ZOTAC announced its GeForce GTX 660 lineup, which looks quite similar to that of ASUS. It consists of a pair of identical graphics card models that use the Dual Silencer cooling solution, which debuted with the GeForce GTX 660 Ti series. The two consist of a base-model sticking to NVIDIA-reference clock speeds of 980/1033/6008 MHz (core/Boost/memory), and a factory-overclocked OC variant, clocked at 993/1059/6008 MHz. The OC version is priced at US $239, while the base model goes for $229. Based on the 28 nm GK106 silicon, the GPU packs 960 CUDA cores and a 192-bit wide memory interface, holding 2 GB of memory.

ASUS kicked off its GeForce GTX 660 lineup with a pair of DirectCU II series graphics cards. ASUS' cards combine a non-reference design PCB with its iconic DirectCU II dual-slot cooling solution, which has featured on numerous performance-segment graphics card models. Among the two cards launched are a base model, which sticks to NVIDIA-reference speeds of 980/1033/6008 MHz (core/Boost/memory), and a factory-overclocked TOP variant with 1072/1137/6108 MHz clock speeds. The TOP variant is priced at US $259, while the base model is an estimated $20 cheaper. Based on the 28 nm GK106 silicon, the GPU packs 960 CUDA cores and a 192-bit wide memory interface, holding 2 GB of memory.

NVIDIA announced its newest performance-segment graphics card, the GeForce GTX 660. Based on the brand new GK106 silicon, the GPU packs 960 CUDA cores, 80 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. It features a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 2 GB of memory. The 2-way SLI-capable card needs power from just the one 6-pin PCIe power connector. The card ships with reference clock speeds of 980 MHz core, 1033 MHz GPU Boost, and 6.00 GHz memory (GDDR5-effective). The card features a PCI-Express 3.0 interface, and supports the latest consumer graphics APIs, including DirectX 11.1. Available from various add-in card (AIC) partners, in custom-design and factory-overclocked models, the GeForce GTX 660 starts at US $229.

Inno3D's flagship GeForce GTX 660 graphics card, the iChill HerculeZ2000XE smiled for the camera. Videocardz.com scored pictures of the card and its cooler dissembled. To begin with, the card takes advantage of the iChill HerculeZ cooling solution. Its shroud and fans can be easily detached without needing any tools, letting you clean the heatsink underneath. The heatsink uses a pair of aluminum fin stacks, to which heat from the GPU is conveyed by a pair of 8 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heat-pipes.

According to the source, the GTX 660 iChill HerculeZ2000XE from Inno3D is a factory-overclocked graphics card, with a GPU Boost clock speed of 1058 MHz and memory clock speed of 6008 MHz (GDDR5-effective). The card packs 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 192-bit wide interface. Based on the 28 nm GK106 silicon, the GeForce GTX 660 is reported to pack 960 CUDA cores. In Mainland China, the card is expected to be priced at 1,699 RMB (US $268).

A little later this month, NVIDIA plans to launch the GeForce GTX 660, its first desktop GPU based on the 28 nm GK106 silicon. The GTX 660 carries NVIDIA's ASIC codename GK106-400. An internal document detailing other SKUs based on the GK106 in the works, was leaked to the web. According to a 3DCenter.org report, the two ASIC codenames GK106-250 and GK106-200 described in the document could be new SKUs.

The GK106-250, carrying a working title GeForce GTX 655, could have one of the five SMX units of the GK106 disabled, resulting in a CUDA core count of 768. According to the document, it features a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 2 GB of memory, much like the GTX 660. The GK106-200, on the other hand, with a working title GeForce GTX 650 Ti, could feature just three of the five SMX units on the GK106 silicon, making up 576 CUDA cores. According to the document, it features 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface, much like the GK107-based GTX 650. The two SKUs could help NVIDIA seal gaps in its mainstream desktop GPU lineup.

According to a new 3DCenter.org report, NVIDIA is planning a joint launch of two its key mid-range GPUs, the GeForce GTX 660 and GeForce GTX 650, on September 12, 2012. The two GPUs will let NVIDIA capture key sub-$300 and sub-$200 price-points, with performance levels that could destabilize AMD's Radeon HD 7800 and HD 7700 series. Based on the GK106 silicon, the GTX 660 is said to pack 960 CUDA cores and 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface; while the GK107-based GeForce GTX 650 is said to pack 384 CUDA cores and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface.

Here are some of the first pictures of NVIDIA's upcoming GK106 silicon, which goes into building the GeForce GTX 660 graphics card. The GK106, built on the 28 nm silicon fab process, is poised to be NVIDIA's newest mainstream-performance chip that succeeds the GF116. The pictures reveal the chip package to be almost as big as the GF116 but smaller than the GK104. This can be attributed to fewer memory I/O pins (192-bit maximum bus width).

