14 DAY TRIAL // Late last week, NVIDIA used Twitter to inform the masses that it would be making a “major announcement” on Monday. This, naturally, caused expectations to swell and end-users started hoping that the GPU maker would, if not actually launch the product, at least show off some benchmarks. The time eventually came and, predictably, NVIDIA again kept a lid on the cards' actual performance numbers. Still, graphics enthusiasts and mainstream users alike will most likely be pleased to hear that the Fermi-based GTX 480 and GTX 470 have now, finally, been given an official launch date.
Once again via Twitter, the Santa Clara, California-based GPU maker has disclosed that its next-generation graphics adapters will make their first appearance at PAX 2010, specifically on March 26th. This means that consumers still have a month's time for their expectations to swell in anticipation of NVIDIA's very first cards with support for DirectX 11. Still, it seems that the graphics solutions developer was not content with just this much hype, as it has already planned a few more surprises for end-users to look forward to.
People who visit NVIDIA's booth during PAX 2010 and attend the GeForce LAN will be able to play games, even some unreleased titles, in 3D, as well as participate in “the world’s first 3D tournament featuring Battlefield Bad Company 2.” What is at least as interesting, however, is NVIDIA's intention to let visitors test-drive and even be among the first to acquire one of the next-generation GF100-based graphics adapters.
“Test drive our highly-anticipated, next-generation GPU…you may even be able to buy one before anyone else,” the company's website states. Unless any unforeseen developments come to pass, end-users will finally see the debut of NVIDIA's first Fermi-based graphics cards about one month from now. Those interested in the company's other plans for PAX East only need to consult the special section of the GPU maker's official website.