We found out that ATI's next generation 40nm performance card, the one that will replace RV770 / RV790 55nm cards, is going to have an RV8x0 codename. We still don’t know the last number but RV870 or 880 sound like some reasonable options.

This chip should be coming after Q2 2009, so it should launch a bit later, we suspect Q3 2009. Just bear in mind that Radeon HD 4870 and HD 4850 were launched in late Q2 and since RV740 looks quite ready to us, ATI might have its performance 40nm part sooner than many have expected.

Nvidia should have its performance part in Q3 2009 as well but we don’t know enough about RV8x0 or GT216 to have an idea who will win this round of the performance war.