14 DAY TRIAL // The development of the Fermi architecture, along with its actual implementation into GPUs, was definitely a steep and narrow path for NVIDIA, which was repeatedly placed in a position where it had to delay the official launch date by months at a time. Now, after quite a long period of waiting, the Santa Clara-based GPU maker is gearing up to make the formal announcement on March 26, at PAX 2010. The retail availability of the cards was supposedly scheduled for March 29, but more recent rumors suggest that, once again, the actual availability will be delayed.
The many photo leaks and rumors about product prices undoubtedly raised the hype and anticipations surrounding the GeForce GTX 470 and 480, but hopeful consumers may have to wait an extra week after the formal announcement before they get their products.
Shane Baxtor's site reports that the cards' introduction date is still April 26, but retail availability won't occur until April 6. This may be owed to the possibility of NVIDIA not allowing its partners to send out samples in order to ensure that no specs get leaked. It is also possible that NVIDIA hasn't yet finalized the drivers.
This new development may turn out to be especially heartbreaking for those consumers whose hopes were raised when they heard that the two cards were going to be cheaper than originally expected. The folks over at Tom's Hardware tried to get in touch with NVIDIA to find out whether or not this rumor was genuine, but the graphics-solution developer did not offer any real clarifications, saying only that everything would become clear at the company's stage show next Friday, which will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Given all that has happened, as well as the persistent lack of real info on the cards' performance numbers, a possible delay in availability does not sound all that surprising.