MSI Teases New GTX 970 Graphics Card
MSI is teasing its new GTX 970 graphics card.
While we're not sure about any specific launch dates, we are expecting the GTX 980 and GTX 970 to launch very soon. The latest clue is that MSI is teasing the design of its GTX 970 on Facebook. Teases of this caliber usually only happen close to the launch.
The card is definitely recognizable as an MSI card, as it follows all the design cues of previous cards. Note, though, that this card is carrying the new TwinFrozr V cooler, which has a number of small improvements over the older design. We can't be sure about all the changes yet, but the cooler does have a large fin array, heat pipes, and two 100 mm fans. 
The GTX 970 is expected to carry 1664 CUDA cores, along with 4 GB of memory accessible over a 256-bit memory interface. (We're speculating a bit here though, so take these specs with a grain of salt.) What is almost certain is that the GTX 970 will be based on the new Maxwell architecture, which will allow it to provide more performance per watt. If you look carefully at this card, you can also see two six-pin PCI-Express power connectors, which is a little less than the 6-pin + 8-pin design on the GTX 770.
Stay tuned for the actual launch.
Follow Niels Broekhuijsen @NBroekhuijsen. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

They didn't want people to get confused since they released the 800M series for laptops along with the 700 series of desktop cards. So to keep consistency, they decided to skip 800 and go straight to 900 and 900M.
.... not
Pascal is NVIDIA’s latest GPU architecture and is being introduced in between Maxwell and Volta . In the process it has absorbed old Maxwell’s unified virtual memory support and old Volta’s on-package DRAM.
Pascal will have a 3D memory and NV-link which will greatly improve performance and consume less power .
i wounder what would they call the Pascal GPU's .....definitely not GTX 1080 and GTX 1070 ......
Kinda hoping but not holding my breath, sadly...
Kinda hoping but not holding my breath, sadly...
Word on the street is they've had trouble getting their 20 nm node into a state where it can be used in a product. The first Maxwell cards will apparently be 28 nm, like the 750/750 Ti. I wouldn't say they're holding back; for the competitive edge it would give them I'm sure they'd be releasing it if they had it.
Besides, everything eventually comes back to power efficiency. You could use that efficiency to release a cooler and quieter card than the last generation, but more efficiency also allows a greater performance ceiling at a similar power draw.
Word on the street is they've had trouble getting their 20 nm node into a state where it can be used in a product. The first Maxwell cards will apparently be 28 nm, like the 750/750 Ti. I wouldn't say they're holding back; for the competitive edge it would give them I'm sure they'd be releasing it if they had it.
Besides, everything eventually comes back to power efficiency. You could use that efficiency to release a cooler and quieter card than the last generation, but more efficiency also allows a greater performance ceiling at a similar power draw.
It's nice that they are targeting efficiency, since I prefer a lower power draw over better performance.
Captain Planet frowns upon thee
Kinda hoping but not holding my breath, sadly...
Thanks for the answer Niels, please keep us posted if you hear of ANY gfx card with HDMi 2.0 out ports!
There are indeed DP1.2+ ports for 4k@60 which is what I am after without the 4:2:0 solution. But the monitors so far are either too small (Samsung U28D590D / Asus PB287Q, both at 28) or too expensive (Dell 32UP14 at 32+IPS), so I am going for the HDMi TV's. And I don't need gaming, just desktop real estate to replace 2x27's at 1080p each.
Sadly with DP1.2 port, there is only the Panasonic TX-50AXW804(50 inch, comes in 65 too at the price of a car), which are twice as expensive for a 50 inch as a 55 inch Samsung UE55HU6900 with HDMi 2.0 port.
And those 1100 euros saved can easily pay for the very nice gfx card or even two good ones in SLI/Xfire with the HDMi 2.0 ports needed!
This looks like a solid card and the lower wattage, coupled with the 4GB of RAM, makes for a nice combination. It's all just a matter of at what price.
On the bad side, since 800M powered notebook's price still exensive, when 900M is released then it will be even more epensive! darn