Nvidia's code names explained

NV30 This is the GeForceFX 5800 Ultra. Nvidia released it in early 2003 but it never really became available in quantity. Thermal problems, an unacceptably loud cooling solution, and mediocre performance all combined to make this the Edsel of video cards.

NV31 This is the GeForceFX 5600 / 5600 Ultra series. Nvidia's "mainstream" products are typically code-named one-digit higher than the high-end release. Thus, the current 5600 / 5600 Ultra are still based on 5800 technology, not the 5900. This card series has achieved much better market penetration than its high-end cousin, thanks mainly to better thermal characteristics and a smaller package.

NV31M GeForceFX Go 5600 is a high-end mobile gaming / video part. This solution is typically found in high-end "desktop replacement" notebooks where weight and/or battery life are less of a problem.

NV34 Nvidia's budget part code-name is typically the last high-end part's code-name + four. This is a touch confusing because the lowest-end part actually has the highest-end codename (before you reach the next refresh). NV34 corresponds to the GeForce 5200 and 5200 Ultra, the lowest (and slowest) cards in the Nvidia line-up.

NV35 This is the GeForceFX 5900 Ultra, current king of Nvidia performance and one of the more expensive pieces of graphics silicon money can buy.

NV36 This will be the mainstream 5900 part (name yet to be revealed, but its likely to be in the 5700 series). Performance should be higher than the 5600 series and could possibly be as high as the original 5800 (non-Ultra), unless Nvidia pulls an ATI and makes its second-generation mid-range product slower than the first. (Radeon 9500 was a little TOO good).

NV38 Every now and then Nvidia breaks its normal pattern by releasing a refresh of their previous core simply running at a higher clock. The AGP 8X refresh for the GeForce4 Ti 4200 line was the NV28, and NV38 will be a higher-clocked GeForceFX 5900 (in this case, as we've revealed, called the 5950 Ultra. There will be few-to-no architectural enhancements in this product line.

NV40 Not much is known about NV40 yet, other than it won't be showing up this year (rumors now are for an unveiling at CeBIT). Performance is likely to be excellent, but ATI's R420 will be pitched against it.

Nothing has yet been said about an NV39 (budget part) or NV36M/39M. Its likely Nvidia won't refresh these product lines as quickly since the 5200 / 5200 Ultra simply won't age as quickly as the higher-end products. The next refresh in the budget video and mobile markets will probably come in the form of NV44 and NV41M / 44M.

Just to recap.

High-end parts end in zero or five (NV30, NV35). Mid-range parts are ones or sixes (NV31, NV36) Mobile parts (at this time) are simply the corresponding desktop number with an "M" attached (NV31M, NV34M). Low-end budget parts have a four or nine attached (NV34, NV39 (hypothetically).

Finally: Occasional refreshes now carry an eight (or hypothetically a three). (NV38). µ