The days are numbered for most of the Nvidias DX9 compliant hardware, and the first ones to retire are in the price range from $160 to $230. If the rumors are true, shipments will stop just 5 weeks after CeBit, probably on April 28th.

Times of Windows XP and DirectX9 have passed, and it is a time to introduce DirectX10 games for Windows Vista. The new king of the mainstream hill will probably be Nvidias G84 chip, which has tough task to replace a very popular mid range class of products.

Will 8600 cards, based on G84 chip, emerge before the final breath of these series 7 cards will be definitely known on Cebit.