NVIDIA Rolling Out 40nm GPUs in 2009

According to leaked documents seen by VR-Zone, NVIDIA is preparing to roll out their first 40nm graphics processors this spring, beginning with the high-end GT212. To launch 40nm so soon would be a rather impressive feat, given that few current GPUs from NVIDIA are even using 55nm, and neither of their GT200 series are, until the launch of the GTX 285/295 in early January.

The first 40nm chip will be, as mentioned, the GT212. Although the model code is all that’s known about the card, it’s going to be a high-end offering that will likely replace both the performance and high-end GT200 models available now, and also the upcoming launches in January. If the roadmap proves true, then both the GTX 295 and 285 will be short-lived, although at this point, it’s hard to judge whether the revision will be that much faster.

Past that, NVIDIA will be rolling out 40nm to the rest of their line-up in the fall, with the GT214, GT216, GT218 and also the integrated IGT209. By late next fall, all of NVIDIA’s current offerings should be built on the 40nm node. Also according to the roadmap, we’ll see the first major follow-up to the GT200 in the form of the GT300 in Q4 2009, but it’s too early to speculate what else aside from the 40nm node it would include.

This transition to 40nm will first take place with their high end GT212 GPU in Q2 follows by the mainstream GT214 and GT216 as well as value GT218 in Q3. GT212 will be replacing the 55nm GT200 so you can expect pretty short lifespan for the upcoming GTX295 and GTX285 cards.