Despite all the recent articles that claim that NVIDIA is due to launch its latest GeForce cards today, the Santa Clara chip manufacturer might actually have a little surprise in store for everybody. The company could actually release some notebook chips today, pushing the desktop GeForce range back for a later release. Even so, this week should definitely be one in which NVIDIA is the main media attraction.

Some of you might already be familiar with NVIDIA's upcoming G92-based graphics cards, given the many words that have been written on the topic for quite some time now. Well, according to recent rumors, this week you will probably also get to purchase one of the company's latest cards. Even if some GeForce 9800GT-based cards are already available at certain European online retailers, the green company could delay the launch of its GeForce 9800GTX+, 9800GT and 9500GT cards in order to put out the new notebook-ready graphics chips, namely the GeForce 9800M and 9700M.

The upcoming notebook chips are still shrouded in uncertainty, so there’s no saying yet on what their performance levels will be. However, considering their names, they shouldn't be better than NVIDIA's current enthusiast lineup, based on the G92 and G94 chips.

NVIDIA has seen its share of issues with some of its notebook chips, so some users might have second thoughts before acquiring a notebook with NVIDIA-based graphics. This could also mean that the company's latest products run the risk of having a tough time on the market.

Despite not being targeted at the high-end, enthusiast market niche, the desktop cards have already gotten people singing their praise. As a matter of fact, the 55nm 9800GTX+ can already be purchased from several of NVIDIA's channel partners, some of which even offer it factory-overclocked. Also, according to rumors, the upcoming GeForce 9800GT could become NVIDIA's second 55nm card, but that is yet to be officially confirmed.