WarLock
Power Member
Since GeForce4 Ti4200 prices slipped towards $140 for 64 MB version and $160 for 128 MB, the demand has skyrocketed. As the Ti4200 is the slowest chip in the whole GeForce4 Ti line, NVidia can supply them in very large quantities, though, videocard manufacturers currently have a tight supply of related passive components, such as DDR SDRAM memory.
According to Taiwanese videoadapter makers, GeForce4 Ti4200 currently account about 60% of all the videoboards based on GeForce4 Ti GPU. Manufacturers said that the recent tight supply is mainly because the specifications of components used in the GeForce4 Ti 4200 cards are different from those in GeForce4 Ti 4400 and 4600 products, as we know, TSOP and sometimes LQFP memory is maintained on the GeForce4 Ti powered adapters, while BGA memory is used on Ti 4400 and Ti 4600 models.
The insufficient supply of memory has already caused Leadtek to use EltronTech memory instead of Hynix for their GeForce4 Ti4200 videocards.
Since all the manufacturers of videoboards turn to high-end products in order to avoid competition between low-end videocards and motherboards on i845G with integrated videoadapter, we assume that those makers will firstly turn to GeForce4 Ti4200 and RADEON 8500 (and RV250) boards. As a result, tight supply of certain components can continue. Fortunately, some videocard manufacturers assure us that they will solve all the problems until the end of July.
We should mention that Hynix memory is used on ATI RADEON 8500 powered boards as well, as a result, due to the lack of memory chips, ATI Technologies` partners can also declare the shortage of components in the coming weeks.
We remember that SUMA and Gainward used GeForce4 Ti4600 design for their GeForce4 Ti4200 products, we can also mention some ATI`s partners who use BGA memory on RADEON 8500LE boards. It seems that those companies are quite right now and they are going to sell a huge number of their boards if no one else will be able to supply enough cheaper products. How long it can last, though?
According to Taiwanese videoadapter makers, GeForce4 Ti4200 currently account about 60% of all the videoboards based on GeForce4 Ti GPU. Manufacturers said that the recent tight supply is mainly because the specifications of components used in the GeForce4 Ti 4200 cards are different from those in GeForce4 Ti 4400 and 4600 products, as we know, TSOP and sometimes LQFP memory is maintained on the GeForce4 Ti powered adapters, while BGA memory is used on Ti 4400 and Ti 4600 models.
The insufficient supply of memory has already caused Leadtek to use EltronTech memory instead of Hynix for their GeForce4 Ti4200 videocards.
Since all the manufacturers of videoboards turn to high-end products in order to avoid competition between low-end videocards and motherboards on i845G with integrated videoadapter, we assume that those makers will firstly turn to GeForce4 Ti4200 and RADEON 8500 (and RV250) boards. As a result, tight supply of certain components can continue. Fortunately, some videocard manufacturers assure us that they will solve all the problems until the end of July.
We should mention that Hynix memory is used on ATI RADEON 8500 powered boards as well, as a result, due to the lack of memory chips, ATI Technologies` partners can also declare the shortage of components in the coming weeks.
We remember that SUMA and Gainward used GeForce4 Ti4600 design for their GeForce4 Ti4200 products, we can also mention some ATI`s partners who use BGA memory on RADEON 8500LE boards. It seems that those companies are quite right now and they are going to sell a huge number of their boards if no one else will be able to supply enough cheaper products. How long it can last, though?
