DX10 cards - when?

[times_champion]

Has anyone heard any concrete info on when we can expect the first DX10 cards? I had an interim upg on my rig this xmas (6600GT and 1gb RAM) but it probably isnt worth an expensive upgrade at this point if an expensive graphics card will be seriously superseded in a few months. Do you think they will arrive at the same time as vista (late 2006?) or earlier? I am excited by the 'console-esque' launch of vista where compatible games will be released at the same time as the os, like Far Cry 2 etc, so I may buy an entirely new PC at that time.

 

[times_champion]

So if I hang on towards the end of the year, I would likely be able to get a system with an AMD dual core 3ghz processor, 8800gtx (or whatever) 1st gen DX10 card, and Vista? Sounds good to me!! I know what you mean about dual 7800GTX's being of similar performance, but when games do start utilising DX10 (and if rumours of the console style launch are true, that could be as early as this year) I dont want to have to upgrade again....

 

[times_champion]

I see DX10 and vista as a real way for PC gaming to overtake consoles as within a year the PC world will have superior technology to the 360 and PS3, both of which will have a minimum of 4 years shelf life left.