Stream Processors?

[Zephik]

I was looking through video cards on Newegg and came across a few cards that have "Stream Processors" instead of "PixelPipelines" (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50001561%2040000048%201069609641%201068409614&bop=And&CompareItemList=N82E16814102068%2CN82E16814102700) . I'm not sure if I understand what the difference is, if there is one? Are they the same thing as PixelPipelines or is it something completely different? I could probably figure it out on my own if I actually knew what PixelPipeplines were, but I don't even know that much. ><

On another note, as someone who likes to game occasionally (FPS and MMORPG alike) and is also getting increasingly interested in graphic design, what should I be looking at? Video cards with PixelPipelines or video cards with Stream Processors? Actually, I'm not even sure if that is the correct way to be looking at it. :think: Whats the main thing a person should be looking at when shopping for a graphics card?

[Spawn-Inc]

i'm glad i watched that video on tigerdirect.ca about the 8800Ultra KO.

here it is.
lQiKDlMtjyE&rel=0

from the video i learned that stream processors can change what they work on. older cards would have a processor for physics, one for particle effects, one for lighting etc. if you have lots of physics going on it will focus on that instead of having just the one working on it and the others doing nothing. the stream processors will all work on the physics or w/e happens to be going on the most.

[Airbozo]

... Whats the main thing a person should be looking at when shopping for a graphics card?

I am not sure of the difference between the Pixel Pipelines and Stream processors. I will have to do a little research.

The issue with choosing a graphics card for graphics design and gaming is what trade offs do you want to give. A good gaming card won't necessarily perform well in a cam/cad program and visa-versa. The $1200 nVidia quadro 1400 barely runs any games, but the 2d and OpenGL performance is untouchable by even the 8800gfx card but the 3d and lighting performance sucks...

Sometimes it will depend on the application and how it was designed to utilize the graphics card. One of our customers uses the ATI 1650's in their systems used for surgery planning and they use the nVidia Quadro 4500 in the design systems. They specifically wrote their application to take advantage of the lower cost ati card (but the linux drivers are still an issue) and only use the quadro card with windows and 3rd party software.

Check out a few of the programs you would use as a graphic designer and see what they recommend for a video card. Sometimes it says right on the spec sheet what will and will not work. A lot of the programs like Photoshop will work just fine with a gaming card but applications like Autocad will not work well.

Confused yet? I am sometimes, when I look at the price of the Quadro cards ($1500-2000 for the quadro 4500), and they barely run things like UT.

[Greco101]

interesting vid. Thanks spawn

[Zephik]

Thats very interesting Airbozo, I never knew it was like that. It seems very odd that it works that way. I had a thought while reading what you wrote though. What are PhysX cards used for? Gaming applications or design applications? If they are used for or could be used for design applications, then would it be a good idea to get a gaming card and a PhysX card to tackle both gaming and design applications? I don't really plan on buying a monster card for either use, the ones in the link I listed are in the price range that I would be happy with. Obviously, I don't plan on any super heavy usage for gaming or designing. I'm sort of a newbie/beginner in both area's at the moment.

[Spawn-Inc]

the physX cards help out with the physics in games. it helps with explsions, fire, etc. effects. games have to support that card though and there aren't that many out right now (i don't think theres even 10 games). i'm not sure if it helps with designing programs though. i'm going out on a limb and guessing that its like the games, it has to be supported. newer gaming boards have 3 pci express slots for this reason. once the cards get popular and used more then it goes in the third slot to help with the two other cards. (it also works with one just to be clear).

[Zephik]

Ah, well scratch that idea then. I would rather just get a $300USD card for the same price. Not that I even would, so I don't even know what I was thinking with that. lol

So I think I MIGHT understand Stream Processors from that video. Unlike PixelPipelines, Stream Processors are universal. They can be used for wherever they are needed. Is that right? or not quite?

New technology is so much fun to learn about, but at times, I just wish it wasn't so confusing. lol

[Spawn-Inc]

So I think I MIGHT understand Stream Processors from that video. Unlike PixelPipelines, Stream Processors are universal. They can be used for wherever they are needed. Is that right? or not quite?

sounds right to me. just thinking about it i would say its like a universal heatsink vs a single socket type heatsink. the uni one can adapt to new sockets (or new functions) where as the other can't.



New technology is so much fun to learn about, but at times, I just wish it wasn't so confusing. lol

haha all too true. when i was growing up i was happy the computer worked and was always asking my dad for help (in dos and other stuff) and now i know more than everyone in my family combined. and just learned i can type without looking!!!!!!!!!! i was typing up a letter and noticed i didn't have to look at the keyboard. so +rep to the site for all this typing.