Computex 2006 Nvidia has launched its anticipated "world's fastest" desktop graphics card, the double-slot, dual-GPU GeForce 7950 GX2 which sandwiches two graphics cards together.

Each 7950 GPU has 48 pixel shaders and 16 vertex shaders and connects to 512MB of GDDR 3 for a total of 1GB of graphics memory. The board's memory bandwidth is a whopping 78.8GBps - it has a 512-bit bus clocked to 630MHz (1.26GHz effective).

Nvidia said the 7950 GX2 can pump out 2bn vertices per second and fill 24bn pixels in the same timeframe. That's on its own - two of the twin-GPU boards can be connected together in SLI mode for even greater rendering horsepower, the company claimed. The 7950 GX2 uses SLI to link each of its own two GPUs.

The board supports the HDCP anti-piracy system, and its PureVideo engine is ready for HD playback, Nvidia said. The 7950 GX2's dual-link DVI connectors support flat-panel resolutions of up to 2,560 x 1,600.

Nvidia said the 7950 GX2 is shipping now through its usual array of board partners, including Club 3D, Gainward and Leadteak. In the UK, the board is priced around £412 inc VAT. ®