NVIDIA future GPU is VOLTA and gets on-chip DRAM

Hilbert Hagedoorn

NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang shared a handful of details about the company's next-generation graphics chips. Early next year we can expect Maxwell, the successor to Kepler. This chip will introduce unif...

NVIDIA future GPU is VOLTA and gets on-chip DRAM

lucidus · 03-20-2013, 07:59 | posts: 3,139 | Location: UAE

I misread "DRAM" as "DRM" and had a little shock to the system for a moment there

Ah nice. Looking forward to seeing what Maxwell can do. This Volta is too far off for me.

Yxskaft · 03-20-2013, 12:17 | posts: 477

Maxwell early 2014 sounds nice. If it were late 2014, I might be tempted to wait for Volta instead. Of course I'll see what AMD has to offer as well before deciding though

h0d · 03-20-2013, 13:17 | posts: 188 | Location: Québec

I'm sure Volta can have more than 3 times faster bandwidth than the Titan. It seems they intentionally slowed their cards improvement to sell more of them.

Anyway nice new feature, can't wait to see the real impact of this new architecture.

vbetts · 03-20-2013, 13:32 | posts: 10,224 | Location: Toledo Ohio

So then the dram will be stacked on the die then? Will there be different memory to accompy it like gddr5?

thatguy91 · *Last edited by thatguy91; 03-20-2013 at 13:42.*

DRAM on chip might sound good, but exactly how much are they talking about? The performance GPU's are already at 3GB, so they have say, 4GB. Will that on-chip memory be the full 4GB, or just say, 512MB? It kind of sounds like large cacheing memory to me, where the commonly used stuff is in the 512MB cache and data is transferred from the remaining memory as required. This is of course a complete guess, as I doubt they could do 4GB on chip. It's not just about space, it's about the heat. You have all the heat from the GPU transferring through the memory and vice versa, and the room to get rid of this heat is still a similar size to currently what is available for the GPU to get rid of heat now. You also have to consider that currently there is a quite a large surface area for the RAM to get rid of heat.

The unified memory is what AMD is going towards too (apparently), but no doubt they'll implement a not-dissimilar memory cache too. I'm not sure exactly how unified the unified memory principle will be, wouldn't the programs have to be compiled specifically for this? The heterogeneous architecture AMD are heading towards with their CPU's etc is a little different, the principle sounds more efficient. That said, having that coupled with a graphics card of similar principle would probably be advantageous.

CPC_RedDawn · 03-20-2013, 14:03 | posts: 4,414 | Location: Wolverhampton/United Kingdom

Was waiting for Maxwell to arrive when I my GTX480 (850/1700/2000 @1.1v)

But I bit the dust and went team red with the HD7970 and dont see the point in Maxwell now, Volta is very interesting though this might just be the upgrade that us graphics buffs have been waiting for.

I think Maxwell will be very strong indeed and will outperform my HD7970 by around 50% but still what games will use it? Crysis 3 looks outstanding now and runs pretty damn well maxed out my single HD7970 with 4xMSAA @ 1080p so there are going to have to be some seriously damanding games that will make use of Maxwell or even the next AMD architecture but I think GCN being as good as it is we will just get a revision of it with the 8K series at the end of year.

Also with PS4 being already outdated by current high end PC hardware I see no games truly using Maxwell's potential.

k1net1cs · 03-20-2013, 14:42 | posts: 3,310

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPC_RedDawn

I think Maxwell will be very strong indeed and will outperform my HD7970 by around 50% but still what games will use it? Crysis 3 looks outstanding now and runs pretty damn well maxed out my single HD7970 with 4xMSAA @ 1080p

Well, you could try triple-monitor gaming with the same AA level and see if your card would choke or not.

JJayzX · 03-20-2013, 14:45 | posts: 204 | Location: RI, USA

Maxwell was supposed to be another push into efficiency so I don't think there will a huge performance gain there. It seems like Volta is the one that is going to push for performance more.

Yxskaft · 03-20-2013, 16:25 | posts: 477

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPC_RedDawn

I think Maxwell will be very strong indeed and will outperform my HD7970 by around 50% but still what games will use it? Crysis 3 looks outstanding now and runs pretty damn well maxed out my single HD7970 with 4xMSAA @ 1080p so there are going to have to be some seriously damanding games that will make use of Maxwell or even the next AMD architecture but I think GCN being as good as it is we will just get a revision of it with the 8K series at the end of year.

Also with PS4 being already outdated by current high end PC hardware I see no games truly using Maxwell's potential.

I've had similar thoughts, but at least I have a better "excuse" to upgrade than you(need to update my specs here, using a HD 5770 for the time being). Am not counting on playing the next-gen games with this, at least not smoothly.

