Nvidia has announced the GeForce GTX 690, powered by dual Kepler architecture-based GeForce GPUs. The GTX 690 is powered by a total of 3,072 Nvidia CUDA cores. Designed for the gamer and ultra-high-resolution, multi-monitor Nvidia Surround configurations, the GTX 690 delivers close to double the frame rates of the closest single GPU product, the GTX 680. Plus, it is more power efficient and quieter when compared to systems equipped with two GTX 680 cards running in Nvidia SLI configuration, the vendor said. The GTX 690 graphics card is designed using GeForce GPUs based on NVIDIA's 28nm Kepler architecture, following the introduction late last month of the GTX 680. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 GPU will be available in limited quantities starting May 3, 2012, with wider availability by May 7, 2012 from Nvidia's add-in card partners, including Asustek Computer, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte Technology, Inno3D, Micro-Star International (MSI), Palit and Zotac. Expected pricing is US$999.

Nvidia has launched the first GPUs based on its next-generation Kepler graphics architecture. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 GPU is for desktop gaming, while the new lineup of GeForce 600M GPUs is meant for ultrabooks. Kepler is based on 28nm process technology and succeeds the 40-nm Nvidia Fermi architecture, which was first introduced into the market in March 2010. Compared with the closest competitive product, the GeForce GTX 680 GPU is more than 300% faster in DirectX 11 tessellation performance and up to 43% faster in cutting-edge games, yet consumes 28% less power, the vendor claimed. It also provides twice the performance per watt of the GeForce GTX 580, the flagship Fermi-based processor that it replaces.

Gigabyte Technology's AMD Radeon HD 7700 series graphics cards - GV-R777OC-1GD, GV-R777D5-1GD, and GV-R775OC-1GI are built with AMD's latest 28nm GPU and GDDR5 memory. These cards come with higher core clock, and GV-R777OC-1GD can be overclocked to 1100MHz. They are equipped with Gigabyte's latest in-house cooling solution and built with Gigabyte Ultra Durable 2 materials. Gigabyte Radeon HD 7700 series also provides a number of features including AMD APP Acceleration, Microsoft DirectX 11 supported, AMD HD3D, Crossfire, and PCI-Express 3.0. The Gigabyte Radeon HD 7700 series is equipped with 10cm large fan. Gigabyte said its Radeon HD 7700 series can operate with a noise level of 21.7-28dBA at full load. The Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series offers full support for Microsoft DirectX 11 for 3D gaming effects.