NVIDIA’s New GeForce Partner Program Under Criticism
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Moonbogg
Honestly I would normally freak out about this, but this time I don't care. AMD is nothing to me in the GPU world. They have no options to choose. All we have is Nvidia anyway so what the hell is the difference? Prices keep rising anyway every generation because we only have one brand to choose. 980ti was $650, 1080ti was $700, 2080ti will certainly be more than that, likely $800. So what difference does it make to a gamer like me? None. I'm getting price raped anyway. If AMD had good GPU options then there would be something to get pissed off about. Too bad that's not the case.
Kaarme
Nvidia makes more cards than just the top of the line Ti cards. In fact most Guru3D members don't have a x80Ti card. So, don't talk about "we" when you are only talking about yourself. Over the years I've had more Nvidia cards than Ati, but none of them were the best models. I don't game enough to justify the expense. So, that very top is kind of meaningless for me. However, without any competion in the cheaper alternatives, the normal prices would be like the miner inflated ones right now, generations would be long and differences between them small. The CPU situation proved that. Nvidia might occasionally still release super expensive enthusiast models because they would need to develop the tech for the AI and server purposes anyway, but they wouldn't feel the need to feed the masses any more than necessary, instead allowing more money to flow to the stock owners (which makes sense from a business pov).
Koniakki
Well, it could be nothing, but all this coming into light/play not long after all those the news/talks a couple/few months back about Intel's possibility of entering the discrete GPU market ..
SaLaDiN666
That's some high quality AMD bait like with the gameworks in the past.
nhlkoho
I don't see how any of this is illegal. The rules only apply if one of the AIB companies voluntarily join the program and agree to these terms. If they don't, then there's no issue. For some of the smaller lesser known companies it might make sense to join so they can get some of the discount benefits and game bundling with their cards to help gain market share. But companies like ASUS, EVGA, etc... wouldn't have any need to join.
zifnab
That's a little naive. If they don't join they don't get first access to product meaning they lose tons of revenue. That's called coercion.
H83
I could be wrong but i think every time a company (Nvidia) offers some sort of deal that envolves or requires other companies (Asus, MSI, etc...) to stop selling the products of a competing company (AMD) is downright illegal at least in the EU. That´s the reason why Intel was fined around the world when they asked their partners not to sell AMD cpus in exchange for better deals.
That´s why i don´t believe this story, i simply can´t see Nvidia walking away from something like this without being sued or fined like Intel...
Loophole35
I don't believe the story for three reasons. 1. No sources or documents. 2. The "author" of the story. 3. AMD is pedaling it to tech journalists instead of taking legal action first (had they taken legal action first the lawyers would have advised against this type of press).
Vmhasegawa
Well.. XFX, Sapphire, HIS and some others are AMD only. EVGA, Galax, Zotac and PNY are Nvidia only.
What they all share is... Well, they are definitely smaller and have less revenue options than Asus, MSI and Gigabyte. So the only way they probably could bargain with either one is to be exclusive to whoever gave them more money or the better deal. So.. Maybe Nvidia is trying to "force" the three giants to take a side? Or maybe it's all blown out of proportion by one website which is kind of biased?
Or maybe it is as bad it sounds like and someone decided to blow the whistle trying to stop it before things actually got worser? I would love to hear the actual PR from most companies, but since it doesn't seem to be in full effect yet, I don't think anyone would trully say anything before. Probably non disclosure policies also.
Well, like most things out on the internet, It's kind of hard to believe on something if you don't have the original sources to begin with.
Edit: Just an afterthought, if it IS as bad as it sounds like, what in hell is Nvidia's legal department doing? And what IS AMD's legal department doing? Like, hey, let's contact some not so notoriously ethic "news tech guy" and tell him to stirr things up?
Archvile82
Im just going to put this out there.
Has anyone thought that if Nvidia was not putting these kinda practises out there they would be f***ed.
Hear me out, they are against 2 companies who create the cpus, motherboards, amd also does rival gfx cards, intel now saying they will start working on descrete gfx cards and also signed a contract to use amd in there small box systems. On top of that, any of these 2 companies could revolutionise there cpu, motherboards to use only there gpus rendering descrete nvidia hardware obsolete.
Another thing, amd also own the console market.
