Nvidia 40nm GPU parts reach retail

GeForce G210 and GT220 launch.

While NVidia is still dragging its Fermi GPU to the launchpad, kicking and screaming we hear, it's fired off a couple of retail parts based on TSMC's 40nm process, the GeForce G210 and GT220.

Bound to send gamers reeling into total indifference - and possible mockery - the new 40nm parts are re-spun G92b-silicon-made-DX10.1-compliant. We won't get too much into this, as Nvidia has made no attempt to hide what it is. We understand Nvidia's need to play at the low-end of the graphics food chain with MacDonald's lite snack meals, although everyone really is asking it, "Where's the beef?"

Still, every launch has its buzz and there was some speculation as to what the G210 and GT220 were actually capable of, but the official specs show all:

The G210 comes clocked at 589MHz / 1402MHz, with 512MB of 500MHz DDR2 over a 64-bit memory interface. The G210 boasts 16 ‘CUDA-cores'. VGA, DVI and DisplayPort are included, although you can stick an adapter on the end bit and get HDMI too. Costs about $US50.

The GT220 has 48 ‘CUDA-cores' that come clocked at a manlier 625MHz / 1360MHz, with 512MB or 1GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit memory interface. VGA, DVI and HDMI included, with HD Audio and SPDIF too. Currently selling in $US80-range.

Both cards are DX10.1 compliant and support GPGPU by way of CUDA. PhysX is available on the GT220.

As you can imagine these are anything but high-end cards. These are low-profile launches as far as Nvidia is concerned, with no reference cards distributed to the press, but according to our contacts the AIB partners did make some noise - in particular Galaxy, Zotac and Palit. Review sites have upped their attempts at figuring out heads from tails with these cards, which you can see here at PC Games Hardware, Tweak Town, Tom's Hardware, Guru of 3D, Tech Power Up, PC Perspective and Overclockers Club.

Some merits of the GT220 do appear. The 40nm process does allow a rather low TDP and you can overclock it handsomely. Of course any attempts at passing these off as gaming cards will provoke gales of laughter. The G210 provides just enough power to get your Windows 7 visuals up and run some low-end 3D gaming, while the GT220 looks like it's on a par with an aging 9600 GT unless you heavily overclock it and get 9800 GT-like performance, but then again, why "upgrade"?

These cards will come into their own when the AIB partners start getting creative with these babies. Making a card with a TDP of 30.5W (G210) and 58W (GT220) under load should enable them to make either passively cooled or factory-overclocked SKUs that can be sold under some "elite" brand naming.

Certainly Nvidia didn't do this to steal the spotlight from AMD's Radeon HD 5770 launch, but you can't help but feel that there is nothing much on Nvidia's table for now, other than a really really cheap alternative to a companion PhysX card.