We've learned that NVIDIA plans to do a limited preview of the GeForce GTX 295 while the video card will ship in early next year, probably January time. This dual GT200b, 55nm card will outperform the Radeon HD 4870 X2 in most tests, but NVIDIA won't let all the benchmarks out. Though NVIDIA wants and needs its performance crown back and this preview will be the way to tell the world that NVIDIA can get back in January and if you want the fastest card you should wait for at least a three more weeks. NVIDIA had to release this card to counter ATI's Radeon HD 4870 X2 dominance, and this dual chip sandwich board should have better thermals than ATI's top dog with an improved cooling solution. - FudZilla

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 295 Showing Its Muscle Power

At the same time, NVIDIA proves that ATI's X2 concept was the right path to high performance all along. And there is also the aspect of PhysX. Once NVIDIA finally starts pushing PhysX and new games, such as Mirrror's Edge and a few other titles that might matter, appear on the market, ATI might have a big issue, as it does not support PhysX. At this point PhysX is purely a marketing thing, as there is not a single important game that supports it and Unreal Tournament 3, the only big title to support PhysX currently it is not exactly a cutting edge game these days either, but at least it opens the door for more to come.

Electronic Arts is making Mirror's Edge for quite some time and we were told that this new game that will really push PhysX will come in 2009, probably in January time, and this might give PhysX a big boost. In the long run, ATI is in trouble as it doesn't supports PhysX and this is simply the way where NVIDIA will push the 3D gaming market. And games with PhysX do look better but they have still to appear. We expect more of these games next year and probably PhysX will matter big time by Christmas 2009. At least that will be the goal where it comes down to for NVIDIA and it will be pushing hard to get there.

As of the first quarter next year, ATI will have to cope with the fact that PhysX enabled games will run many times faster on NVIDIA hardware and ATI will have to find a remedy for it. The only remedy we can think of is signing up for CUDA and embracing competitors' PhysX that will likely run a bit slower on ATI cards.