320MB GeForce 8800 GTS Hits Shelves San Jose CA

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Originally published at Internet.com

Graphics giant nVidia continues riding the DirectX 10 train with the launch of its latest DX10-compliant card, the nVidia GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB.

As you no doubt noticed, the card sports 320MB of graphics memory. Suggested price tags, accordingly, range from $299 to $349 - making the purchase more palatable to a range of gamers beyond the hardest of the hard-core.

The move comes as nVidia strengthens its DirectX 10 product line - comprised entirely of GeForce 8800 models - while rivals like ATI have their DX10 lines still slated for later in the year.

DirectX 10, of course, is the new API that launches in tandem with Windows Vista. The technology is promised to deliver enhanced gaming and visual experiences, but comes with a steep requirement curve in terms of Vista- and DX10-compliant hardware, Vista itself, and of course, DX10 games.

nVidia and its partners, meanwhile, are banking that lowering the price tag hurdle on a DX10 card will expand the user base.

"Our goal is to drive PC gaming to new heights by leading the DirectX 10 revolution, making this exciting next-generation technology and the GeForce 8 Series performance available to an even wider gaming audience," said Ujesh Desai, general manager of desktop GPUs at nVidia, in a statement. "Delivering the 8800 GTS to lower price points is a big first step in that direction."