In the weeks to come, next month to be more precise, NVIDIA will officially rename its G92-based graphics cards series. Amongst the "new" SKUs that have surfaced so far, NVIDIA adds the GeForce GTS 250, or present-day GeForce 9800 GTX+. In a bid to garner support from its partners, NVIDIA issued a circular that includes the following statement:

GeForce GTS 250 carries over the same specs and features of 9800 GTX+, and hence the same GPU, memory, board, PCB, and thermal solution. AIC's should be confident in purchasing GPU's, PCB's, and other materials, since the only change is a new VBIOS to implement the new branding.

The GTS 250 model will be accompanied by yet another rebranding: GeForce GTS 240, present-day GeForce 9800 GT and GeForce 8800 GT. The GeForce 9800 GTX+ was released in July 2008, to compete with ATI's Radeon HD 4850. It was an evolution of the GeForce 9800 accelerator, to which it was built on a newer manufacturing process that facilitated higher clock speeds. NVIDIA is likely to choose CeBIT as the ideal launch-pad for its new series of graphics cards.

Alienware introduced its fleet of high-performance gaming PCs based on Intel's newest Core i7 processors. The range is branded as Area 51 X-58. Its range starts from US $1,349, with the base model using the Core i7 920 processor, which is configurable to Core i7 940 and the Core i7 965 Extreme Edition. Memory options go up to 12 GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, and base graphics card being the ATI Radeon HD 4870, configurable up to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 SLI or Radeon HD 4870 X2 CrossFireX.

There are options for up to 2 TB of storage, or the option to pick performance over storage, with two WD VelociRaptor 300 GB drives in RAID 0. Parallel to this brand is Alienware's other brand, the ALX X-58. The ALX comes with the same base CPU and memory, but ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 or two GeForce 9800 GTX, 2 TB of storage, along with the option of a Blu-Ray burner. The ALX X-58 starts at $3,699. These systems come equipped with 700, 1000 or 1200W power supplies depending on the hardware opted for.

AMD today took a major point for the red team by positioning its brand new ATI Radeon HD 4850 cards between NVIDIA's GeForce 9 series and GTX 200 series cards. The all new HD 4850 cards beat NVIDIA's GeForce 9800 GTX while also maintaining the very reasonable MSRP of $199. Currently NVIDIA has no card that can compete in this category, but that's eventually going to change in mid-July, when the company will announce a new mid-range video card dubbed GeForce 9800 GTX+. The card will be idential to GeForce 9800 GTX from the outside, but from the "inside" it will use a smaller and more efficient 55 nanometer GPU with increased default clock/shader speeds: from 675MHz to 738MHz and from 1688MHz to 1836MHz respectively. Memory speeds for this card will be dropped slightly to 1GHz (1100MHz for GeForce 9800 GTX). Other than that the card is virtually the same as GeForce 9800 GTX, the three-way SLI support also remains untouched. NVIDIA expects to start offering GeForce 9800 GTX+ with a MSRP of $229. The company also plans to drop the price of the 65nm GeForce 9800 GTX to $199.

First card is Leadtek 9800GTX, second one is GeForce 9800 GTX+

A little joy for today, one week before the official announcement of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 cards. Here's a little sneak peak on what to expect from three NVIDIA GeForce GTX280 cards in tri-SLI configuration, an overclocked Intel QX9650 processor to 4GHz and the 3DMark Vantage Vista DX10 benchmark. Clock speeds of all three cards can be seen in the photo. The end result is 21350 marks.

ZOTAC International, an award-winning NVIDIA AIC, today unleashes its liquid-cooled, near-silent single GPU graphics card - the ZOTAC GeForce 9800 GTX ZONE Edition. The new ZOTAC GeForce 9800 GTX ZONE Edition is the staple of quiet computing, delivering the power of NVIDIA GeForce 9 series graphics power with PureVideo HD video processing technology into a virtually silent graphics card. Cooled by a custom water-cooling system, the ZOTAC GeForce 9800 GTX ZONE Edition delivers high-performance in DirectX 10 and OpenGL 2.1 titles while keeping thermal and noise levels to a minimum.

BFG Technologies, the leading North American and European supplier of advanced NVIDIA-based 3D graphics cards, power supplies, and other PC enthusiast products, announced today the BFG NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX H2OC 512MB graphics card featuring a ThermoIntelligence custom copper water block co-developed by BFG and Danger Den. The BFG GeForce 9800 GTX H²OC 512MB graphics card with ThermoIntelligence water cooling solution is factory overclocked to the highest stable level, and offers exceptional thermal performance in a single slot design, freeing up valuable space for other add-in cards.

