NVIDIA’s Integrated Graphics Opportunity
The largest maker of computer graphics in the world is not NVIDIA or AMD. It’s Intel. Intel is the largest by virtue of its integrated graphics.
Because integrated graphics makes up most computer graphics, and Intel makes most integrated graphics, this makes Intel the largest supplier of graphics in the world. Bigger than NVIDIA, bigger than AMD.
To be sure, not all integrated graphics is made by Intel, but most of it is. To this end of tackling integrated graphics, NVIDIA has positioned its motherboard GPUs.
Integrated graphics is integrated into the chipset. The installed base is so large that the CEO of NVIDIA recently called it the “integrated graphics opportunity”.
The Largest Possible Market
In order to offer motherboard GPUs as a viable alternative to integrated graphics, NVIDIA had to lower costs. Integrated graphics occupies “the most sensitive price segments”.
In the past, NVIDIA seems to have been content to let ATI and Intel have much of the pie of volume graphics with its lower profit margins. All this may be changing.
By lowering costs, NVIDIA is targeting motherboard GPUs at “the largest possible market”.
Off to a Great Start
While integrated graphics have been around for some time, motherboard GPUs on the other hand are a recent development.
According to NVIDIA, motherboard GPUs for both AMD and Intel systems are “off to a great start”.
The First Of That Category
The motherboard GPU for Intel is the first of its kind.
NVIDIA initially introduced motherboard GPUs for AMD computers. Only after there were motherboard GPUs for AMD did NVIDIA introduce a motherboard GPU for Intel systems, the MCP73.
The motherboard GPU for Intel is the “first product of that category”.
Traction in the Intel Platform
Motherboard GPUs show promise. The mGPUs for AMD seem to be doing well.
The motherboard GPUs on the Intel side recently began “to see traction”.
Early Adoption Wonderful
The motherboard GPU for Intel was one of two classes of devices in which desire for the GPU recently exceeded NVIDIA’s ability to make. Demand outran supply.
Of the mGPU for Intel, the “early adoption has been wonderful”.
The other GPU that NVIDIA couldn’t make enough of, and still can’t, was the GeForce 8800 GT.
GeForce 8800 GT
In order to meet burgeoning demand, NVIDIA has expanded its foundry partners (DIGITIMES). Still these things take time, one would think.
In the days and weeks that followed the launch, places that sold graphics cards couldn’t keep the GeForce 8800 GT in stock.
There was some discussion as to why this was, with wild accusations of poor execution on NVIDIA’s part and that NVIDIA simply hadn’t made enough cards. There was also a rumor of component shortages for certain parts that went on the boards. Whatever the case may be, there were certainly not enough cards.
At the time of this writing, availability is still problematic, often as not.
NVIDIA will soon release another version of the GeForce 8800 GT, this time with less memory, the GeForce 8800 GT 256MB. The performance is almost as good under most circumstances, and the price a tad lower.
Just above the 8800 GT in the graphics-card hierarchy sits a new card set to be released December 11, the GeForce 8800 GTS with 512MB of memory, not to be confused with the card of the same name, GeForce 8800 GTS but with 640MB of memory. The new GTS is based on a new manufacturing technology of 65nm. The old GTS was built on 90nm technology. The new GTS card is also based on the same graphics chip as the 8800 GT, the G92.