Conclusions
We knew NVIDIA was holding something back when they launched the GeForce 7800 GTX with only a single-slot cooler and 256MB of memory back in July. No doubt the green team was waiting to see what ATI would do with its new high-end card before finalizing a response. Little did we know that NVIDIA's response would be this forceful. The GeForce 7800 GTX 512 is easily the fastest graphics card on the planet. Even so, its cooler doesn't sound like a hair dryer, and the card has a little bit of overclocking headroom left.

There is, of course, the small matter of the $649 suggested retail price. I don't recommend that any sane, value-oriented individual of average means fork over this amount of money for a graphics card. Value-wise, you're far better off going with a mid-range card like the recently launched GeForce 6800 GS for just over $200 or perhaps the GeForce 7800 GT for somewhere north of $300. These things should probably go without saying, but video cards in this price range are rarely a steal.

That said, the price and performance proposition of the GeForce 7800 GTX 512 will likely be more attractive than you might think. Recent history says we should expect several things. First, GTX 512 cards should be available today at various online retailers, and probably in decent supply. NVIDIA has made a habit lately of announcing products when they are actually ready for purchase, and the GTX 512 is supposedly on that same track. Second, card makers will be offering "overclocked" versions of these cards with full warranties. For instance, BFG Tech's GeForce 7800 GTX OC 512MB will ship with a 580MHz core clock and 1.75GHz memory, so it will be even faster than the cards we've tested for this review. I'd expect other board makers to choose similar speeds. Third, manufacturers and resellers may very well discount deeply off the GeForce 7800 GTX 512's suggested $649 price. When NVIDIA launched the GeForce 6800 GS a week ago, list price was $249, but cards were immediately available online for $209. The 7800 GTX 512 could follow a similar pattern.

I'm not sure that one company's ability to lash together a massive cooler, a high-end GPU, and a bundle of fast RAM better than the other is the ultimate proof of supremacy in the graphics market. The more important indicators, in my view, are cards that sell in higher quantities at more reasonable price points—and the overall technology picture. Still, the GeForce 7800 GTX 512 is a total monster, and it's a load of fun to see the thing in action. Those select few folks who can spare the cash to purchase one will be very lucky indeed.