Taiwan site DigiTimes referring to traditional own sources has informed, that in current quarter nVidia will start to receive from TSMC the first 0.08 microns chips, among which there will be new audits G73 (GeForce 7600) and G72 (GeForce 7500/7300). Serial chips of this class will appear in the end of the third quarter, that is approximately in September. Updating G73 which will be released on new 0.08 microns , becomes the base for creation of videocards with HDMI interface support.
Now up to 90 % of all chips nVidia are from TSMC, the remained 10 % are made by companies UMC and Chartered Semiconductor. Apparently, with IBM the company nVidia has refused the cooperation. Recently ibm has stopped the release of HSI bridge used in agp video card . so such card from nvidia can appear in deficiency
Certainly, main motive of translation of chips G73 and G72 on 0.08 micron technology is aspiration to lower the cost price that will allow to establish more attractive price for their products. To translate senior chip G71 on 0.08 micron nVidia does not gather, as the economy at rather small volumes of manufacture and high complexity chip is not achieved. The fulfilled 0.09 microns in this sense leaves much less than risks. For nVidia it will be more favourable to begin manufacture of 0.08 micron technology from the following chip " G80 " which has chances to appear by the end of year.
It is possible to assume, that transition of popular nVidia videochips on more progressive 0.08 microns will allow to improve the overclocking potential.