Press Release: New NVIDIA Products Transform the PC Into the Definitive Gaming Platform

I've read several reviews already and if all of them are right to the target, then this is a winner. I will not be quick to judge the final verdict, in the end, user experience will still play a big role whether this new solution is going to be a success or not. Expand for more...

New NVIDIA GeForce 8800 and NVIDIA nForce 680 Redefine Reality on the PC

For further information, contact:

Bryan Del Rizzo
NVIDIA Corporation
(408) 486-2772
bdelrizzo@nvidia.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SANTA CLARA, CA—NOVEMBER 8, 2006—PC enthusiasts around the world have a lot to be excited about today as NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies, introduced two new product families that transform the PC into the premier gaming platform: the GeForce® 8800 graphics processing unit (GPU), and the NVIDIA nForce® 680i SLI media and communications processor (MCP) designed specifically for Intel® Core™ 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo processors. These two new product families represent the hardware foundation that allows users to start building their own definitive gaming PC platforms to experience high-resolution, high-performance gaming and stellar high-definition visuals.


_{Say hello to 'Adrianne', the world's first real-time, virtual celebrity based on model and actress Adrianne Curry, all rendered on the new NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX graphics processing unit (GPU).}

"We set out to build the ultimate platform for PC gaming and high-definition video," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO at NVIDIA. "There is no better way to experience Windows Vista, DirectX 10, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray than with a PC powered by GeForce 8800 and nForce 680i SLI. Our announcement today is the culmination of four years of research and development and represents the biggest technological leap we have ever made. Gamers are going to be blown away."

The GeForce 8800 GPUs are the world's first to support Microsoft® DirectX® 10, the next-generation programming interface that will be introduced with the upcoming Microsoft Vista™ operating system. The GeForce 8800 GPUs feature a number of groundbreaking technologies including:

• A revolutionary new unified shader architecture comprised of up to 128-parallel, 1.35GHz stream processors that deliver amazing floating point processing power for unmatched gaming performance


• NVIDIA Quantum Effects physics processing technology that ushers in a new generation of visual effects and graphics realism


• Simultaneous 16x anti-aliasing and 128-bit High Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting for unparalleled image quality

"The raw performance and visual effects of the new GeForce 8800 GTX is just going to knock your socks off," said Pat Gelsinger, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Digital Enterprise Group at Intel. "Intel's Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo combined with the GeForce 8800 GTX and SLI technology delivers the most compelling visual experience the world has ever seen."


_{The hardware foundation for the Definitive Gaming Platform is the NVIDIA nForce 680 media and communications processor--an advanced overclocking motherboard solution for Intel Core 2 Quad and Intel Core 2 Duo-based PCs.}

Throughout the GeForce 8800's development process, NVIDIA worked in close partnership with the world's top game designers to develop next-generation DirectX 10 titles on next-generation NVIDIA GPUs, enabling them to take full advantage of the increased performance and new features. As a result, more than 20 next-generation titles, including Crysis, Hellgate: London, World in Conflict, Company of Heroes, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, and Age of Conan—all with jaw-dropping visuals, were on display at the Company's official unveiling which took place today in San Jose, CA—all running on new GeForce 8800 GTX GPUs.

"NVIDIA has placed the industry's first DirectX 10 graphics processors into the hands of the world's leading game developers, representing a significant milestone in the DirectX 10 game development cycle," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "The GeForce 8 series, combined with the unparalleled graphical capabilities of DirectX 10 and Windows Vista—built from the ground up for games—will give game developers a virtually unlimited platform for realizing their gaming vision."

The other half of the definitive gaming platform is the new NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP, which was designed to deliver the highest performance for Intel Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo-based PCs. Aimed squarely at the hard-core enthusiast, the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP is a motherboard solution that provides extensive support for the latest cutting-edge technologies—including enhanced support for NVIDIA SLI multi-GPU technology. With its dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and advanced storage features, the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP can, in about one second, send a 30-minute television show between PCs and store hundreds of high-definition movies. Featuring what customers are saying is the most advanced overclocking solution in the market, the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP can more than double the front-side bus (FSB) speed of many Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs. Also included is support for SLI-Ready high-performance memory DIMMs, and a third PCIe graphics slot for extended multi-display environments or future physics processing.

In addition to providing silicon to the world's leading motherboard manufacturers, NVIDIA also announced today it has started to design and manufacture its own line of enthusiast-class NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboards, which are being offered as a turnkey solution for select channel partners. This "Designed by NVIDIA" program allows NVIDIA partners—such as EVGA and others, to bring NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboards to market faster than ever before, and lets consumers know that the motherboard they are purchasing fully supports all of the hardware and software features that are offered with the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP.

"EVGA is proud to be a launch partner for the new NVIDIA GeForce 8800 series and we are beyond ecstatic to be the first company to bring an NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboard to the enthusiast market," said Andrew Han, President and CEO of EVGA. "EVGA would like to applaud NVIDIA for the astonishing performance enhancements found in both the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI core logic and GeForce 8800 GTX graphics solutions."

GeForce 8 series GPUs, including the GeForce 8800 GTX and GeForce 8800 GTS, NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboards, and fully-equipped Windows-based PCs are now available from leading retail outlets, system builders, and OEMS.

"We're very excited about bringing the definitive gaming platform to Velocity Micro customers. The superior overclockability of the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboard combined with the graphics power of the GeForce 8800 GTX GPU are at the bleeding edge—nothing less than what our customers demand," said Randy Copeland, CEO of Velocity Micro. "NVIDIA continues to demonstrate why they are the leader in the enthusiast space, and we are excited to deliver this phenomenal level of performance and functionality in our new line of Raptor gaming PCs, which are available to consumers today."

For a full list of NVIDIA partners or for more technical information on the GeForce 8800 GTX and GeForce 8800 GTS GPUs or the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP, please visit www.nvidia.com.

Source:New NVIDIA Products Transform the PC Into the Definitive Gaming Platform