NVIDIA 2006 Annual Report Download - page 40

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 40 of the 2006 NVIDIA annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 136

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • 119
  • 120
  • 121
  • 122
  • 123
  • 124
  • 125
  • 126
  • 127
  • 128
  • 129
  • 130
  • 131
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136

In July 2005, we introduced two new NVIDIA Quadro GPUs, the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 and the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450,
which are designed for the high−end and mainstream professional segments, respectively. Both products support our SLI technology.
In September 2005, we launched and shipped the new NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX, the flagship of the NVIDIA notebook
GPU product line.
In October 2005, we announced that we will be the exclusive provider of all graphics cards offered on the first peripheral
component interconnect, or PCI, express platform from Apple Computer, Inc., or Apple. In addition, the first ever Apple Power Mac
will incorporate our NVIDIA Quadro professional−class GPU.
In November 2005, we introduced and shipped the NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX 512 GPU, which contains over 302 million
transistors and is the industry's only mainstream GPU to incorporate 64−bit HDR. We also announced the immediate availability of
the NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GS GPU, which is designed for the mainstream segment.
In January 2006, we shipped the GeForce 7300 GS, our first mainstream version of the GeForce 7 series. We also introduced
three new notebook GPUs − the GeForce Go 7800, GeForce Go 7600 and GeForce Go 7400 − all based on our second generation
Shader Model 3.0 architecture and designed to deliver cutting−edge 3D, high−definition, or HD, home theatre−quality video and
advanced power management to the notebook market.
The combination of our GeForce 7 and GeForce 6 series of GPUs and our SLI technology has created a new class of gaming PCs
and professional workstations. SLI technology takes advantage of the increased bandwidth of the PCI Express bus architecture to
allow two NVIDIA−based graphics cards to operate in a single PC or professional workstation. More than 3 million motherboards
incorporating SLI technology and 9 million GPUs incorporating SLI technology have shipped to date.
In the upcoming fiscal year, we expect additional growth in our GPU Business. We believe that sales of our desktop GPU
products will be increased by share gains from our anticipated position in the market, Microsoft Windows Vista, or Vista, the
introduction of HD and Blu−ray video. We expect to extend our technology and performance leadership. The GeForce 7 and GeForce
6 series of desktop and notebook GPUs are designed to be compatible with Vista, which is scheduled to be released in the second half
of calendar 2006. We believe that in the upcoming year there will be increased demand for HD video, and that Sony PlayStation3 will
be a key driver of demand for HD and Blu−ray video. We expect HD and Blu−ray video to promote increased demand for the video
processing capabilities of our next generation GPUs.
MCP Business
In April 2005, we announced the availability of our NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Corporation, or Intel, Edition MCP for Intel
platforms. This line of core−logic solutions incorporates a host of new and innovative features that have never before been available
on the Intel platform and extends the NVIDIA nForce brand into new segments. In addition, during the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we
shipped the NVIDIA nForce Professional MCP in its first enterprise server platform.
In August 2005, we announced that the NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 Intel Edition technology featured in the Dell Dimension XPS
600 desktop PC was immediately available.
In September 2005, we introduced and shipped the NVIDIA nForce 400 MCP and GeForce 6100 integrated GPU family. This
represents the first integrated GPU solution to support DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 3.0 technology. We expect this integrated solution to
be an important new growth factor for our GPU and MCP businesses.
In December 2005, we announced our intent to acquire ULi Electronics, Inc., or ULi, one of the PC industry's most highly
regarded core logic developers. On February 20, 2006, we completed the acquisition of ULi. The acquisition represents our ongoing
investment in ULi's platform solution strategy and is expected to strengthen our sales, marketing, and customer engineering presence
in Taiwan and China.
34