ZOTAC announced its GeForce GTX 660 lineup, which looks quite similar to that of ASUS. It consists of a pair of identical graphics card models that use the Dual Silencer cooling solution, which debuted with the GeForce GTX 660 Ti series. The two consist of a base-model sticking to NVIDIA-reference clock speeds of 980/1033/6008 MHz (core/Boost/memory), and a factory-overclocked OC variant, clocked at 993/1059/6008 MHz. The OC version is priced at US $239, while the base model goes for $229. Based on the 28 nm GK106 silicon, the GPU packs 960 CUDA cores and a 192-bit wide memory interface, holding 2 GB of memory.

Apart from the GeForce GTX 660, NVIDIA also announced the mid-range GeForce GTX 650, targeting a sub-$150 price-point. Based on the same GK107 silicon as the GeForce GT 640, the card takes advantage of faster GDDR5 memory and higher clock speeds. It is otherwise identical to the GT 640, even to the extant of using the same reference PCB design (with the minor addition of a 6-pin power connector). The GTX 650 is designed to make the latest games playable at resolutions of up to 1366 x 768, with details cranked up. It packs 384 CUDA cores, 32 TMUs, 16 ROPs, and a 128-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface. It ships with clock speeds of 1058 MHz core, and 5.00 GHz memory. 1 GB of memory comes standard. The GeForce GTX 650 starts at $109.

NVIDIA announced its newest performance-segment graphics card, the GeForce GTX 660. Based on the brand new GK106 silicon, the GPU packs 960 CUDA cores, 80 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. It features a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 2 GB of memory. The 2-way SLI-capable card needs power from just the one 6-pin PCIe power connector. The card ships with reference clock speeds of 980 MHz core, 1033 MHz GPU Boost, and 6.00 GHz memory (GDDR5-effective). The card features a PCI-Express 3.0 interface, and supports the latest consumer graphics APIs, including DirectX 11.1. Available from various add-in card (AIC) partners, in custom-design and factory-overclocked models, the GeForce GTX 660 starts at US $229.

With NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 660 and GTX 650 threatening to make things messy in the sub-$250 market, and competitive pricing between NVIDIA partners with high-end SKUs, AMD is preparing yet another round of price cuts to its Radeon HD 7000 GPU series. Its last round followed the launch of GeForce GTX 660 Ti. According to the source, this is what AMD's lineup could look like, when it's done resetting prices:

• Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition - starts at $430
• Radeon HD 7970 standard - starts at $410
• Radeon HD 7950 Boost - starts at $300
• Radeon HD 7950 standard - starts at $290
• Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition - starts at $240
• Radeon HD 7850 2 GB - starts at $200

Inno3D's flagship GeForce GTX 660 graphics card, the iChill HerculeZ2000XE smiled for the camera. Videocardz.com scored pictures of the card and its cooler dissembled. To begin with, the card takes advantage of the iChill HerculeZ cooling solution. Its shroud and fans can be easily detached without needing any tools, letting you clean the heatsink underneath. The heatsink uses a pair of aluminum fin stacks, to which heat from the GPU is conveyed by a pair of 8 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heat-pipes.

According to the source, the GTX 660 iChill HerculeZ2000XE from Inno3D is a factory-overclocked graphics card, with a GPU Boost clock speed of 1058 MHz and memory clock speed of 6008 MHz (GDDR5-effective). The card packs 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 192-bit wide interface. Based on the 28 nm GK106 silicon, the GeForce GTX 660 is reported to pack 960 CUDA cores. In Mainland China, the card is expected to be priced at 1,699 RMB (US $268).

Here are the first pictures (one a CGI drawing, the other extremely grainy) of Palit GeForce GTX 660 OC Edition and GeForce GTX 650. The GeForce GTX 660 OC Edition appears to feature an aluminum fin stack design, with the same TurboFan Blade 90 mm fan featured on GeForce GTX 660 Ti, GTX 670, and GTX 680 JetStream graphics cards. For a change, we see Palit ditch orange and gold for a blue+black color scheme. Not much else is revealed about the card on the box. The GTX 650, on the other hand, appears to be using a simple fan-heatsink to cool the GK107 GPU. The two cards are due for a little later this week.

