14 DAY TRIAL // Despite the fact that both AMD and NVIDIA are expected to upgrade their graphics cards to the next-generation 40nm manufacturing technology, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is reported to be seeing weaker demand for its 40nm node. Apparently, NVIDIA and AMD have decided to take some precautions with their next-generation graphics cards, mainly due to the weak global demand for PCs and hardware components, graphics cards included.
According to a recent news-article published on Digitimes, TSMC has secured fewer orders from the two graphics chip makers as compared with the orders placed for the other new generation cards released in the past. Apparently, these orders have been scaled down by 30-40%, for the 40nm segment, confirming that AMD and NVIDIA have decided to take precautionary steps in their adoption of the next-generation 40nm process technology. Both chip makers have seen weaker than expected demand for their latest graphics cards due to the effects of the slow global economy on PC sales and hardware components.
Digitimes also claims that, according to market sources, AMD is expected to launch its 40nm mid-range RV740 and high-end RV790 GPUs in April this year, while its archrival NVIDIA is said to planning its first 40nm GPU, codenamed GT212, for the second quarter of 2009, probably after the release of AMD's graphics cards. All of these new cards are expected to further push the envelope on graphics performance, enabling both companies to deliver higher performance cards, which will also provide better power consumption.
Unfortunately, the two chip makers are yet to officially confirm any of these new products. However, given the number of leaked details on the Internet, we should be expecting a series of new cards this year, some of which will be showcased at the CeBIT event in Hanover, Germany, this month.