I'm hoping even a mid-range Maxwell/VI GPU will be enough for handling the console ports at high settings for some years(I want the "next 8800GT"), and then I'll upgrade again when/if the PC versions start getting more attention.
I'll also be surprised if we don't get DX12 in 2014.

seaplane pilot · 03-20-2013, 16:43 | posts: 880 | Location: TX- KDWH

It is not going to happen until 2016 if it ever happens.

The Chubu · 03-20-2013, 19:14 | posts: 2,533 | Location: Look out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by thatguy91

DRAM on chip might sound good, but exactly how much are they talking about? The performance GPU's are already at 3GB, so they have say, 4GB. Will that on-chip memory be the full 4GB, or just say, 512MB?

They don't need huge amounts of eDRAM (or whatever they use), if they can hold up a couple of frames at high resolution it will be enough (say, 64Mb or 128Mb).

Thats how xbox 360 devs can get 4x FSAA working (yep, Full Screen Anti Aliasing, something unthinkable if you just check its GPU specs alone), they process the frame on the eDRAM, since its super high bandwidth and super low latency memory, the operation is pretty much free. If im not mistaken, I read they tile the frame in 4 or more since while 10Mb is enough to hold a full HD frame, it isn't enough for holding the frame and storing additional data for the AA pass, so divide an conquer. And still its fast enough to get playable framerates on a 8 year old console

Imagine if you could get 4x FSAA (or more!) with little to no fps impact playing at 1080p (or more?). It would be awesome.

alanm · 03-20-2013, 19:49 | posts: 4,958

He's about to take off!

CPC_RedDawn · 03-20-2013, 19:56 | posts: 4,414 | Location: Wolverhampton/United Kingdom

Quote:

Originally Posted by k1net1cs

Well, you could try triple-monitor gaming with the same AA level and see if your card would choke or not.

1. you dont need any form of AA at those resolutions.

2. I hate triple monitor gaming

Now if 4K monitors become cheaper and games natively support the res then yes I could see a use for these chips.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yxskaft

I've had similar thoughts, but at least I have a better "excuse" to upgrade than you(need to update my specs here, using a HD 5770 for the time being). Am not counting on playing the next-gen games with this, at least not smoothly.

I'm hoping even a mid-range Maxwell/VI GPU will be enough for handling the console ports at high settings for some years(I want the "next 8800GT"), and then I'll upgrade again when/if the PC versions start getting more attention.
I'll also be surprised if we don't get DX12 in 2014.

I completely agree with you, for people on current mid to low range cards or last gen hardware then sure grab one of these as it would be a better value upgrade for you.

Also DX12 I don't think will come any time soon. DX11 needs a few more updates and fixes and maybe some performance improvements. Tessellation is only just starting to be used more and if used to much it cripples even the high end cards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanm

He's about to take off!

To infinity and beyond!!!!!!

Rich_Guy · 03-20-2013, 20:06 | posts: 6,640 | Location: UK

Rofl

---TK--- · 03-20-2013, 20:24 | posts: 14,680 | Location: New Jersey, USA

gimme some maxwell action

vidra · 03-20-2013, 21:09 | posts: 2,392 | Location: Novi Sad, Serbia

They could call the flagship "Johntra"

k1net1cs · 03-20-2013, 22:27 | posts: 3,310

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPC_RedDawn

1. you dont need any form of AA at those resolutions.

Then why do you need 4xMSAA @1080p?
Or did you honestly think using three monitors placed horizontally next to each other magically extends each monitor's vertical resolution?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CPC_RedDawn

2. I hate triple monitor gaming

Which is inconsequential.
You did ask what games would need more than your single 7970.
Well, any games that support multi-monitor gaming apparently. With AA.

dark_surge · 03-21-2013, 00:46 | posts: 603 | Location: ND - US

Would this be a solution to the stuttering some games have? Not that I've had it lately but I remember it was pretty bad about 6 months ago.

Neo Cyrus · **Memory**: 6GB DDR3-2000 9-9-9-24-1T

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucidus

I misread "DRAM" as "DRM" and had a little shock to the system for a moment there

Lol, same.

Too bad Maxwell got pushed back by about 18 years. I was hoping to have one already. It's a real kick to the balls that it won't be out when Haswell is.

What do I dooooo?

Denial · 03-21-2013, 11:09 | posts: 6,348 | Location: Above Earth in a Big Rocket Ship

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo Cyrus

Lol, same.

Too bad Maxwell got pushed back by about 18 years. I was hoping to have one already. It's a real kick to the balls that it won't be out when Haswell is.

What do I dooooo?

Keep your current card because there are barely any games worth playing that require something better. My 690 is a complete waste. I haven't really played anything worth my time aside from Starcraft lately and I really don't need a 690 for that.