We've seen a lot of NVIDIA partner launch their impressive graphics cards, but Inno3D has always been among the best. Today with the release of the i-Chill GeForce 9800 GTX Accelero Extreme they prove my words once again. The i-Chill Extreme features Arctic Cooling's Accelero Xtreme 8800 triple fan cooling on a highly overclocked GeForce 9800 GTX card up to 720MHz/2300MHz core/memory. This cooler features 5 heatpipes, 107 fins and 3PWM controlled 80mm low-noice fans or in other words a GPU cooler that can efficiently dissipate up to 240W of heat. With pre-applied MX-2 paste, Inno3D claims the i-Chill GeForce 9800 GTX Accelero Extreme is at least 20'C cooler than other 9800 cards that use the stock cooling system. Furthermore the i-Chill 9800 GTX comes with gold-plated DVIs, solid capacitors and 3 year warranty.

Aqua computer today released the aquagrafx 9800GTX full cover GPU water block for all reference NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB (G92) video cards. The cooler is completely made of electrolyte copper (99,99%) and nevertheless weights only 600 grams and takes only one slot thanks to its 6 mm thickness. The GPU, RAM chips and all voltage regulators are cooled. Тhe aquagrafx 9800GTX works with G1/4" barbs and offers very low flow restriction because all channels on the inside are 18mm wide. Aquagrafx for GeForce 9800 GTX can be purchased right now here for EUR 79.90.

XFX is widening its NVIDIA graphics card line-up with the introduction of two "Black labeled" GeForce 9 series cards. Available in limited numbers the G92 products include XFX GeForce 9800 GX2 1.0GB DDR3 Black Edition (PV-T98U-ZHB9) overclocked to 700MHz/1700MHz/2.1GHz core/shader/memory clocks and XFX GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB DDR3 Black Edition (PV-T98F-YDB4) with factory clock speeds of 760MHz/1900MHz/2.28GHz for the core, shaders and memory clock speeds. Both cards will come bundled with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed game.

VR-Zone has learned that NVIDIA is planning to add Hynix as a second memory supplier for GeForce 9800 GTX. All current GeForce 9800 GTX graphics cards including the overclocked models are equipped with Samsung K4J52324QE 0.8ns GDDR3 memory chips. A second batch of 9800 GTX cards is now being reported to enter the market with Hynix HY5RS123235BFP 0.8ns GDDR3 parts and different BIOS version.

POINT OF VIEW, well known for its range of NVIDIA based graphics cards, is launching today the overclocked version of one of the fastest single GPU graphics card on the market, the GeForce 9800 GTX EXO EDITION. The performance of the POV GeForce 9800 GTX EXO EDITION is pushed further by increasing the core speed to 725MHz, the shader processor speed to 1813MHz and the memory speed to 2300MHz. Last but not least, if you are lucky enough in the package bundle you'll find Ubisoft'Assassin's Creed game. The GeForce 9800 GTX EXO EDITION with Assassin's Creed is available from April 10 in a Special Edition box. Be as quick as the Special Edition version is only available in limited quantities.

EVGA is now also offering overclocked versions of GeForce 9800 GTX. The three new cards are e-GeForce 9800GTX SSC 512MB, e-GeForce 9800GTX KO 512MB, and e-GeForce 9800GTX SC 512MB, with SSC being the fastest 9800GTX to date at 770MHz/2300MHz core/memory and 1.94GHz shader clock speed. All these new card are coupled with EVGA's Limited lifetime warranty, step-up program, 24/7 support and more.

As of today NVIDIA is lifting the overclocking ban for all of its partners, so expect more cards like BFG GeForce 9800 GTX OCX and Zotac GeForce 9800 GTX AMP! Edition to be announced in the following days. Based on NVIDIA's G92 GPU, the ZOTAC GeForce 9800 GTX AMP! Edition comes with increased core clock by 11-percent to 750MHz (675MHz stock) and 5-percent increased memory clock to 2.3GHz (1100MHz stock). Additionally the shader clock speed of the card is bumped up to 1890MHz (1688MHz stock). "Our customers demand the fastest performance available from NVIDIA GPUs. Our ZOTAC GeForce 9800 GTX AMP! Edition features cream of the crop NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX GPUs that are screened for high-speeds," said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International (MCO) Ltd. "The ZOTAC GeForce 9800 GTX AMP! Edition is the graphics card to get for users seeking the best single-card performance, with the ability to upgrade to SLI later-on."

BFG Technologies announced today the BFG NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX OC, OC2, and OCX 512MB PCI Express 2.0 graphics cards.

BFG GeForce 9800 GTX OC, OC2, and OCX graphics cards offer customers a choice of three different levels of factory overclocked Graphics Processing Units which are all thoroughly tested and backed by the company's famous lifetime warranty.