Here are some of the first pictures of NVIDIA partner-branded GeForce GTX 660 and GeForce GTX 650. The EVGA GeForce GTX 660 SuperClocked, pictured below, is roughly as long as the company's GTX 660 Ti and GTX 670 graphics cards. It uses the EVGA Signature cooling solution, which features on several of EVGA's GeForce GTX 660 Ti, GTX 670, and GTX 680 models. The box doesn't reveal much, except that the card only supports 2-way SLI, and packs 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 650, on the other hand, is much more compact. It uses a simple fan-heatsink to cool the GPU, instead of elaborate aluminum fin stacks. The heatsink appears to feature a spirally-projecting aluminum fin design, and is cooled by a 70 mm fan. The fan-heatsink is topped off with a shroud that spans the entire length of the card. Much like the GTX 660 SC, the box of this card doesn't reveal much. The GeForce GTX 660 and GeForce GTX 650 are expected to launch on September 12 (give or take a day, in view of the new iPhone launch).

According to a new 3DCenter.org report, NVIDIA is planning a joint launch of two its key mid-range GPUs, the GeForce GTX 660 and GeForce GTX 650, on September 12, 2012. The two GPUs will let NVIDIA capture key sub-$300 and sub-$200 price-points, with performance levels that could destabilize AMD's Radeon HD 7800 and HD 7700 series. Based on the GK106 silicon, the GTX 660 is said to pack 960 CUDA cores and 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface; while the GK107-based GeForce GTX 650 is said to pack 384 CUDA cores and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface.

Here are some of the first pictures of NVIDIA's upcoming GK106 silicon, which goes into building the GeForce GTX 660 graphics card. The GK106, built on the 28 nm silicon fab process, is poised to be NVIDIA's newest mainstream-performance chip that succeeds the GF116. The pictures reveal the chip package to be almost as big as the GF116 but smaller than the GK104. This can be attributed to fewer memory I/O pins (192-bit maximum bus width).

The rectangular die of the GK106 appears to have roughly the same area as that of the GF116, but with the higher transistor density of the 28 nm process, one can expect a significantly higher transistor count for the chip. If some of the pictures we're seeing are any indication the GK106 will be extremely energy-efficient, as an unknown graphics card based on it draws power from just one 6-pin power connector.

FinalWire announced the latest version of AIDA64, the popular system diagnostic and benchmarking suite. Version 2.60, which is released almost three months after the previous version, comes with support for most of the hardware and APIs that were released in the period. To begin with, AIDA64 adds support for VIA VX11 platform, Nano X2 and QuadCore CPUs. Details for GeForce GTX 660 and 650 series are added. The software even supports Windows 8 RTM and Windows 2012 RTM. Lastly, the 64-bit benchmarks are optimized for AMD "Trinity" APUs.DOWNLOAD: AIDA64 v2.60 Installer (EXE), Archive (ZIP)

58NVIDIA posted the product page of its GeForce GTX 660 (non-Ti) graphics processor. The chip is currently marked as OEM-only, meaning only NVIDIA's OEM partners have access to it. Its specifications make us believe that the "real thing" (retail version) could be very similar to it.

To begin with, the GTX 660 OEM appears to be based on the same GK104 silicon as the GTX 660 Ti retail. It appears to have been carved out by disabling two SMX units, resulting in a CUDA core count of 1,152. The GPU core is clocked at 823 MHz, with 888 MHz GPU Boost. The memory is clocked at 1450 MHz (5.80 GHz GDDR5-effective), in combination with the 192-bit memory bus width, it churns out 134 GB/s memory bandwidth. Unlike the GTX 660 Ti with its standard memory amounts of 2 GB or 3 GB, the GTX 660 OEM has standard memory options of 1.5 GB and 3 GB. The rest of its feature-set is consistent with that of every other GeForce Kepler family GPU. The GeForce GTX 660 retail could be launched some time in September. It's not necessary that its specifications could match with the OEM version.

