Two of the reviews used the 17x.xx NV driver generation not the 180.xx. The reviews (pcperspective and xbit) are valid but no longer relevant or current, since the 180 NV driver release does provide a noticable and substantial performance boost over the 17x drivers. Driverheaven used the latest 180.xx NV drivers.

@Alan

If I were NV I'd be scared shitless that Charlie is quiet... it just means they don't know what he's doing...

Looking at the reviews and Charlie's notable silence recently, I guess NV has a winner up its sleeve with the 260!