I don't think it matters if it is faster or not. By the time a faster product from ATi comes along (you have to put that, with current information, in the September/October timeframe), nVidia will have had two well polished, high end cards out for a good 3 to 4 months. You can get a GTX from MSI for around 479 and an eVGA retail card, pre-overclocked, for under 500. I am sure the GT's will be down under 350 by the time ATi has anything out. So unless ATi sells their cards for cheap, which would mean a major loss in money, I don't think it matters if it's faster or not. They need something out now and the preposed R530 and R515 just aren't going to cut it as nVidia has had comparable products to those out for awhile now, and a 6800GT, for about 250, will probably be as good as the R530 (mainly due to its 256-bit interface and higher memory bandwidth). The point being, ATi is going to lose money since they are so far behind, even if their card does in fact turn out superior. Anything they release nVidia can counter if they wish, as I doubt nVidia has just been sitting around waiting for ATi's answer. On top of that, nVidia has will have had 3 or 4 months to stock up on mid range 7 series cards if they so desire, and hard launch them in late September, in time for the holiday season.