Anilrgowda

The graphics card market may have to wait until CeBIT in March when makers are expected to unveil new products, according to market observers.
Despite Nvidia's launch of graphics processing units (GPUs) supporting DirectX 10, the graphics card market so far remained silent, as no DirectX 10-compliant game title was widely available.
The observers pointed out that makers mostly waited to be guided how to develop products supporting DirectX 10, and it was also believed that the Windows Vista operating system will initially not support DirectX 10. Moreover, there is so far no software to test DirectX 10 products, the observers noted.
CeBIT is currently seen as a possible turning point for the graphics card industry, since there are rumors indicating that Nvidia develops two more GPUs, codenamed G84 and G86, to target entry-level and mid-range market segments. Graphics card makers are expected to receive samples of the new GPUs in the first quarter of 2007.
If ATI's much-awaited R600 will be launched before CeBIT, Nvidia will likely launch the G84 and G86 around the timeframe of CeBIT to counterattack, the observers said.
There is a chance that ATI may soon launch R600. The Level 500 website recently claimed that it already obtained the new GPU to test. The website also claimed that R600-based graphics cards will be available in the US market from January 22, with an estimated price of US$630.
ATI declined to comment on market speculations, saying it had yet to set when to start shipping R600-series products.