I just spotted this

X-bit labs - Online Store Pre-Sells Unannounced ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT 1GB Graphics Card.

Quote: Online Store Pre-Sells Unannounced ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT 1GB Graphics Card. ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT with 1GB of Memory Spotted [ 06/06/2007 | 12:27 PM ] An online store from customers to pre-order yet-to-be-announced ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT graphics card with 1GB of memory. Even though the product is not officially launched, its earlier availability may mean that it would be broadly available and Advanced Micro Devices will not have supply problems with the new high-end graphics board.The new ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT with 1GB of GDDR4 memory onboard can be pre-ordered from Extreme PC online store for about $610 (649 CAD). Earlier it was reported that Radeon HD 2900 XTX 1GB had its chip clocked at 742MHz, whereas GDDR4 operated at 2050MHz. But according to specs published by the Internet store, the novelty has 825MHz chip and 2100MHz memory. It is said that estimated time of availability of the product is 14th of June, 2007. Graphics product group of AMD yet has to announce the Radeon HD 2900 XT graphics card with 1GB of GDDR4 memory. AMD currently positions ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT graphics card as a rival for Nvidia’s GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB and the board’s recommended price is $399. Earlier the company did not reveal whether it plans to add a competitor for Nvidia’s GeForce 8800 GTX or Ultra products. Given that 1024MB of GDDR4 memory cost noticeably more compared to 512MB of GDDR3, the price of the new graphics board will be much higher compared to the currently shipping model. ATI did not comment on the news-story.

so whats gonna happen now?
the 2900xt 512MB competes nicely with the GTS and is beating it in most cases with the drivers still lacking
so will adding 1GB and GDDR4 beat the 8800GTX?

Nice find, i can't wait to see the GDDR-4 back in action. Man the suspense.

It's going to take a lot more than some RAM to match the 8800GTX. I recall reading somewhere that ATI/AMD may be conceding the dig dog spot to nVidia for now, but I do not know how true that is.

one thing I dont know is if this ver is built on the 65nm where the 512MB one was built on 80nm (get very hot and requires a lot of power)

EDIT*
NVM, still on the 80nm

Until ATI decides to make their cards XvMC compatible (important for HDTV), I'm staying away from ATI.
Besides, nVidia's 64-bit drivers are among the best. And TwinView along with Xinerama means that when using two monitors on one card, both displays have hardware acceleration and window managers are still able to distinguish between screens.

The latest issue of MaximumPC is the source where I read that ATI is not pursuing the high end.

so the third party companies are gonna do it for them?

Quote: Originally Posted by Joe88 so the third party companies are gonna do it for them?

No. My impression from the brief article is that at this time, this go0around ATI/AMD is not going to release a GPU that competes with the 8800GTX. Instead they are focusing on the "sweet spot" in the market, one notch down, and trying to beat the 8800GTS/8600 on both price and performance.
In a way it makes sense. As great as it is to say you have the fastest card you only sell a fraction of those compared to the ones right blow it. For example, I am sure that nVidia will sell waaaay more 8800GTS cards than GTX, and probably way more GTX than Ultra cards. ATI/AMD figures why spend the $$ developing a card that only 10% of the market would consider, when you can got the 50% of the market that is considering the 8800GTS/8600 cards?

kinda likes sapphire's x1950pro DUAL 1GB
there the only ones who made and sold the card, it did easily outperform 2x GX2, but it came out too late

but it would be cool if this 1GB x2900xt could beat the ultra out
bragging rights

the newest ATI drivers wer just released for the x2900xt
and you will be surprised
its actually compeiting neck and neck with the 8800GTX and in some games beating it!

MSI Radeon HD 2900 XT 512MB Graphics Card :: TweakTown

nvidia might be in trouble

But does ATI support XvMC? When it comes to HDTV playback, nVidia fares better.
Would you rather have just good 3D or good 3D and good XvMC?
And it has been a long time but I think nVidia has better 64 bit drivers than ATI. I always prefer nVidia in my 64 bit systems.

Quote: Originally Posted by Joe88 the newest ATI drivers wer just released for the x2900xt and you will be surprised its actually compeiting neck and neck with the 8800GTX and in some games beating it! MSI Radeon HD 2900 XT 512MB Graphics Card :: TweakTown nvidia might be in trouble

Nah, they saw this coming...the 8800 Ultra still pwns. And I expect they have an 8950GX2 waiting in the wings.

Still, nice to see ATi providing some decent competition once again.

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Nah, they saw this coming...the 8800 Ultra still pwns. And I expect they have an 8950GX2 waiting in the wings. Still, nice to see ATi providing some decent competition once again.

It pwns for the cost of an arm and a leg

still about $100 less then the ultra

bah I want benchmarks now

no benchmarks yet but I bring 3Dmark06 score

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100211 Radeon HD 2900XT 1GB 512-bit GDDR4 PCI Express x16 VIVO Video Card - OEM

newegg is now selling the sapphire 1GB GDDR4 2900xt

Dang, why are Video cards continually increasing in size? I mean i already have to go to a different case for my GTS's....hell with that thing i would need a new house!!!11

the card should only be 9" long O.o