So is it any wonder why Nvidia are doing this ??? They are simply protecting there business and future in gaming. While they have the market share intel and amd still need to conform to the current standard. If those two somehow turn things around and the market share swings there way you can garentee they will try and a way to kill Nvidia in the gaming market.
Just my thoughts...
D3M1G0D
I disagree. As hollywood|meo said, legal proceedings could take years, and by that time this program would do serious damage to AMD's already depleted market share, negating any fines that Nvidia would pay. There is absolutely no benefit to keeping this out of the spotlight for AMD (they've has been down this road before with Intel).
Loophole35
But without providing proof or sources they go down the road of possible liable or slander.
alanm
Surprised why no documents or copies of GPP agreements have been leaked on this. If according to KBennet that...
We have contacted seven companies about their part in NVIDIA GPP and not one of the seven would talk to us on the record if they spoke to us about it at all. The ones that did speak to us have done so anonymously, in fear of losing their jobs, or having retribution placed upon them or their companies by NVIDIA. All of the people that I did interview at AIBs and at OEMs did however have the same thoughts on GPP. 1.) They think that it has terms that are likely illegal. 2.) GPP is likely going to tremendously hurt consumers' choices. 3.) It will disrupt business with the companies that they are currently doing business with, namely AMD and Intel.
Then something has got to give or leak by now on this. Obviously KB has staked a lot on this, his cred is on the line, it would be disastrous for him if it turns out to be nothing. So going to be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Loophole35
Apparently the GPP does not forbid ASUS or MSI from selling AMD cards just they have to have separate naming structures. Lets use ASUS as an example currently the house both AMD and Nvidia under the RoG branding. the agreement would require something like RoG Ares (AMD) and RoG Mars (Nivida) coupled with likely visual cues being different. It looks like Nvidia wants there to be noticeable differences in branding. I don't see a problem with this if this is what it's actually all about. Kyle may be murdering any of his remaining credibility if this is the truth.
https://pcgamesn.com/nvidia-geforce-partner-program-amd-impact
D3M1G0D
That's why they leaked the info to guys like Bennett. AMD is not accusing Nvidia themselves or forcing journalists to report it.
If the program was simply about naming then I don't see any controversy, but I also don't see any reason why companies would refuse to talk about it on the record. People don't talk in anonymity about something that is benign.
Loophole35
Unless they are under NDA or Nvidia offered different perks depending on partner.
alanm
I see a lot of potential controversy due to the naming thing. ie, MSI Gaming Geforce GTX1060 vs MSI Gaming Radeon RX 580. Will GPP allow MSI to continue the MSI Gaming name on AMD cards? If so, all is OK. If not, then there is a problem.
Loophole35
I'm surprised it's taken this long for one of the GPU manufactures to address this.
A.
https://asset.msi.com/resize/image/global/product/product_4_20160715154903_5788956f2ec44.png62405b38c58fe0f07fcef2367d8a9ba1/1024.png
B.
https://asset.msi.com/resize/image/global/product/product_9_20170412113935_58eda177e99bc.png62405b38c58fe0f07fcef2367d8a9ba1/1024.png
Which is AMD and which is Nvidia?
__hollywood|meo
from the way its presented, no. the reason this is an issue, to anyone whos wondering "who cares, rebrand it, right?" is that these AIB partners have already spent years & millions of dollars establishing their gaming variant brands to more casual gamers who dont know anything about specs, custom cooling, or overclocking...they just look for a specific line or series of custom card based off of the established branding. dont underestimate name recognition: its how the vast majority of consumers make their purchases.
again, based off of how kyle is presenting it, with ambiguous "support" from the "program" itself relating to "high-effort engineering engagements -- early tech engagement -- launch partner status -- game bundling -- sales rebate programs -- social media and PR support -- marketing reports -- marketing development funds"...incentivizing cutting AMD out from established branding with engineering support, rebates, & marketing funds (???) is a clear antitrust violation for multiple reasons
whether the information kyle provided is an accurate summation of nvidias initiative here remains to be determined, as theres literally nothing to go on but hearsay.
Reddoguk
If Nvidia had their own CPU then i wouldn't mind this so much. BUT you have to be using Intel or AMD in any system so it'd be very hard not to be friendly with all 3 companies. Especially if you are in the PC business. Surely they must understand that. I mean of course you want to join Nvidia's GPP but if that mean's you ain't allowed to talk to Intel or AMD then that's a bum deal.
