Nvidia has announced extension of its GeForce 8 Series with three new DirectX 10 graphics processing units (GPUs), including GeForce 8600 GTS, 8600 GT, and 8500 GT.

The three new GPUs promise high-resolution gaming, stunning Microsoft Windows Vista DirectX 10 graphics, and stellar HD DVD and Blu-ray video playback at lower price points.

Jeff Fisher, Senior Vice President of the GPU Business Unit at Nvidia, believes, "With Windows Vista being the first operating system to require a GPU to fully realize its graphics potential, and with the growing list of popular software applications that take advantage of a dedicated graphics processor, GPUs are no longer a luxury required only by hardcore gamers."

"These new GPUs extend the reach of our award-winning GeForce 8 Series, and offer cutting-edge, next-generation features to everyone from the hardcore gamer to the casual PC user," Fisher said.

All three new cards feature PureVideo HD technology, which leverages the second-generation video-processing engine in the GeForce 8500 and GeForce 8600 GPUs to deliver the highest-quality playback of HD DVD and Blu-ray movies on everyday PCs.

The new programmable video processing engine takes on all of the high definition H.264 HD video decoding, freeing the CPU to perform other tasks, resulting in reduced power consumption, heat, and noise.

The GeForce 8600 GTS- and GeForce 8600 GT- based graphics cards are mainly targeted at hardcore gamers looking for exceptional performance at lower price points.

According to Nvidia, the GeForce 8600 GPUs are ideal graphics solutions for the latest Nvidia nForce 650i SLI-based motherboards, which are designed to deliver maximum performance to gamers.

Meanwhile, GeForce 8500 GT cards are built for Windows Vista, and designed for both casual gamers and non-gamers.

GeForce 8 Series GPUs are the only DirectX 10 GPUs currently available, and are the reference GPUs for DirectX 10 API development and certification.

The three new DirectX 10 GPUs - Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS, 8600 GT, and 8500 GT are available from Abacus Peripherals under the Sparkle brand, at prices of Rs 14,000; Rs 9,900; and Rs 7,620 respectively.