UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
 
FORM 10-Q
 
[x] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended October 24, 2004July 31, 2005
OR
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 

Commission file number: 0-23985

NVIDIA CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
94-3177549
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)
Identification No.)

2701 San Tomas Expressway
Santa Clara, California 95050
(408) 486-2000
(Address, including Zip Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices
and Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code)

----------------

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [X] No [_]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [_] No [X]

The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of November 5, 2004August 12, 2005 was 166,212,906168,692,071 shares.

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NVIDIA CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS

  
Page
 
PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
Item 1.
 
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 24, 2004July 31, 2005 and January 25, 200430, 2005
 
1
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and ninesix months ended October 24,July 31, 2005 and July 25, 2004 and October 26, 2003
 
2
 
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the ninesix months ended October 24,July 31, 2005 and July 25, 2004 and October 26, 2003
 
3
 
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
4
   
 
Item 2.
 
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
1215
   
 
Item 3.
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
2325
   
 
Item 4.
 
Controls and Procedures
 
3640
   
 
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
Item 1.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
3741
   
 
Item 2.
 
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
3741
   
 
Item 3.
 
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
3841
   
 
Item 4.
 
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
3841
   
 
Item 5.
 
Other Information
 
3842
   
 
Item 6.
 
Exhibits
 
3942
   
 
Signature
 
 
4043
 








PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
October 24,
 
January 25,
  
July 31,
 
January 30,
 
 
2004
 
2004
  
2005
 
2005
 
ASSETS
            
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents $156,687 $214,422  $242,170 $208,512 
Marketable securities  431,163  389,621   475,376  461,533 
Accounts receivable, net  307,409  196,631   355,393  296,279 
Inventories  297,551  234,238   300,955  315,518 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  15,080  14,539   24,756  19,819 
Deferred income taxes  3,261  3,261   3,265  3,265 
Total current assets  1,211,151  1,052,712   1,401,915  1,304,926 
       
Property and equipment, net  182,198  190,029   178,951  178,955 
Deposits and other assets  8,132  7,731   15,977  9,034 
Goodwill  108,107  108,909   108,107  108,107 
Intangible assets, net  30,068  39,963   23,268  27,514 
 $1,539,656 $1,399,344  $1,728,218 $1,628,536 
              
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
              
              
Current liabilities:              
Accounts payable $262,960 $185,342  $221,047 $238,223 
Accrued liabilities  150,833  144,755   204,451  182,077 
Current portion of capital lease obligations  1,360  4,015   -  856 
Total current liabilities  415,153  334,112   425,498  421,156 
       
Deferred income tax liabilities  8,609  8,609   20,754  20,754 
Capital lease obligations, less current portion  -  856 
Long-term liabilities  7,483  4,582   6,733  8,358 
       
Stockholders’ equity:              
Common stock  168  164   174  169 
Additional paid-in capital  613,326  583,481   691,914  636,618 
Deferred compensation  (2,290) (2,926)
Treasury stock  (24,644) -   (122,142) (24,644)
Deferred stock-based compensation  (3,442) (5,468)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net  (1,502) 850 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net  (4,218) (3,463)
Retained earnings  524,505  472,158   711,795  572,514 
Total stockholders' equity  1,108,411  1,051,185   1,275,233  1,178,268 
 $1,539,656 $1,399,344  $1,728,218 $1,628,536 
       
       

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.





1



NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
  
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                      
Revenue $515,591 $486,069 $1,443,557 $1,350,826  $574,812 $456,061 $1,158,658 $927,966 
Cost of revenue  348,849  351,938  987,886  960,153   357,278  315,968  730,971  639,037 
Gross profit  166,742  134,131  455,671  390,673   217,534  140,093  427,687  288,929 
Operating expenses:                          
Research and development  87,880  73,052  251,050  197,982   85,814  85,420  171,727  163,170 
Sales, general and administrative  50,104  42,218  148,184  122,850   51,683  50,874  99,741  98,080 
In-process research and development  -  3,500  -  3,500 
Total operating expenses  137,984  118,770  399,234  324,332   137,497  136,294  271,468  261,250 
Operating income  28,758  15,361  56,437  66,341   80,037  3,799  156,219  27,679 
Interest income  2,633  4,626  8,172  15,958   4,867  2,688  8,762  5,539 
Interest expense  (25) (3,794) (147) (11,915)  (2) (46) (12) (122)
Other income, net  983  2,428  973  3,108 
Convertible debenture redemption expense  -  (13,068) -  (13,068)
Other income (expense), net  354  (42) 842  (10)
Income before income tax expense  32,349  5,553  65,435  60,424   85,256  6,399  165,811  33,086 
Income tax expense (benefit)  6,470  (803) 13,088  10,171 
Income tax expense  10,419  1,280  26,530  6,618 
Net income $25,879 $6,356 $52,347 $50,253  $74,837 $5,119 $139,281 $26,468 
Basic net income per share $0.16 $0.04 $0.32 $0.31  $0.44 $0.03 $0.83 $0.16 
Diluted net income per share $0.15 $0.04 $0.30 $0.29  $0.41 $0.03 $0.77 $0.15 
Shares used in basic per share computation  166,122  161,582  165,848  160,093   168,943  166,252  168,795  165,711 
Shares used in diluted per share computation  172,869  173,149  176,293  171,453   180,790  177,419  180,612  177,999 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.