ASUS, producer of top quality graphic solutions, today unveiled the latest generation of NVIDIA GPUs - the GeForce 9800 GTX, in the form of the ASUS EN9800GTX/HTDP/512M graphics card. Showcasing the most powerful single GeForce 9800 GPU, the ASUS EN9800GTX is able to deliver full-throttle gaming experiences at extreme HD resolutions; while providing optimal power management with the built-in HybridPower technology. It also features full compatibility with the 3-way SLI technology, an integrated SmartDoctor feature that overclocks the Shader Clock for exceptional graphical boosts, and GamerOSD for real-time overclocking, benchmarking and video capturing in any PC game.

The graphics card specialist Club 3D has increased the product range of high-end graphic cards by launching the GeForce 9800 GTX. Powered by the latest NVIDIA G92 chipset, the Club 3D 9800 GTX (CGNX-X982DD) graphic card raises the performance bar by enabling full-throttle lifelike game play and offering to everyone extreme HD gaming and a first-class entertainment experience.

Albatron Technology has just announced its new enthusiast VGA, the 9800GTX-512X. This card is being released on the heels of its sibling dual-GPU 9800GX2 with all of the same high-performance NVIDIA features plus 3-way SLI capabilities. The 9800GTX-512X has one less GPU than its big brother (9800GX2) but it makes up for it with higher clock speeds and a trimmed down price.

BFG Technologies, the leading North American and European supplier of advanced NVIDIA-based 3D graphics cards, power supplies and other PC enthusiast products, announced today the BFG NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB PCI Express 2.0 graphics card. "The BFG GeForce 9800 GTX features 128 screaming fast stream processors each running at a new record high 1688MHz", said John Malley, senior director of marketing for BFG Technologies. "The BFG GeForce 9800 GTX is unquestionably the fastest graphics card in its price range-providing intense gaming at extreme HD resolutions."

Although official release of the card is still scheduled for April Fools' Day, a number of European retailers are already listing NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce 9800 GTX graphics card for pre-order. There are offerings from a number of companies including ASUS and Gigabyte, but the cheapest so far looks to be Palit's card, which has been given a price tag of €273 (about $430). The card comes equipped with a G92 core running at 675MHz, 128 stream processors at 1688MHz and 512MB GDDR3 memory at 2200MHz. The card is on sale at German site ComputerHandlung.de, and is listed under the XpertVision brand name.

TechConnect Magazine has acquired some pictures and specs of ASUS' upcoming EN9800GTX/HTDP/512M graphics card, which is expected to be released on April 1st. It will run at what are thought to be NVIDIA's reference clocks of 675MHz core and 2200MHz memory, with 128 stream processors at 1688MHz. This version will come equipped with 512MB GDDR3 memory, with a price tag somewhere below $350.

Rather unexpected and coming from nowhere, NVIDIA has decided to postpone the launch of GeForce 9800 GTX by one week from March 25th to April 1st. Not that it is something we haven't seen before, but it is funny that NVIDIA chooses to launch a flagship product on April Fools' Day. To complete the rumour, no reason was provided for the delay. Although the source is quite reliable, I'd say take this as false alarm till any further details go online. GeForce 9800 GTX will be priced at US$349 when released.

According to NordicHardware, several leaked slides have revealed the price of NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce 9800 GTX card to be $349 (one even said $299-$349, but the higher value seems much more likely). The card should go on sale on March 25th, and the reference specifications have a G92-420 core running at 675MHz with 512MB of GDDR3 memory at 2000MHz.

There are not many details on this unfortunately, but WE.PCINLIFE seems to have acquired a number of close-up images of NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce 9800 GTX, which will be the company's first high-end single GPU 9 series graphics card. There are 18 pictures in all, with some of the better shots shown below.

After taking some screenshots with a special version of our GPU-Z utility, the guys over at Expreview have decided to take their GeForce 9800 GTX sample and give it a try at Futuremark 3DMark06. Using Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 @ 3GHz, 2GB of DDR2 memory, ASUS Maximus Formula X38 and a single GeForce 9800 GTX @ 675/1688/1100MHz the result is 14014 marks.

VR-Zone has obtained some details and photos of the first single GPU high-end GeForce 9 series card. The 65nm G92 based GeForce 9800 GTX (G92-P392) will come with 12-layer PCB. It will be clocked at 673MHz for the core and 1683MHz for the shader while memory clock speed is yet to be determined. The memory interface is 256-bit with 512MB of 136-pin BGA GDDR3 memory onboard. The card will come with two DVI-I and one HDTV-out. As mentioned earlier all GeForce 9800 GTX will have two SLI connectors (3-way SLI ready) and two 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The card will be cooled by the CoolerMaster TM67 cooler where the fan is rated at 0.34A, 4.08W, 2900rpm, 34dBA. During 100% load the card will consume around 168W. The GeForce 9800 GTX is set to be released around April.