According to our well informed sources, Nvidia's next generation 40nm chip has been taped out and is getting ready for its launch.

There will be at least two new 40nm SKUs and Nvidia is aiming for a launch in early Q2 2009. Some sources indicate that Nvidia might even make it to March, which is the last month of Q1 but this will be a tough thing to achieve.

ATI has also taped out its RV740 40nm mainstream chip and it looks that Nvidia plans to launch entry level and mainstream products first before it goes to 40nm with high-end. Currently it looks like it won't be until at least summer time, roughly early Q3, before we see new high-end cards, at least from ATI.