2



NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
 
Nine Months Ended
  
Six Months Ended
 
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
 
2004
 
2003
  
2005
 
2004
 
Cash flows from operating activities:              
Net income $52,347 $50,253  $139,281 $26,468 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:              
In-process research and development  -  3,500 
Write-off convertible debenture issuance costs  -  5,485 
Non-cash realized gain on investment exchange  (533) - 
Depreciation and amortization  71,512  58,410   49,667  47,486 
Stock-based compensation  1,052  361   562  747 
Allowance for doubtful accounts  (245) 1,195 
Bad debt expense  (477) (202)
Other  85  - 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:              
Accounts receivable  (122,041) (61,203)  (48,637) (59,834)
Inventories  (63,313) (111,707)  14,563  (32,747)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  (830) (3,513)  (4,937) (1,789)
Deposits and other assets  (556) (2,484)  (6,943) (546)
Accounts payable  77,678  100,474   (17,176) 37,859 
Accrued liabilities  17,958  9,856   10,938  15,153 
Net cash provided by operating activities  33,029  50,627   136,926  32,595 
Cash flows from investing activities:              
Purchases of marketable securities  (222,783) (640,209)  (133,214) (170,132)
Sales and maturities of marketable securities  178,635  935,697   115,614  121,967 
Acquisition of businesses  -  (71,303)
Purchases of property, equipment and intangible assets  (49,284) (115,248)  (42,689) (35,227)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities  (93,432) 108,937 
Net cash used in investing activities  (60,289) (83,392)
Cash flows from financing activities:              
Redemption of convertible debenture  -  (300,000)
Common stock issued under employee stock plans  30,823  29,752   55,895  19,787 
Repurchase of common stock  (24,644) - 
Stock repurchases  (98,509) - 
Principal payments on capital leases  (3,511) (4,497)  (856) (2,833)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  2,668  (274,745)
Retirement of common stock  491  - 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities  (42,979) 16,954 
Change in cash and cash equivalents  (57,735) (115,181)  33,658  (33,843)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  214,422  346,994   208,512  214,422 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $156,687 $231,813  $242,170 $180,579 
              
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:              
Cash paid for interest $147 $15,063  $12 $122 
Cash paid (refund) for income taxes, net $410 $(528)
Net payment (refund) of income taxes $1,838 $(258)
              
Non cash activities:              
Acquisition of business - goodwill adjustment $1,091 $-  $- $343 
Assets recorded under capital lease arrangements $- $2,528 
Application of customer advance to accounts receivable $11,508 $58,139  $10,000 $10,271 
Marketable security received from investment exchange $688 $- 
Asset retirement obligation $4,483 $- 
Deferred stock compensation $74 $251 
Unrealized losses from marketable securities $3,294 $5,618  $944 $5,041 
Deferred stock-based compensation $974 $6,336 
              
       

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.




3



NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, except as otherwise noted, considered necessary for a fair presentationstatement of results of operations and financial position have been included. The results for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any future period. The following information should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 2 5, 2004.30, 2005. 

Fiscal year

We operate on a 52 or 53-week year, ending on the Sunday nearest January 31. Fiscal year 20052006 is a 53-week52-week year, compared to fiscal year 20042005 which was a 52-week53-week year. The fourth quartersecond quarters of fiscal year 2005 is a 14-week quarter, compared to the fourth quarter of2006 and fiscal year 2004 which was a2005 were both 13-week quarter.quarters.

Reclassifications

Certain prior fiscal year statement of cash flows and comprehensive income balances were reclassified to conform to the current periodfiscal year presentation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, accounts receivable, inventories, valuation of long-lived assets, goodwillincome taxes and income taxes.contingencies. These estimates are based on historical facts and various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable.

Stock-Based Compensation

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, or SFAS No. 148,Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure, amends the disclosure requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, or SFAS No. 123,Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,to require more prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements regarding the method of accounting for stock-based compensation an d the effect of the method used on reported results.

We use the intrinsic value method, as prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, to account for our stock-based employee compensation plans. As such, compensation expense is recorded if on the date of grant the current fair value per share of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price per share. Compensation cost for our stock-based compensation plans as determined consistent with SFASwithStatement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123,Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, would have decreased net income in the periods presented to the pro forma amounts indicated below:




4



NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

  
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
  
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
  
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Net income, as reported $25,879 $6,356 $52,347 $50,253 
Add: Stock-based employee compensation
expense included in reported net income, net
of related tax effects
  244  231  842  231 
Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation
expense determined under fair value based
method for all awards, net of related tax effects
  (25,135) (20,075) (67,556)$(56,530)
Pro forma net income (loss) $988 $(13,488)$(14,367)$(6,046)
Basic net income per share - as reported $0.16 $0.04 $0.32 $0.31 
Basic net income (loss) per share - pro forma $0.01 $(0.08)$(0.09)$(0.04)
Diluted net income per share - as reported $0.15 $0.04 $0.30 $0.29 
Diluted net income (loss) per share - pro forma $0.01 $(0.08)$(0.09)$(0.04)


  
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
  
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
          
Net income, as reported $74,837 $5,119 $139,281 $26,468 
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects  244  291  472  597 
Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects  (22,034) (21,699) (38,880) (42,420)
Pro forma net income (loss) $53,047 $(16,289)$100,873 $(15,355)
Basic net income per share - as reported $0.44 $0.03 $0.83 $0.16 
Basic net income (loss) per share - pro forma $0.31 $(0.10)$0.60 $(0.09)
Diluted net income per share - as reported $0.41 $0.03 $0.77 $0.15 
Diluted net income (loss) per share - pro forma $0.29 $(0.10)$0.56 $(0.09)

During the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we transitioned from a Black-Scholes model to a binomial model for calculating the estimated fair value of new stock-based compensation awardsgranted under our stock option plans. As a result of recent regulatory guidance, including SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, or SAB No. 107, and in anticipation of the impending effective date of Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), or SFAS No. 123(R),Share-Based Payment, we reevaluated the assumptions we use to estimate the value of employee stock options and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan, beginning with stock options granted and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan in our first quarter of fiscal 2006.  Our management determined that the use of implied volatility is expected to be more reflective of market conditions and, therefore, can reasonably be expected to be a better indicator of expected volatility than historical volatility. Additionally, in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we began segregating options into groups for employees with relatively homogeneous exercise behavior in order to make full use of the capabilities of the binomial valuation model.  As such, the expected term is basedon detailed historical data about employees' exercise behavior, vesting schedules, and death and disability probabilities.  Our management believes the resulting binomial calculation provides a more refined estimate of the fair value of our employee stock options. For our employee stock purchase plan, our management decided to continue to use the Black-Scholes modelto calculate the estimated fair value. 
For the purpose of the pro forma calculation, the fair value of stock options granted under our stock option plans and the fair value of shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan have been estimated with the following assumptions:

 
Stock Options
 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
        
 
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(Using a binomial model)
 
(Using the Black-Scholes model)
 
(Using the Black-Scholes model)
 
(Using the Black-Scholes model)
Expected life (in years)3.6 - 5.1 4.0 0.5 - 2.0 1.5
Risk free interest rate4.1% 3.4% 1.1% - 2.1% 1.9%
Volatility40% - 46% 80% 41% 80%
Dividend yield-- -- -- --


5


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

 
Stock Options
 
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
        
 
Six Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
(Using a binomial model)
 
(Using the Black-Scholes model)
 
(Using the Black-Scholes model)
 
(Using the Black-Scholes model)
Expected life (in years)3.6 - 5.1 4.0 0.5 - 2.0 1.5
Risk free interest rate4.0% 2.9% 1.1% - 2.1% 1.9%
Volatility37% - 48% 80% 41% 80%
Dividend yield-- -- -- --

Note 2 - NewRecently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2003,December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB issued InterpretationSFAS No. 46, or FIN 46,Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities123(R), which addresses consolidation by business enterprisesrequires the measurement and recognition of variable interest entities, or VIEs, either: (1) that do not have sufficient equity investment at risk to permitcompensation expense for all stock-based compensation payments. In April 2005, the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (2) in whichSEC delayed the equity investors lack an essential characteristic of a controlling financial interest. In Decemb er 2003, the FASB completed deliberations of proposed modifications to FIN 46, or FIN 46(R), resulting in an effective date of no later thanSFAS No. 123(R), which is now effective for annual periods that begin after June 15, 2005. In March 2005, the SEC issued SAB No. 107, which includes interpretive guidance for the initial implementation of SFAS 123(R). SFAS No. 123(R) allows for either prospective recognition of compensation expense or retrospective recognition. We are currently evaluating which expense recognition method we will apply upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R). We will implement the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) beginning in fiscal 2007. Once adopted, the standard will have an adverse impact on our operating results.
In June 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, or SFAS No. 154,Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3. SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle, and changes the requirements for accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. We will adopt SFAS 154 during the first interim or annual period ending after March 15, 2004. Thequarter of fiscal 2007. We do not expect the adoption of FIN 46(R) did notSFAS No. 154 to have ana material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or financial position.

In March 2004, the FASB approved the consensus reached on the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-1, or EITF 03-1,The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.EITF 03-1 provides guidance for identifying impaired investments and new disclosure requirements for investments that are deemed to be temporarily impaired. On September 30, 2004, the FASB issued a final staff position EITF Issue 03-1-1 that delays the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance included in paragraphs 10 through 20 of EITF 03-1. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures required by EITF 03-1 remain effective for our fiscal year ending 2005. We do not believe the impact of adoption of this EITF consensus will be significant to our overall results of operations or financial position.cash flows.

Note 3 - Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period, using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the effect of stock options outstanding is not included in the computation of diluted net income per share for periods when their effect is anti-dilutive. The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net income per share computations for the periods presented:



5

  
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
  
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Numerator:         
Numerator for basic and diluted net income per share $74,837 $5,119 $139,281 $26,468 
Denominator:             
Denominator for basic net income per share, weighted average shares  168,943  166,252  168,795  165,711 
Effect of dilutive securities:             
Stock options outstanding  11,847  11,167  11,817  12,288 
Denominator for diluted net income per share, weighted average shares  180,790  177,419  180,612  177,999 
Net income per share:             
Basic net income per share $0.44 $0.03 $0.83 $0.16 
Diluted net income per share $0.41 $0.03 $0.77 $0.15 

6

NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

  
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
  
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
  
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Numerator:             
Numerator for basic and diluted net
income per share
 $25,879 $6,356 $52,347 $50,253 
              
Denominator:             
Denominator for basic net income per share, weighted average shares  166,122  161,582  165,848  160,093 
Effect of dilutive securities:             
Stock options outstanding  6,747  11,567  10,445  11,360 
Denominator for diluted net income per share, weighted average shares  172,869  173,149  176,293  171,453 
              
Net income per share:             
Basic net income per share $0.16 $0.04 $0.32 $0.31 
Diluted net income per share $0.15 $0.04 $0.30 $0.29 
Diluted net income per share for the three and six months ended July 31, 2005 does not include the effect of the following4.1 million and 11.3 million anti-dilutive common equivalent shares:

  
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
  
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
  
(In thousands)
 
              
Stock options  31,863  8,114  13,949  12,084 

The weighted-average exercise price of stock options excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share was $20.88 and $27.75 for the three and nine months ended October 24, 2004,shares, respectively. The weighted-average exercise price of stock options excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share was $29.22$34.76 and $25.38$29.32 for the three and ninesix months ended October 26, 2003,July 31, 2005, respectively. Diluted net income per share for the three and six months ended July 25, 2004 does not include the effect of 14.0 million and 13.2 million anti-dilutive common equivalent shares, respectively. The weighted-average exercise price of stock options excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share was $27.93 and $28.37 for the three and six months ended July 25, 2004, respectively.

Note 4 - Guarantees

FASB Interpretation No. 45, or FIN 45,Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, the guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of the obligation it assumes under that guarantee. In addition, FIN 45 requires disclosures about the guarantees that an entity has issued, including a tabular reconciliation of the changes of the entity’s product warranty liabilities.

We record a reduction to revenue for estimated product returns at the time revenue is recognized primarily based on historical return rates. The reductions to revenue for estimated product returns for the three and ninesix months ended October 24,July 31, 2005 and July 25, 2004 and October 26, 2003 are as follows:


Description
 
Balance at Beginning of Period
 
Additions (1)
 
Deductions (2)
 
Balance at End of Period
 
  
(In thousands)
 
Three months ended July 31, 2005             
Allowance for sales returns $10,805 $8,213 $(8,331)$10,687 
Three months ended July 25, 2004             
Allowance for sales returns $8,066 $6,532 $(3,559)$11,039 
Six months ended July 31, 2005             
Allowance for sales returns $11,687 $14,144 $(15,144)$10,687 
Six months ended July 25, 2004             
Allowance for sales returns $9,421 $10,609 $(8,991)$11,039 
              


6


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Description
 
Balance at Beginning of Period
 
Additions (1)
 
Deductions (2)
 
Balance at End of Period
 
  
(In thousands)
 
Three months ended October 24, 2004             
Allowance for sales returns $11,039 $4,138 $(4,357)$10,820 
Three months ended October 26, 2003             
Allowance for sales returns $11,359 $2,977 $(5,973)$8,363 
Nine months ended October 24, 2004             
Allowance for sales returns $9,421 $14,747 $(13,348)$10,820 
Nine months ended October 26, 2003             
Allowance for sales returns $13,228 $6,449 $(11,314)$8,363 
              
______________
(1) Allowances for sales returns are charged as a reduction to revenue.

(2) Represents amounts written off against the allowance for sales returns.

In connection with certain agreements that we have executed in the past, we have at times provided indemnities to cover the indemnified party for matters such as tax, product and employee liabilities. We have also on occasion included intellectual property indemnification provisions in our technology related agreements with third parties. Maximum potential future payments cannot be estimated because many of theseour agreements do not have a maximum stated liability. However, historically costs related to these indemnification provisions have not been significant.  As such, we have not recorded any liability in our condensed consolidated financial statements for such indemnifications.

7


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Note 5 - Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income or loss. Other comprehensive income or loss components include unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities.securities, net of tax. The components of comprehensive income, net of tax, were as follows:

  
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
  
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
  
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
  
(In thousands)
 
          
Net income $25,879 $6,356 $52,347 $50,253 
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities  1,656  (856) (3,426) (1,055)
Tax effect of unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities  (1,056) 171  969  211 
Reclassification adjustments for net realized (gains) losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income  91  (2,394) 131  (3,159)
Tax effect of reclassification adjustments included in net income  (18) 479  (26) 632 
Total comprehensive income $26,552 $3,756 $49,995 $46,882 

  
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
  
(In thousands)
 
          
Net income $74,837 $5,119 $139,281 $26,468 
Net change in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities  (526) (1,807) (1,245) (5,078)
Tax effect of unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities  105  705  249  2,024 
Reclassification adjustments for net realized losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income  138  91  301  36 
Tax effect of reclassification adjustments for net realized losses on available-for-sale securities included in net income  (27) (18) (60) (7)
Total comprehensive income $74,527 $4,090 $138,526 $23,443 




7


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Note 6 -3dfx- 3dfx Asset Purchase

During fiscal year 2002, we completed the purchase of certain assets from 3dfx Interactive, Inc., or 3dfx, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $74.2 million. The 3dfx asset purchase was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and closed on April 18, 2001. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the cash consideration due at the closing was $70.0 million, less $15.0 million that was loaned to 3dfx pursuant to a Credit Agreement dated December 15, 2000. The Asset Purchase Agreement also provided, subject to the other provisions thereof, that if 3dfx properly certified that all its debts and other liabilities had been provided for, then we would have been obligated to pay 3dfx two million shares of NVIDIA common stock. If 3dfx could not make such a certification, but instead pro perlyproperly certified that its debts and liabilities could be satisfied for less than $25.0 million, then 3dfx could have elected to receive a cash payment equal to the amount of such debts and liabilities and a reduced number of shares of our common stock, with such reduction calculated by dividing the cash payment by $25.00 per share. If 3dfx could not certify that all of its debts and liabilities had been provided for, or could not be satisfied, for less than $25.0 million, we would not be obligated under the agreement to pay any additional consideration for the assets. We are currently party to litigation relating to certain aspects of the asset purchase and 3dfx’s subsequent bankruptcy in October 2002. Please see Note 1211 for further information regarding this litigation.

8


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The 3dfx asset purchase price of $70.0 million and direct transaction costs of $4.2 million were allocated based on fair values presented below.

  
 
Fair Market Value
 
Straight-Line Amortization Period
 
  
(In thousands)
 
(Years)
 
      
Property and equipment $2,433  1-2 
Trademarks  11,310  5 
Goodwill  60,418  -- 
Total $74,161    

The final allocation of the purchase price of the 3dfx assets is contingent upon the amount of and circumstances surrounding additional consideration, if any, paidthat we may pay related to the 3dfx upon the final satisfaction of their liabilities.asset purchase.

Note 7 -Goodwill- Goodwill and Intangible Assets

We are currently amortizing our intangible assets with definitivefinite lives over periods ranging from 13 to 5 years. The components of our amortizable intangible assets are as follows:
 
 
October 24, 2004
 
January 25, 2004
  
July 31, 2005
 
January 30, 2005
 
 
Gross CarryingAmount
 
AccumulatedAmortization
 
Net CarryingAmount
 
Gross CarryingAmount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net CarryingAmount
  
Gross CarryingAmount
 
AccumulatedAmortization
 
Net CarryingAmount
 
Gross CarryingAmount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 
Net CarryingAmount
 
 
(In thousands)
  
(In thousands)
 
                          
Technology licenses $15,424 $(9,263)$6,161 $15,178 $(7,161)$8,017  $21,586 $(11,607)$9,979 $17,236 $(9,841)$7,395 
Patents  23,260 (14,255) 9,005 19,319 (8,992) 10,327   23,380 (17,699) 5,681 23,260 (15,400) 7,860 
Acquired intellectual property  27,086 (16,608) 10,478 27,067 (10,590) 16,477   27,086 (21,859) 5,227 27,086 (18,578) 8,508 
Trademarks  11,310 (7,990) 3,320 11,310 (6,283) 5,027   11,310 (9,676) 1,634 11,310 (8,544) 2,766 
Other  1,494  (390) 1,104  250  (135) 115   1,494  (747) 747  1,494  (509) 985 
Total intangible assets $78,574 $(48,506)$30,068 $73,124 $(33,161)$39,963  $84,856 $(61,588)$23,268 $80,386 $(52,872)$27,514 




8

Amortization expense associated with intangible assets for the three and six months ended July 31, 2005 was $4.4 million and $8.7 million, respectively. Amortization expense associated with intangible assets for the three and six months ended July 25, 2004 was $5.3 million and $10.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense for the net carrying amount of intangible assets at July 31, 2005 is estimated to be $8.3 million for the remainder of fiscal 2006, $10.4 million in fiscal 2007, $4.1 million in fiscal 2008, and $0.5 million fiscal 2009 and thereafter.

