be faster.

1. The 9700 has 8 pixel pipelines . This is not a DX9 spec like some people seem to think(Scolecite)
2. The 9700 has a 256-bit memory interface. This also is NOT a DX9 spec
3. Ati has taken notes from Nvidia to take away the few hardware advantages NV had over them...the crossbar memory interface, multi sampling AA(which ATI seems to have improved on according to the previews
4. ATI still has the lead in other features that they implemented a generation earlier than Nvidia(Hyperz...ETC.)

Now for reasons why NV30 has probably as much chance of being slower than it does of being faster

1. Nvidia next gen is typically 20-30% faster than it's previous generation...ATI is that much faster in worst case scenarios.

2. Few leaked specs pointed to an 8 pixel pipeline for the NV30 until recent months(most I believe pointed to 6 at most) when the 8 pipe R300 seems to be almost guaranteed. Early last summer an unofficial roadmap was leaked that showed not only the target specs for the r200, but also for the R300...the specs for the R300 were almost dead on(so were the 8500 specs). ATI may have raised the bar MUCH higher than what Nvidia was expecting(this is by FAR a bigger leap than we've seen since probably V1-V2 sli).

3. The cycle of a rotating king of the hill in the computer industry(in everywhere except CPU's and OS's)pointed to this LONG ago.

4. ATI generally has less brute force hardware power than NV but better techniques(ie their aniso)

5. Nvidia has previously been playing from a tie or on top...not from WAY behind. I'm willing to bet that judging from their attitude they were figuring on R300 slightly bettering GF4, not annilating it. The Radeon slightly topped the GF2, a driver and clock update took care of that. The 8500 slightly beat the GF3, a driver update and clock bump took care of that. This won't work this time.

6. Just because it's Nvidia doesn't mean they are infallible, and DOES NOT guaranty that they have something faster up their sleeves. ATI may have just raised the bar higher than what Nvidia was aiming for(judging from most people's shock at how much faster the 9700 is, I doubt we're alone in underestimating ATI).

7. I don't believe that many rumors indicate a 256-bit memory interface for NV30...this could be disatrous(I think they may be trying a 128-bit DDR-II interface...which could get killed if the 9700 refreshes with the 256-bit memory interface using DDR-II)


So, people may want to think before they say "NV30 WILL be faster"...it's more of a NV30 MAY be faster. I personally think ATI may be on top for a year or two only to be toppled at some point by someone else, and then expect the cycle to repeat.