The rectangular die of the GK106 appears to have roughly the same area as that of the GF116, but with the higher transistor density of the 28 nm process, one can expect a significantly higher transistor count for the chip. If some of the pictures we're seeing are any indication the GK106 will be extremely energy-efficient, as an unknown graphics card based on it draws power from just one 6-pin power connector.

A little earlier this week, specifications of NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 650 graphics processor were reported. An even newer report by DonanimHaber details its sibling, the GeForce GTX 650 Ti, designed for the sub-$250 market. The new GPU is based on the NVIDIA's newest GK106 silicon, while the GTX 650 sticks to the GK107, and is essentially a beefed-up GeForce GT 640. These are the specifications of the GeForce GTX 650 Ti we're looking at:

• 28 nm GK106 silicon
• 960 CUDA cores
• 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface
• 1 GB and 2 GB memory options
• Q4-2012 launch

Following the launch of a couple of more GK104-based SKUs, namely GeForce GTX 670 Ti, and GeForce GTX 670, some time in May; NVIDIA will launch its third (after GK104 and GK107) Kepler architecture-based silicon, codenamed GK106. GK106 will make up sub-$200 SKUs, and succeeds the GF116, on which SKUs such as the GeForce GTX 550 Ti, are based. The GK106 will make up at least one known desktop SKU, called GeForce GTX 660.Its specifications are listed below.

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680 literally kicked the door open as it made its entry. We're learning of NVIDIA's plans to milk the GK104 chip by carving out two more SKUs: the GeForce GTX 670 Ti, and GTX 670. These two SKUs will let NVIDIA capture price points deep within the $400-499 and $300-399 ranges, to compete with AMD's Radeon HD 7950 and Radeon HD 7870. These two SKUs will be released in May. Around the May-June time-range, NVIDIA could also introduce the GTX 690, which we're hearing is a dual-GK104 graphics card that's designed to compete with Radeon HD 7990, which launches in April.

Also in May, NVIDIA will launch desktop discrete graphics card SKUs based on the GK107 chip, which makes up its GeForce GT 650M/640M mobile graphics SKUs. Following this, some time in Summer, NVIDIA will release a new chip, the GK106, which will make up the GeForce GTX 660, which will be out to compete with Radeon HD 7850, and HD 7700 series. It looks like NVIDIA is waiting on current inventories of GF114-based SKUs to get digested, including those of the recently-launched GeForce GTX 560 SE, and is hence in no hurry to launch a new GPU to capture the sub-$250 price-points. Besides the dual-GPU Radeon HD 7990, there's nothing new in the works, at the red camp that we know of.

AMD's Radeon HD 7800 series performance GPUs that target cost-benefit sweet-spots will be launched in the first half of March. The launch will include Radeon HD 7870 and Radeon HD 7850. The two SKUs are based on a new 28 nm ASIC codenamed "Pitcairn". Little is known about its specifications at this point, from reliable sources at least.

In April, AMD's rival NVIDIA will get its GeForce Kepler family of GPUs, all guns blazing. In April alone, NVIDIA is expected to launch a high-end part, the GeForce GTX 690, a performance part, the GeForce GTX 660, and mainstream part GeForce GTX 640. The three will be based on three new ASICs built on the 28 nm process, the GK110, GK104, and GK106, respectively.

April will be the most interesting month for PC enthusiasts as Intel will launch its third-generation Core processor family, codename "Ivy Bridge". Little is known about AMD's high-end Radeon HD 7990 "New Zealand".

2012-13 promises to be a period of big graphics product launches, centric to a new DirectX version, DirectX 11.1, which will ship with Microsoft's next major Windows version (currently referred to as Windows 8). Information compiled by ExpertsPC.com and 4Gamer.net tables what NVIDIA's next-generation graphics family could look like, and around what time it could be released to market. With its next-generation GeForce Kepler family of GPUs, NVIDIA will follow a sensible bottom-up product release model, to ensure that it isn't met with any technical hurdles with TSMC's new 28 nm manufacturing process, and so it could launch GPUs with increasingly higher transistor counts, till its top-of-the-line GPU is outed.

The first GPU in NVIDIA's pipeline is the GeForce Kepler 107 (GK107), on which will be based entry thru lower-mainstream SKUs. The data doesn't reveal things like core counts, but points out that GK107 will have a 128-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, will use the current-generation PCI-Express 2.0 bus, will be built on the 28 nm process, and will support DirectX 11.1. This will be followed by the GK106, on which "sweet-spot" SKUs could be based. This will be NVIDIA's first PCI-Express 3.0 compliant GPU, it will have a 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface.