NVIDIA launched the first GPUs based on its next-generation Kepler graphics architecture, which aims to deliver "dramatic gaming performance and exceptional levels of power efficiency."
The first desktop graphics card based on Kepler is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 while the GeForce 600M will be the first such graphics chipset for laptops.
"The Kepler architecture stands as NVIDIA's greatest technical achievement to date," said Brian Kelleher, senior vice president of GPU engineering at NVIDIA. "It brings enormous performance and exceptional efficiency. Gamers will love the GTX 680's performance, as well as the fact that it doesn't require loud fans or exotic power supplies. Ultrabook users will love the GT 600M family for its performance and power efficiency."
Kepler is based on 28-nanometer (nm) process technology and succeeds the 40-nm NVIDIA Fermi architecture, which was first introduced into the market in March 2010.
NVIDIA's numbers and early reviewers' benchmarks reveal that the GeForce GTX 680 can claim the graphics cards performance crown with a breathe. The card outperforms AMD's flagship, the Radeon 7970 by 10% to 50% in all benchmarked modern games (except in Deus Ex: Human Revolution where it lagged slightly behind AMD's card). NVIDIA didn't benchmark the GTX 680 against its predecessor, the GTX 580 yet, but the company did showcase a demo of Samaritan game running smoothly on it. When the game was demoed last year, it was playable only on a rig comprising 3 GeForce GTX 580 cards on SLI.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 GPU is available now from the world's leading add-in card suppliers, including ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Innovision 3D, MSI, Palit, Point of View, PNY, and Zotac. Expected pricing is $499. Compared to NVIDIA's previous flagship, the GeForce GTX 580