TechPowerUp launched the latest version of GPU-Z, the popular graphics sub-system information and diagnostic utility that gives you technical details of installed graphics hardware, and lets you monitor clock-speeds, voltages, temperatures, graphics memory usage, ASIC quality, and several other parameters. Version 0.6.4 adds/refines support for several upcoming NVIDIA GPUs, such as GeForce GTX 660 Ti, GeForce GTX 660, GeForce GTX/S 650, GeForce 610, and GeForce GTX 680M; Intel GMA 3600 (ROP count); AMD "Trinity" APUs (clock reading accuracy) and AMD FirePro 2270.

GPU-Z 0.6.4 also changes the way multiple GPUs in a system are sorted in the GPU selection drop-down list. They are now arranged by display-outputs. GPU-Z now correctly reads memory amount for NVIDIA GPUs with over 4 GB of memory. Support for CHL8288 VRM controller is improved giving accurate temperature readings. A number of stability issues were addressed.DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.6.4

A list of changes follows.

NVIDIA will expand its new generation of graphics processors into cost-effective price points with the launches of GeForce GTX 660 Ti, GTX 660, and GTX 650, in the August-September time-frame. According to a DonanimHaber report, the products the three are replacing, the GeForce 560 Ti, GTX 560, and GTX 550 Ti; will closely follow launches of the new GPUs. When a product discontinuation notice for a particular product is issued, distributors are set a last day for placing orders for it.

After fulfilling the last orders, the product's status is changed to End of Life (EOL). To consumers, this news comes as a heads up, if they plan to buy any of the three SKUs on the chopping block, at their currently-attractive prices. The GeForce GTX 560 Ti is available on US retail website Newegg.com for as low as $179.99 (after rebate), the GTX 560 goes for as low as US $149.99 (after rebate), and the GTX 550 Ti for as low as $114.99. One can also deduce that NVIDIA will have healthy inventories of the new GPUs on launch.

Launch of NVIDIA's next cash-cow graphics processor, the GeForce GTX 660 Ti, is not too far away, and we're getting pictures of some of the first AIC partner-branded graphics cards based on it. The pictures reveal an EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Signature Edition graphics card cooling solution, complete with the GTX 660 Ti labeling.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti will look not much different from GeForce GTX 670 and GTX 680 Signature Edition graphics cards by the company, as we've been told on several occasions that the GTX 660 Ti is based on the same GeForce Kepler 104 GPU as the two. It's also likely that AIC partners could recycle the PCB design of their GTX 670 graphics cards, as they're generally extremely cost-effective.

According to the latest set of specifications scored by SweClockers, NVIDIA's upcoming performance-segment GPU, the GeForce GTX 660 Ti, is not much different from the GTX 670. The GTX 660 Ti is based on the 28 nm GK104 GPU, with 1,344 CUDA cores enabled - the same number as that on the GTX 670. What's more, the clock speeds don't differ between the two, either - 915 MHz core, 980 MHz GPU Boost, and 6.00 GHz GDDR5-effective memory.

The memory amount stays 2 GB, as well. It's just that the memory bus width is reduced from 256-bit to 192-bit, resulting in 25% lower memory bandwidth. The 2 GB of memory is spread across the 192-bit memory bus, probably with four chips using 32-bit wide paths each, with four other chips sharing two 32-bit wide paths. NVIDIA is known for pulling off such memory configurations, like it did with the GeForce GTX 550 Ti.

Troubles don't seem to end for AMD's Radeon HD 7990 dual-GPU graphics card, with sources indicating that AMD has no new product launches till late-August. Sections of the press reported that the HD 7990 could be released some time this month. A couple of factors could be behind the delay. For starters, there have been reports of shortage of PEX8747 PCIe bridge chips by PLX, which is at the heart of dual-GPU graphics cards, including the GeForce GTX 690. Another factor could relate to how AMD plans to achieve competitive price-performance and performance-Watt ratios for the HD 7990. Meanwhile, launches of NVIDIA's mid-range GeForce GTX 660 Ti and GTS 650 are reportedly closing in.