As of July 31, 2005 and January 30, 2005, the carrying amount of goodwill is as follows:

  
(In thousands)
 
    
3dfx $50,326 
MediaQ  52,913 
Other  4,868 
Total goodwill $108,107 

9


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Amortization expense associated with intangible assets for the three and nine months ended October 24, 2004 was $5.0 million and $15.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense associated with intangible assets for the three and nine months ended October 26, 2003 was $4.8 million and $11.1 million, respectively. Amortization expense for the net carrying amount of intangible assets at October 24, 2004 is estimated to be $4.3 million for the remainder of fiscal 2005, $15.2 million in fiscal 2006, $8.4 million in fiscal 2007, $2.0 million in fiscal 2008 and $100,000 in fiscal 2009.

The carrying amount of goodwill is as follows:

  
October 24, 2004
 
January 25, 2004
 
  
(In thousands)
 
      
3dfx $50,326 $50,326 
MediaQ  52,913  53,695 
Other  4,868  4,888 
Total goodwill $108,107 $108,909 
The decrease in the carrying amount of goodwill for MediaQ is a result of additional information that became available during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005.

Note 8 - Marketable Securities

We account for our investment instruments in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, or SFAS No. 115,Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. All of our cash equivalents and marketable securities are treated as “available-for-sale” under SFAS No. 115. Cash equivalents consist of financial instruments which are readily convertible into cash and have original maturities of three months or less at the time of acquisition. Marketable securities consist primarily of highly liquid investments with a maturity of greater than three months when purchased and some equit yequity investments. We classify our marketable securities at the date of acquisition in the available-for-sale category as our intention is to convert them into cash for operations. These securities are reported at fair value with the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a component of stockholders’ equity, net of tax. Realized gains and losses on the sale of marketable securities are determined using the specific-identification method. Net realized losslosses for the three and ninesix months ended October 24, 2004July 31, 2005 were ($90,000)$0.1 million and ($115,000),$0.3 million, respectively. Net realized gainslosses for the three and ninesix months ended October 26, 2003July 25, 2004 were $2.5$0.1 million and $3.0 million,nil, respectively.

Note 9 - Balance Sheet Components
 
Certain balance sheet components are as follows:

 
July 31,
 
January 30,
 
Inventories:
 
2005
 
2005
 
 
October 24,
 
January 25,
  
(In thousands)
 
 
2004
 
2004
    
 
(In thousands)
 
Inventories:   
Raw materials $39,586 $22,131  $22,848 $23,225 
Work in-process  97,951  44,523   113,980  130,211 
Finished goods  160,014  167,584   164,127  162,082 
Total inventories $297,551 $234,238  $300,955 $315,518 

The significant increase in raw materials primarily relates to the purchase of memory products that we plan to bundle with our GeForce 6 products. The significant increasedecrease in work-in-process primarily relates to the ramping of our GeForce 6 series products.products in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.

At October 24, 2004,July 31, 2005, we had outstanding inventory purchase obligations totaling $359.3approximately $267 million.

  
July 31,
 
January 30,
 
Property and Equipment:
 
2005
 
2005
 
  
(In thousands)
 
    
Software $142,228 $125,310 
Test equipment  88,842  86,883 
Computer equipment  96,475  82,428 
Leasehold improvements  81,991  79,160 
Construction in process  3,138  3,264 
Office furniture and equipment  20,554  18,777 
   433,228  395,822 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization  (254,277) (216,867)
Property and equipment, net $178,951 $178,955 



9

10


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

  
October 24,
 
January 25,
 
  
2004
 
2004
 
  
(In thousands)
 
 Property and Equipment:   
Software $121,671 $116,150 
Test equipment  80,919  73,287 
Computer equipment  84,121  70,173 
Leasehold improvements  77,278  58,649 
Construction in process  3,418  1,620 
Office furniture and equipment  18,314  17,996 
   385,721  337,875 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization  (203,523) (147,846)
Property and equipment, net $182,198 $190,029 

 
October 24,
 
January 25,
  
July 31,
 
January 30,
 
 
2004
 
2004
  
2005
 
2005
 
 
(In thousands)
  
(In thousands)
 
Accrued Liabilities:      
Accrued customer programs $60,559 $54,875  $77,932 $83,013 
Deferred revenue  5,584  11,500 
Customer advances  1,590  11,530   10,235  1,457 
Taxes payable  42,015  29,609   53,395  28,826 
Accrued payroll and related expenses  29,474  30,270   35,996  37,016 
Deferred rent  10,311  8,151   11,413  10,844 
Other  6,884  10,320   9,896  9,421 
Total accrued liabilities $150,833 $144,755  $204,451 $182,077 
 
  
July 31,
 
January 30,
 
  
2005
 
2005
 
Long-term Liabilities:
 
(In thousands)
 
Asset retirement obligation $4,483 $4,483 
Technology licenses  2,250  3,875 
Total long-term liabilities $6,733 $8,358 

Note 10 - Asset Retirement Obligation

In fiscal 2004, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, or SFAS No. 143,Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the assets. SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset and this additional carrying amount is depreciated over the life of the asset. At the time of adoption, our obligation, if any, was immaterial. During our third quarter of fiscal 2005, we completed leasehold improvements at our headquarters facility in Santa Clara, California and recorded a liability of $4.5 million to return the property to its original condition upon lease termination in fiscal year 2013.

Note 11 - Segment Information
 
We design, develop and market graphics processing units, or GPUs, media and communications processors, or MCPs, wireless media processors, or WMPs, and related software. During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, ourOur chief operating decision maker, theor CODM, our Chief Executive Officer, began reviewingreviews financial information presented on an operating segment basis for purposes of making operating decisions and assessing financial performance. During the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we reorganized our operating segments to bring all major product groups in line with our strategy to position ourselves as a leader in graphics and digital media processing solutions for digital devices. We now report threefinancial information for four product-line operating segments:segments to our CODM: the GPU business,Business, which is composed of products that support desktop personal computers, or PCs, notebook PCs and professional workstations; the MCP business,Business, which is composed of NVIDIA nForce and Xbox products; and the WMP business,Business, which supports handheld personal digital assistants, cellular phones and cellular phones.other handheld devices; and the Consumer Electronics Business, which is composed of revenue from our contractual arrangements with Sony Computer Entertainment, or SCE, for the development of their next-generation PlayStation3, revenue from sales of our Xbox-related products, revenue from our license agreement with Microsoft relating to the successor product to their initial Xbox gaming console, the Xbox360, and related devices, and digital media processor products. In addition to these opera tingoperating segments, we have the “All Other” category that includes human resources, legal, finance, general administration and corporate marketing expenses, which total $27.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2006, $26.0 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, $51.6 million for the first half of fiscal 2006, and $50.8 million for the first half of fiscal 2005, that we do not allocate to our other operating segments. “All Other” also includes the results of operations of other miscellaneous operating segments that are neither individually reportable, nor aggregated with another operating segment. Revenue in the “All Other” category is primarily derived from sales of memory.  All prior period amounts have been restated to reflect our new reporting structure.


10


We doOur CODM does not identify or allocate assets byreview any information regarding property and equipment on an operating segment.segment basis. Operating segments do not record intersegment revenue, and, accordingly, there is none to be reported.  The accounting policies for segment reporting are the same as for our companyNVIDIA as a whole.


For periods prior to the first quarter of fiscal 2005, product-line operating segment information other than revenue is impracticable to obtain primarily due to changes in our enterprise resource system structure that we implemented during the first quarter of fiscal 2005.
11


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)


 
GPU
 
MCP
 
WMP
 
All Other
 
Consolidated
  
GPU
 
MCP
 
WMP
 
CE
 
All Other
 
Consolidated
 
 
(In thousands)
  
(In thousands)
 
Three Months Ended October 24, 2004:
            
Three Months Ended July 31, 2005:
             
Revenue $301,373 $151,391 $11,091 $51,736 $515,591  $385,826 $75,872 $2,135 $81,543 $29,436 $574,812 
Depreciation expense $8,219 $3,080 $2,882 $337 $8,062 $22,580 
Operating income (loss) $32,238 $36,009 $(13,764)$(25,725)$28,758  $72,737 $5,340 $(10,115)$40,787 $(28,712)$80,037 
Three Months Ended October 26, 2003:
            
Three Months Ended July 25, 2004:
              
Revenue $277,113 $176,950 $3,778 $28,228 $486,069  $288,507 $33,208 $5,201 $86,722 $42,423 $456,061 
Depreciation expense $8,226 $3,463 $2,749 $205 $8,389 $23,032 
Operating income (loss) $17,296 $(15,769)$(9,258)$32,872 $(21,342)$3,799 
                          
Nine Months EndedOctober 24, 2004:
            
Six Months Ended July 31, 2005:
              
Revenue $969,822 $325,250 $21,950 $126,535 $1,443,557  $795,752 $147,677 $9,897 $139,621 $65,711 $1,158,658 
Depreciation expense $16,279 $6,190 $6,040 $697 $15,702 $44,908 
Operating income (loss) $113,094 $46,275 $(29,814)$(73,118)$56,437  $150,868 $12,263 $(25,975)$69,727 $(50,664)$156,219 
Nine Months EndedOctober 26, 2003:
            
Six Months Ended July 25, 2004:
              
