There's no doubt that the 3D graphics card business is what you would call a proverbial tough gig. There was a time when discreet graphics card options were available from numerous GPU vendors, but over the years, the relentless pace of technology and fierce competition has homogenized the market down to virtually two primary suppliers. In mainstream 3D graphics there is but one mantra, keep pace or exceed, execute or simply die. It's a simple equation that keeps product refreshes ongoing and just a natural progression of the graphics food chain that results in continuously improved product offerings, at both the hardware and the software levels. NVIDIA is obviously one of the few companies. - HotHardware

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 55nm Core Unleash Review

The continuous battle that rages on between the two main companies affords consumers increasingly more powerful products, as well as more realism in 3D games, as developers take advantage of each new technology update. Last year NVIDIA had the fastest single GPU solution on earth with the GeForce GTX 280, while ATI's Radeon HD 4870 X2 took the most powerful single card performance spot with its dual, 55nm RV770 graphics solution. Today NVIDIA returns AMD's volley with their own new optimized, multi GPU, single card solution that aims to trump their rivals once again. NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 295 is unleashed today.

With a pair of 55nm GT200b cores under its hood in a pseudo single card, dual slot height configuration, it's direct competition for the ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 version. Looking closely at the specs, you will note that the GeForce GTX 295 looks like a double shot of the GeForce GTX 280 on a single card but with the GeForce GTX 260 core and memory speeds, as well as the slightly narrower memory interface. As today's information will show, it turns out NVIDIA was not only hard at work on a 55nm version of their GT200, but they have also designed a dual GPU beast built around two of them to strike back and hard.

The card itself is reminiscent of the dual GPU powered GeForce 9800 GX2. There is a perforated shroud that surrounds the entire PCB, with an air inlet at one end near the barrel type fan. The fan pulls air into the interior of the card, where it is blown across heatsinks and then ultimately expelled from the system through vents in the card's case bracket. Outputs on the GeForce GTX 295 consist of a pair of dual link DVI outputs and an HDMI output. Just in case you're wondering, yes two of these cards can be run in tandem in a quad SLI configuration and also coupled with a single card to handle the PhysX calculations.

Throughout our entire suite of benchmarks, the new GeForce GTX 295 proved to be an excellent performer. It took a few months, but NVIDIA was able to battle back and recapture the performance crown from a resurgent AMD with the new GeForce GTX 295. As our tests have clearly shown, the GeForce GTX 295 is currently the fastest desktop graphics card on the planet. And keep in mind, NVIDIA was able to do this with an existing GPU design, by simply using a more advanced 55nm process. Somewhere deep inside NVIDIA, there is a new GPU architecture lurking that's likely to raise the performance bar even further.

Of course, sticking with an existing design, means there aren't any new features to speak of being introduced with the GeForce GTX 295. Whereas AMD supports DirectX 10.1, and NVIDIA still does not. Though NVIDIA has the added benefit of CUDA and PhysX support. In response to the GeForce GTX 295, it seems AMD will be making some changes to the Radeon HD 4870 X2's pricing. The GeForce GTX 295 is set to debut at $499, with immediate availability. That would put it right about on par with the Radeon HD 4870 X2, however AMD has informed us that its board partners will likely be dropping the price of the X2 down to $449.

Regardless of pricing though, NVIDIA's new baby is quite impressive. Their new GeForce GTX 295 was undoubtedly a very complex piece of hardware to design, but NVIDIA pulled it off and they have recaptured the performance crown as a result. And if you have got the coin and are looking for the ultimate in gaming performance, look no further.