The first photos of what is claimed to be Nvidia Corp.’s next chip that belongs to the Fermi family has hit the Web, inspiring more questions than giving answers. The new code-named GF104 graphics processing unit (GPU) has rather unusual form and mysterious configuration of memory interface as well as the number of stream processors inside.

Alleged Nvidia GF104 GPU image published by Expreview web-site

The image is claimed to be revealed first on a Chinese hardware enthusiasts forum that is known for leaking confidential photos and data. It is unknown when and where the photo was made. All the markings on the graphics processor are blurred and the only information that can be obtained is that the chip is an engineering sample of the product marked as GF104-30x and the revision is A1.

The GF104 graphics chip is covered by aluminum heat-spreader, just like its more powerful brother; and has rectangular form, an unusual form for a GPU. By contrast, the GF100 is square. The graphics processor seems to be surrounded by either six or seven (one is not picture) memory chips, which may mean that the graphics card on which the chip is located has 192-bit or 224-bit memory interface.

The rumours floating around the GF104 graphics processors are rather weird. There are several assumptions by Fudzilla that there will be two graphics cards based on the GF104 chip: one with 192-bit memory bus and 336 stream processors, another with 256-bit memory bus and 384 stream processors. Based on the image, there should be the third version: with 224-bit memory bus and 360 stream processors (provided that every GPC [graphics processing cluster] inside the GF104 has 24 stream processors, not 32 as in case of GF100).

Nvidia does not comment on the unannounced products; however, the rumour has it that the launch date is the 12^th of July, hence, it will not take long for Nvidia to start talking about this.

Tags: Nvidia, Fermi, Geforce, GF104, 40nm