Nvidia confirms the GTX 580

[Sam_oslo]

it has to be a new number from 58xx because its not xfire compatible. whether or not they reserved the x870 value is a whole other argument, but it really needs to be a 6xxx class part, just because it really is a new chip.

As a rule of thumb, the top single-GPU of a new generation beats the double-GPU of last generation in performance/power. But usually it needs a shrink to do so. So when you hear 6870, it creates expectations, and you expect it to beat the performance of 5870 at least, but it doesn't, so how can it be a new generation?

I'm sure 6870 is some kind of improvements, evolution of 5870, but it's a "fake" new generation, becouse it doesn't beat it's performance. It should keep the first digit, just like GTX 460 did.

Wee need to have some rules and definitions what a new generation means. Otherwise these guys are going to marked any re-fresh, re-brand, etc .. as a new generation.