to hard drives.

[zachig]

That all pretty much covers what OEM is... NewEgg sells a bunch of OEM stuff, along with the same items but in their full retail kits. Epsecially when it comes to hard drives.

Yeah...a lot of retails are selling OEM stuff. And you right that in most cases, it's esepcially the Hard Drives, which are being sold as OEM...:wink:

The W.D 250GB that I've just purchased recently, was also OEM.
I have no problem in buying OEM products, as long as I get all the parts and in most cases, the same warranty period as well. :grin:

[Kougar]

Agreed. Don't ever need that software CD (That is freely DL-able) to add to the growing dusty collection, nor anymore IDE or SATA cables... and I sure as heck don't need anymore case screws! All ya need is the drive. :)

[DragonMaster]

and I sure as heck don't need anymore case screws!
I do need matching screws, I have trouble finding screws with the good amount of threads, I have a pile of case screws, which have way-too-large threads, and if I screw it in, I actually destroy the original threads, and I also have lots of roud-headed ones that only work in some floppy drives.

The problem is that manufacturers decided that CD-ROM, floppy, HDD, case and motherboard screws were different. Some places sell CD-ROM screws alone, floppy screws alone, etc.

[GIBSON]

Well, I just screwed my hdd's in with some screws that came with my case. Works fine :)

[zachig]

Well, I just screwed my hdd's in with some screws that came with my case. Works fine :)

I didn't think for a second it wouldn't...:lol: Just great! :wink:

[DragonMaster]

Well, I just screwed my hdd's in with some screws that came with my case. Works fine
That's because the bag of screws that's coming with the cases have the needed screws. Not always enough for every different type of drives tho.

[zachig]

That's because the bag of screws that's coming with the cases have the needed screws. Not always enough for every different type of drives tho.

Ha...:???: OK...:roll: Anyway, I was just kiddin' :wink: