NVIDIA is readying a high-performance mobile GPU for a Computex 2012 unveiling. Called the GeForce GTX 680M, the chip is based on its trusty 28 nm GK104 silicon, but with about half its streaming multiprocessors disabled, resulting in a CUDA core count of around 768. Reference MXM boards of the chip could ship with memory options as high as 4 GB, across a 256-bit wide memory interface. With the right craftsmanship on the part of NVIDIA, the GTX 680M could end up with a power draw of 100W. A Chinese source had the opportunity to picture the reference board qualification sample, and put it through 3DMark 11, in which it was found to be roughly 37% faster than the GF114-based GeForce GTX 670M, scoring 4905 points in Performance preset. The test bed was driven by Intel Core i7-3720QM quad-core mobile processor.

NVIDIA released its first desktop graphics cards based on its 28 nm GK107 silicon, in as many as three models, the GeForce GT 630, GT 640, GT 640 (second variant). Apart from these, NVIDIA appears to have launched two more models, one labeled GT 640, and another GT 645, which are based on previous generation GF116 and GF114, respectively. These new SKUs are available only to OEM partners, who will implement them in their new desktop PC designs.

Of the five new SKUs, the GT 630 and GT 640 (28 nm) are most interesting, as they are based on the GK107 silicon, with as many as 384 CUDA cores, and TDP as low as 50W. The GT 630 is a single-slot, low-profile graphics card with 384 CUDA cores, and a 128-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, 875 MHz GPU clock speed, and 891 MHz memory clock speed. The GT 640 (28 nm) features different clock speeds. The specifications may seem confusing to the end user, but then they really don't concern people who buy retail-channel graphics cards. NVIDIA and AMD design OEM-specific SKUs completely à la carte, to OEM partners' requirements.

Today, Sparkle announced the launch of GeForce GTX 560 SE graphics card aiming at midrange market. As the most expected superstar product for mainstream market in the first half of this year, this card features a mature 40 nm GF114 GPU, delivering the ultimate next generation gaming experience. The excellent performance not only leads over similar competing products, but also shows no way inferior to GeForce 5 series. Now is the perfect time to upgrade your graphics card at a surprisingly affordable price!

Here are some of the first pictures of Inno3D GeForce GTX 560 SE. Inno3D implemented NVIDIA's new SKU that's competitive with Radeon HD 7700 series, by designing a compact graphics card that's backed by relatively-powerful cooling. The PCB is very short (good for compact cases), and uses a simple 4+1 phase VRM to power the card. It features 1 GB of GDDR5 memory sitting on a 192-bit wide memory interface. The GTX 560 SE packs 288 CUDA cores, and clock speeds of 776/1553/953 MHz (core/CUDA cores/memory actual). Inno3D GeForce GTX 560 SE is cooled by a custom dual-slot cooling solution. This cooler makes use of two aluminum fin stacks, to which heat is conveyed by four 8 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heat pipes. The fin stacks are then ventilated by two 80 mm fans. The card has been tested at the source.

For an immediate relief from the market-threat looming in the sub-$200 segment with the introduction of AMD's Radeon HD 7770, NVIDIA is planning to carve out a new SKU based on the 40 nm GF114 GPU, the GeForce GTX 560 SE. The new SKU will be positioned below the GeForce GTX 560 (non-Ti), and target price-points well within $200. The new SKU is identical to the OEM-only model GeForce GTX 555. Its specifications follow:

• Based on 40 nm GF114 ASIC
• 288 CUDA cores
• 48 TMUs, 24 ROPs
• 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface
• 1 GB standard memory amount (asymmetric memory chip arrangement à la GTX 550 Ti)
• Clock speeds: 776 MHz core; 1553 MHz CUDA cores; 952 MHz (3.828 GHz effective) memory, 92 GB/s memory bandwidth

NVIDIA GeForce Kepler (GK104) will be NVIDIA's first high-performance GPU launched, based on its Kepler architecture. New reports suggest that this GPU, which will succeed GF114 (on which the likes of GeForce GTX 560 Ti are based), will continue to have a 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface. An equally recent report suggests that NVIDIA could give the front-line product based on GK104 as much as 2 GB of memory. We are also getting to hear from the INPAI report that on this product based on the GK104, the GPU will have a TDP of 225W. What's more, NVIDIA is gunning for the performance crown from AMD Radeon HD 7900 series with this chip, so it suggests that NVIDIA is designing the GK104 to have a massive performance improvement over the GF114 that it's succeeding.

TechPowerUp released a new version of GPU-Z, version 0.5.6. GPU-Z is our popular graphics card information and diagnostic utility that gives you technical details of the graphics hardware installed in your PC, and lets you monitor fine details such as clock speeds, temperatures, and voltages. The new version adds preliminary support for some of NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce Kepler family GPUs. It also adds support for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 448 CUDA cores, which will be launched this 29th. Support is also added for AMD Radeon HD 6320, FirePro V9800, FirePro V4900, GeForce GTX 460 V2 (GTX 460 based on GF114), Quadro NVS 420, Quadro NVS 450, and Quadro FX 380 LP. A small bug related to incorrect shader reading on "Blackcomb" is fixed.DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.5.6 | GPU-Z 0.5.6 ASUS ROG Edition

EVGA has just announced a new dual GPU card based on the GF114 GPU - check out the product launch page here and the product page here. If their performance graph on that launch page is accurate, then the card is around 30% faster than a GTX 580 when running the Unigene Heaven benchmark. The output panel contains three DVI connectors for NVIDIA 3D Surround, along with a mini HDMI port. The cooler has three fans, which should make for a well-cooled and reasonably quiet card. The marketing blurb says:

Introducing the EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win
It may not be called a GTX 585, but it's the next best thing. This card harnesses the power of two EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti GPU's for blistering fast DirectX 11 performance, including tessellation performance that destroys the competition. Experience a whole new level of interactive gaming and combine up to three displays off a single card for the ultimate in 3D entertainment, or disable Surround and combine up to four displays for maximum productivity. With these features and more, the EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 2Win gives you double the GPU's and double the win!

Translated, this means that your life isn't worth living without one of these babies in your rig. Apparently.

ASUS began bundling copies of Battlefield 3 (not Limited Edition) and an ASUS-Battlefield 3 themed Lanyard with GeForce GTX 560 Ti DirectCU II TOP graphics card and Xonar D2X PCI-Express 7.1 channel sound card. You can buy either of those and get a Battlefield 3 coupon that can be redeemed on Origin.

The GeForce GTX 560 Ti TOP will allow you to play Battlefield 3 at 1080p resolution with quite some eye-candy turned on. Its core is overclocked to 900 MHz (from NVIDIA reference speed of 820 MHz), and memory at 1050 MHz (4200 MHz GDDR5 effective). The DirectCU II cooler, ASUS claims, keeps the card 20% cooler than the reference heatsink. There is 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit wide memory interface. This GTX 560 Ti is based on the 40 nm GF114 silicon, packing 384 CUDA cores.

Asian graphics card vendor Colorful is at it again with its innovative board designs. This time, the company is after a GeForce GTX 560 Ti (GF114-based) graphics card that boasts of very strong power delivery, and a few mysterious expansion options. Colorful's emphasis has always been on PCB design and choice of high-grade components. This particular card, most likely called the Colorful GTX 560 Ti iGame, is no exception to that. The PCB is particularly long (as much as a GF110-based board).

The additional length is put to use by an innovative arrangement of VRM phases in two rows of four phases. This card employs high-grade chokes with driver-MOSFETs (a component that integrates up/down MOSFETs and driver IC into a single compact package). This 8-phase VRM draws power from three 6-pin power connectors, and can deliver 300W of power to help with record-seeking overclocking feats. There are consolidated voltage measurement points to help manually measure voltages.

Those on a budget looking to upgrade their graphics cards might do well to wait a little while, NVIDIA is preparing an upgraded GTX 560 Ti. The current model is based on the GF114 GPU which has 384 CUDA cores, 32 TMUs, a 256-bit memory interface and 1GB VRAM. However, the new model discards the GF114 GPU and replaces it with the beefier GF110 GPU that's used on the GTX 570 & GTX 580 cards. As one would expect, this GPU will be cut down compared to its bigger brothers, featuring 448 CUDA cores, 56 TMUs, a 320-bit memory bus and likely 1280MB VRAM. Another improvement comes in the form of two SLI connectors, allowing 3-card setups to be built, but the cost compared to using more powerful cards must of course be considered before such a build is attempted. The new card will be called the "GTX 560 Ti (448 Core)", which follows a similar convention that was used with the GTX 260 when NVIDIA upgraded it to the GTX 260 (216 Core). Given that the memory bus and memory size are now the same as that of the GTX 570, it brings with it the intriguing possibility that such cards may be unlocked to full GTX 570 performance by enterprising enthusiasts who are not afraid of risking their warranty in their unending quest for better performance.

Leadtek Research Inc., known globally for its extreme visual graphics technology, added the new WinFast GTX 560 Ti Hurricane graphics card to the Fermi II generation family for enthusiasts. It features dual 90 mm fans, two 8 mm cooper heat-pipes, a large copper base and many fan fins equipped behind the GeForce Fermi 114 chipset, which can reduce temperature more effectively than the standard version containing only two 6 mm cooper heat-pipes from the chipset manufacture. This not only means improvements in the thermal solution but also in noise emission. Only 21 dB is measured during idle time, and even during peak time, it is just 43 dB. Leadtek will release more dual fan design graphics cards, naming them "Hurricane", to highlight these features.

TechPowerUp released the latest version of GPU-Z, our popular graphics hardware information and monitoring utility. Version 0.5.4 packs a large number of changes, beginning with faster start-up, support for the entire line of NVIDIA GeForce 500M series GPUs, new models of Intel Sandy Bridge processor graphics, a number of AMD Radeon HD 6000M series GPUs, improved support for AMD APUs, and a number of bug fixes.

GPU-Z has overcome the slow start-up issue on AMD Radeon GPUs, it loads slightly faster on NVIDIA GPUs, too. ROP count reading on AMD Radeon HD 6790, Turks & Whistler was fixed; along with sensor count on Caicos, Whistler, Turks. OpenCL detection on some NVIDIA drivers was fixed. The ability to read UMA-shared memory on AMD APU systems was added. GPU-Z has better ability to detect and warn of spurious graphics cards with faked IDs. GPU-Z 0.5.4 is available in both its standard form and the ASUS Republic of Gamers themed variant.DOWNLOAD: GPU-Z 0.5.4 | GPU-Z 0.5.4 ASUS ROG Themed

A complete list of changes with this version follows.

Growing in popularity, Chinese graphics card designer Colorful is ready with yet another graphics card design, this time based on the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 GPU. Called the Coloful iGame560 Ymir, the card is based on a revision of the company's "shark-fin" cooler design, while retaining the GF114 PCB the company used on older GTX 560 Ti graphics cards. The iGame560 Ymir PCB uses high grade components, 6+1 phase VRM, and redundant BIOS switchable from the rear panel. The "normal mode" BIOS runs the card at NVIDIA reference speeds of 810/1002 MHz (core/memory actual), while the "turbo mode" BIOS runs the card at 850/1050 MHz.

The iGame560 Ymir comes with an optional accessory called "Air-kit", which is a detachable heat pipe that draws heat from the main heatsink out of the case through the rear panel, and on to a small heatsink that passively dissipates heat. The Ymir model uses a beefy fan-heatsink that uses a large and elaborate heatsink, which is ventilated by two fans. The card is available in both 1 GB and 2 GB variants. Apart from the Ymir, Colorful also released the iGame Ymir-U 1 GB and Ymir-U 2 GB, which use a slightly more compact cooler that uses a circular heatsink with radially-projecting aluminum fins and a copper base. The Ymir-U cooler makes do with a single fan. On the Ymir-U cards, turbo mode runs the card at 830/1050 MHz.

As the leading brand in enthusiastic graphics cards, Gainward proudly launches its Gainward GeForce GTX 560 series. Gainward introduces 3 different customized models to satisfy all hardcore PC gamers' requirements, Gainward GTX 560 2048MB, Gainward GTX 560 1024MB "Phantom" and Gainward GTX 560 1024MB "Golden Sample". Gainward GTX 560 series inherits mighty DNA in GF114 chipset, Fermi architecture 2.0, same as GTX 560 Ti; nevertheless, with more affordable price tag.

As part of the successful release of "Phantom" cooling series, Gainward GTX 560 1024MB "Phantom" is honored again to demonstrate the best thermal solution, equip with the same revolutionary cooling as GTX 560 Ti "Phantom". "Phantom2 - Power of two", revolutionary cooling technology, is equipped with the best in class material. Phantom2 cooling is reinforced the heat dissipation efficiently by two excellent, extreme silent GR8(Great 8cm) PWM fans; conducting the heat away by remarkable 4 pcs of Gainward Grand-Prix Heat-Pipes Hybrid 6 mm heat-pipes; dispersing overage heat to the air by volumes of delicate shark sink fins.

NVIDIA confirmed its latest performance GPU, the GeForce GTX 560 (not to be confused with GTX 560 Ti), for launch on May 17, 2011. GeForce.com staff put up a new video on YouTube that displayed the card itself (looks very similar to to GTX 460), and run a few upcoming games on it, including the much anticipated Duke Nukem Forever, Alice: Madness Returns, and Rift.

NVIDIA claims that the new card should be able to handle most DirectX 11 games at 1080p resolution. In the Duke Nukem Forever run, the 3DVision features of the GTX 560 were shown. On Alice: Madness Returns, a variety of NVIDIA PhysX effects were shown, mostly particle and fluid dynamics. Lastly, the anticipated MMO Rift was able to run at 1080p with very high frame-rates and low GPU temperatures. Based on the GF114 GPU, the GTX 560 features 336 CUDA cores, 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface.Check out the video for some cool in-game footage.

NVIDIA is set to launch its next upper-mainstream GPU, the GeForce GTX 560 (not to be confused with GeForce GTX 560 Ti) on May 17. Designed to compete with AMD's Radeon HD 6790, the new GTX 560 is based on the same GPU as the GTX 560 Ti, the 40 nm GF114. It has 336 out of 384 CUDA cores enabled, while most other specifications of the GPU are untouched. The core clock speed is said to be not less than 800 MHz, making it faster than GeForce GTX 460, which otherwise has the same specifications while being based on the older GF104 silicon.

NVIDIA is readying a new SKU based on the GF114 GPU: the GeForce GTX 560, to help strengthen the company's competitiveness against AMD's upcoming Radeon HD 6790, and probably higher SKUs in the HD 6800 series. Next week, AMD will unveil its Radeon HD 6790 SKU, which will compete with the GTX 550 Ti, and probably seat itself in the market somewhere between the GTX 550 Ti and GTX 560 Ti. It is this gap that NVIDIA is looking to fill.

The GeForce GTX 560 is said to have 336 CUDA cores enabled (same configuration as the GF104-based GTX 460 1 GB), 56 TMUs, 256-bit GDDR5 memory interface holding 1 GB of memory. The thing that sets this SKU apart from the GTX 460 is going to be clock speed and overclocking potential, which is known to be higher on GF11x GPUs in general. Unlike HD 6790, there's no set launch date for the "non-Ti" GeForce GTX 560. Tentatively mid-April or early May.

Galaxy's first wave of graphics cards featuring NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics processor includes at least two non-reference designs. The first one, the GC Version, makes use of Galaxy's publicized "Gemini" GPU cooler, which uses two large 90 mm fans to cool a large aluminum heatsink which is fed by four copper heat pipes. The GC Gemini features slightly upped clock speeds of 835/1670/1000 MHz (core/CUDA core/memory actual).

