NVIDIA is currently winning the last batch of benchmarks with its re-launched GeForce GTX 260 as it pulled a magic driver out of its sleeve and the Radeon HD 4870 is currently the slower one. The difference is not that big, but for NVIDIA it is very important to be the faster in the majority of benchmarks. Everyone now expects a quick launch of a new RV770, the 40nm successor but we learned that such card comes only after the RV740 which is a mainstream 40nm card that is set to launch in the second quarter of 2009. The RV770 successor is a card that comes as a performance card and it is also a 40nm board but this one will launch at a later date, probably more like mid 2009 or later. - FudZilla

ATI's First 2009 Card Is The RV740 Based Mainstream

Until this time, ATI won't really have a contender to fight NVIDIA but we are sure that red boys will ignite the price wars, which will at least be good for end users. NVIDIA also has their 55nm GT200b series but at the same time, this chip will get some additional performance, but not a miracle performance jump. At least it will help to move up the chain and deliver greater gaming performance and also to reduce the costs. Since the move to 55nm chips is certainly less expensive, due to more chips that can be extracted from one wafer and as such will bring the price down which is what NVIDIA needed most to be competitive.

Though one again we do expect to see some price wars happening, though we are wondering how low ATI can go as they have already pushed several times on that button. We can only image that due to the fact that ATI has now gotten their production quality up that they can produce wafers that are almost flawlessly and as such get more out of the same. But it won't be long before NVIDIA is also at that stage and will be playing similarly with price reductions and they as such will have the performance edge.