NVIDIA's newest product designed to strike the price-performance "sweetspot," the GeForce GTX 660, is set for a mid-August market launch, according to a SweClockers report. The new chip could roll out some time between August 13 and 19. Given that other Kepler-based SKUs have been launched on Tuesdays or Thursdays, it's likely that the launch date could be either the 14th, or the 16th. The GTX 660 will be based on the 28 nm "GK104" GPU. It will feature 1,344 or 1,152 CUDA cores, and a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 1.5 GB of memory, according to the report. The new GPU could capture a crucial sub-$300 price-point.

TechPowerUp released GPU-Z 0.6.3, the latest version of the popular PC graphics subsystem information and diagnostic utility. The new release adds support for dozens of new GPUs, including AMD "Trinity" APU-integrated HD 7600D series, upcoming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660; improves stability in Windows 8, and adds a large number of other stability improvements. GPU-Z 0.6.3 adds support for NVIDIA GPUs including GeForce GT 620, GT 630, GT 640, GTX 660, Tesla M2090, Quadro 1100M, Quadro 5000M, NVS 5400M, G610M, GeForce GT 620M, GT 630M, GT640M LE, and GT 660M; AMD GPUs including Trinity (HD 7600D series), HD 7570, HD 7670, HD 6610M, HD 7550M, HD 7850M, HD 7520G, and HD 7640G.

Keeping in tune with previous versions, GPU-Z 0.6.3 introduces a new killer feature: power-consumption measurement for IGPs (integrated graphics) on Intel "Sandy Bridge" and "Ivy Bridge" Core/Pentium processors. The measurement isolates the power draw of the IGP from the rest of the processor. TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.6.3 fixes crashes related to OpenCL detection (when using Intel drivers), with improved OpenCL drivers on Intel and AMD graphics drivers. It adds voltage monitoring for Radeon HD 7700 series. Boost clock detection is improved for NVIDIA "Kepler" architecture GPUs.DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.6.3, GPU-Z 0.6.3 ASUS ROG Edition

The complete change-log follows.

After GeForce GTX 680, which has all components of the 28 nm GK104 enabled, a dual-GPU GeForce GTX 690, which features two of these chips, and the GeForce GTX 670, NVIDIA is readying its third single-GPU GK104-based SKU. We know from older reports that this SKU could be named GeForce GTX 660 (Ti). A fresh report suggests that it will be carved out by disabling an entire graphics processing cluster (GPC) on the GK104 silicon, resulting in a CUDA core count of 1152; reducing the memory bus width of 192-bit GDDR5; and most likely reducing the ROP count to 24. This SKU could be used to capture a price point of around US $249, targeting AMD's Radeon HD 7800 series.

Following the launch of a couple of more GK104-based SKUs, namely GeForce GTX 670 Ti, and GeForce GTX 670, some time in May; NVIDIA will launch its third (after GK104 and GK107) Kepler architecture-based silicon, codenamed GK106. GK106 will make up sub-$200 SKUs, and succeeds the GF116, on which SKUs such as the GeForce GTX 550 Ti, are based. The GK106 will make up at least one known desktop SKU, called GeForce GTX 660.Its specifications are listed below.

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680 literally kicked the door open as it made its entry. We're learning of NVIDIA's plans to milk the GK104 chip by carving out two more SKUs: the GeForce GTX 670 Ti, and GTX 670. These two SKUs will let NVIDIA capture price points deep within the $400-499 and $300-399 ranges, to compete with AMD's Radeon HD 7950 and Radeon HD 7870. These two SKUs will be released in May. Around the May-June time-range, NVIDIA could also introduce the GTX 690, which we're hearing is a dual-GK104 graphics card that's designed to compete with Radeon HD 7990, which launches in April.

Also in May, NVIDIA will launch desktop discrete graphics card SKUs based on the GK107 chip, which makes up its GeForce GT 650M/640M mobile graphics SKUs. Following this, some time in Summer, NVIDIA will release a new chip, the GK106, which will make up the GeForce GTX 660, which will be out to compete with Radeon HD 7850, and HD 7700 series. It looks like NVIDIA is waiting on current inventories of GF114-based SKUs to get digested, including those of the recently-launched GeForce GTX 560 SE, and is hence in no hurry to launch a new GPU to capture the sub-$250 price-points. Besides the dual-GPU Radeon HD 7990, there's nothing new in the works, at the red camp that we know of.