The second card is the Galaxy GTX 560 Ti White Edition, which features a white PCB, possible digital PWM circuitry, a full-coverage single fan cooling assembly, and high overclock speeds of 950 MHz core, and 1100 MHz memory. Both cards feature Galaxy's typical spacecraft-styled cooler shrouds, connectivity that includes two DVI and a mini-HDMI. While the GC Version draws power from two 6-pin connectors, the White Edition requires 6-pin plus 8-pin. Based on the 40 nm GF114 GPU, GeForce GTX 560 Ti features second-generation Fermi architecture, and is powered by 384 CUDA cores, and aided by 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. The GTX 560 Ti is slated for release on the 25th of this month.

Here are the first pictures of an NVIDIA reference design GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics card. The pictures reveal quite a bit about the PCB layout and the cooling assembly. To begin with, the card is longer than the GTX 460, and uses a more refined cooler. The GF114 GPU uses a rectangular package, much like the GF104. The eight GDDR5 memory chips lie adjacent to the GPU. Power supply consists of 4-phase GPU, single-phase memory, and is drawn in by two 6-pin PCI-E power connectors. SLI is restricted to 2-way, and display outputs include two DVI and one mini-HDMI. Although the PCB is green, one can expect it to come in various colors depending on the partners' specifications.

The cooling assembly, as mentioned earlier, is much more refined compared to the previous generation. The GTX 460 cooler was not much more than a GPU heatsink with radially-projecting aluminum fins, covered by shroud. With the GTX 560 Ti, NVIDIA used a base-plate unisink, which collects heat from other components such as the memory and VRM, and conveys it to the GPU heatsink, which is much more elaborate, and uses 8 mm thick copper heatpipes to spread heat across a much larger heatsink. The design of this heatsink seems to be inspired from MSI's Cyclone cooler. Don't mind the flowery-green "sticker" that's Photoshop'd to the shroud, it's not part of the reference design. That's where partners can either demonstrate their creativity, or show off their anime fantasies.

Here are the first pictures of a Gigabyte branded NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics card. Carrying the model number GV-N560OC-1GI, Gigabyte's card is based on the 40 nanometer GF114 GPU, featuring 384 CUDA cores, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory. The card itself doesn't look much different from some of Gigabyte's GTX 460 graphics cards. This can be attributed to the rumor that GF114 is pin-compatible with GF104, to minimize R&D costs partners have to incur. They would probably just have to use the new GPU and its appropriate BIOS.

Being an "OC" marked model, Gigabyte's card could feature factory-overclocked speeds. Taking this and the GPU itself into account, Gigabyte claims its GTX 560 Ti card to be competitive with Radeon HD 6950. The card uses Gigabyte's Ultra Durable VGA construction which combines a copper-rich PCB with high-quality components, and is cooled by the company's in-house design WindForce2X GPU cooler that uses a large aluminum fin heatsink using two fans.

Update (01/18): Gigabyte commented on this article. The company outright denied to have anything to do with whatever is in those pictures, and alleged it to be some kind of a "malicious attack" on it. In a statement, it said: "the information is false and the data is simulated from our old card. The picture is incorrect and was obviously photoshopped from our previous GTX460 model. The GTX560 card looks nothing like pictured on the article. We have good reason to believe this is a malicious attack."

NVIDIA is readying a new GPU to counter the Radeon HD 6950. Released earlier this month, reviews suggest that the HD 6950 managed to slip into a sweet-spot between GeForce GTX 470 and GeForce GTX 570/Radeon HD 5970, giving buyers an option for around $300. NVIDIA's counter to this is named GeForce GTX 560, it is based on the new 40 nm silicon. While specifications-wise, this GPU is identical to the GF104, it is redesigned to allow high-clock speeds with lower power draw, the same secret-sauce that went into making GF110 is applied here.

The GeForce GTX 560 features 384 CUDA cores, 32 ROPs, and a 256-bit wide memory interface that connects to 1 GB of memory. The new GPU has bolstered high GPU clock speeds, with 820 MHz core, 1640 MHz CUDA cores, and 4000 MHz (GDDR5 effective) memory, churning out 128 GB/s memory bandwidth. NVIDIA however, isn't in a hurry with its release, it has the GTX 560 slated for some time in January, 2011.