Revenue $886,060 $376,383 $3,778 $84,605 $1,350,826  $663,776 $68,121 $10,860 $110,511 $74,698 $927,966 
Depreciation expense $16,273 $6,739 $5,263 $390 $16,806 $45,471 
Operating income (loss) $79,273 $(29,605)$(16,051)$40,895 $(46,833)$27,679 

Revenue by geographic region is allocated to individual countries based on the location to which the products are initially billed even if our customers’ revenue is attributable to end customers that are located in a different location. The following table summarizes information pertaining to our operations in different geographic regions:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
  
(In thousands)
 
Revenue:
 
(In thousands)
          
         
United States and other Americas $183,403 $158,466 $437,983 $369,276 
Asia Pacific  285,163  301,851  918,628  904,684 
United States $133,406 $148,750 $231,211 $209,565 
Other Americas  6,043  2,288  6,965  3,546 
China  110,407  46,896  179,150  152,640 
Taiwan  241,582  161,849  539,281  399,657 
Other Asia Pacific  44,809  38,946  99,640  79,281 
Europe  47,025  25,752  86,946  76,866   38,565  57,332  102,411  83,277 
Total revenue $515,591 $486,069 $1,443,557 $1,350,826  $574,812 $456,061 $1,158,658 $927,966 

Revenue from significant customers, those representing approximately 10% or more of total revenue for the respective periods, is summarized as follows:

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
July 31,
July 25,
July 31,
July 25,
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
2005
2004
2005
2004
Revenue:
              
             
Customer A    9%  10%     8%  12% 10%12%14%22%
Customer B  21%  25%  16%  18% 7%4%7%11%
Customer C  17%  17%  20%  19% 13%20%10%13%
Customer D    4%  10%    8%  11% 8%12%11%8%


12




11


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Note 1211 - Litigation

3dfx

On December 15, 2000, NVIDIA Corporation and one of our indirect subsidiaries entered into an agreement to purchase certain graphics chip assets from 3dfx. The 3dfx asset purchase closed on April 18, 2001. In May 2002, we were served with a complaint filed by the landlord of 3dfx’s San Jose, California commercial real estate lease. In October 2002, 3dfx filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. In December 2002, we were served with a complaint filed by the landlord of 3dfx’s Austin, Texas commercial real estate lease. The landlords’ complaints both assert claims for, among other things, interference with contract, successor liability and fraudulent transfer. The landlords’ are seeking to recover, among other thin gs,things, amounts owed on their leases in the aggregate amount of approximately $10 million. In March 2003, we were served with a complaint filed by the Trustee appointed by the Bankruptcy Court to represent the interests of the 3dfx bankruptcy estate. The Trustee’s complaint asserts claims for, among other things, successor liability and fraudulent transfer. The Trustee’s complaint seeks additional payments from us, the amount of which has not been quantified. The landlords’ actions have beenwere removed to the Bankruptcy Court from the Superior Court of California and consolidated with the Trustee’s action for purposes of discovery. Upon motion by NVIDIA, the District Court withdrew the reference to the Bankruptcy Court of the two actions filed by the landlords. These actions are now before the District Court and should be tried there. The District Court declined, at this time, to withdraw the reference as to the Trustee’s case. Discovery in all actions is currently proceeding and no trial date hasdates have been set.set in either the District Court or the Bankruptcy Court. We believe the claims asserted against us are without merit and we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously.

Opti Incorporated

On October 19, 2004, Opti Incorporated, (“Opti”)or Opti, filed a complaint for patent infringement against NVIDIA in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Opti asserts that unspecified NVIDIA chipsets infringe five U.S. patents held by Opti. Opti seeks unspecified damages for our alleged conduct, attorneys fees and triple damages for alleged willful infringement by NVIDIA. NVIDIA intends to respondfiled a response to this complaint in December.December 2004. After a case management conference in July 2005, discovery has just begun and a trial date has now been set for July 2006. We believe the claims asserted against us are without merit and we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously.

American Video Graphics

In August 2004, a Texas limited partnership named American Video Graphics, LP, or AVG, filed three separate complaints for patent infringement against various corporate defendants, not including NVIDIA, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. AVG initially asserted that each of the approximately thirty defendants sells products that infringe one or more of seven separate patents that AVG claims relate generally to graphics processing functionality. Each of the three lawsuits target a different group of defendants; one case involves approximately twenty of the leading personal computer manufacturers, the PC Makers Case, one case involves the three leading video game console makers, the Game Console Case, and one case involves approximately ten of the leading video game publishers, the Game Publishers Case. In November 2004, NVIDIA sought and was granted permission to intervene in two of the three pending AVG lawsuits, the PC Makers Case and the Game Console Case. Our complaint in intervention alleges both that the patents in suit are invalid and that, to the extent AVG’s claims target NVIDIA products, the asserted patents are not infringed. Two other leading suppliers of graphics processing products, