Kepler Nvidia GeForce GTX 780

[kgk]

A few months behind a competitor isn't late. 6+ months is late. We've discussed that fact earlier.

GK104 is only being looked at as high end because NVidia found themselves in a unique position where their midrange gpu was strong enough to beat their oppositions high-end. As such, they can sit and reap major profits and force AMD to show their next card, which will have to deal with the GK110.

That's my reasoning as well. Until we see actual GK104 benchmarks though it's hard to be certain.

The problem this presents for some people is that if GK104 is only a smidgen ahead of the 7970 that we wind up with two overpriced and unimpressive cards because AMD doesn't have anything ready to regain the top spot (dual GPU monstrosities are irrelevant in this case). So Nvidia rides out GK104 until AMD can release an 8000-series card at which point they finally dump the flagship GK110/112/100/whatever it's called.

While competing with Tahiti using a smaller chip sounds like a great improvement for Nvidia, the same can't be said about GK110 launch schedule, so I guess it balances out. Most 580 owners probably won't "upgrade" for Tahiti level performance even if GK104 were a lot more efficient. It's not surprising though that Nvidia will follow AMD in slapping their performance GPU with an enthusiast price tag.

And that's what I don't understand. The GTX580 has been out since November of 2010. Plenty of 580 owners are ready to upgrade (myself included) but I'm not going to do it for a little gnat-fart GK104 when everyone knows the big leap will be the GK100/110. GK104 is seeming more and more like a stop-gap card to keep Nvidia from hemorrhaging any more customers to AMD.