NVIDIA makes a response to the X800GTYes, you just have to love competition!
NVIDIA?has made a response to the availability of X800GT's. They are now?making available?an 6800XT to OEM's - this card is simply a 6800 with eight pipelines. Apparently?NVIDIA does not plan to make the 6800XT available in the retail market but instead it is encouraging OEM's to use the 6800XT instead of the X800GT by having a slightly lower price, allowing OEM's to have slightly better margins. Saving $5 each on large numbers of machines can add up.
The X800GT is expected to do well in retail channels, however?NVIDIA is likely to drop 6600GT prices or release retail 6800XT's.
For now,?NVIDIA is likely to try to keep a premium on the 6600GT by promoting its Shader Model 3.0; something that ATI will have problems discounting as ATI is likely to be promoting Shader Model 3.0 support once its much delayed R520 reaches the market.
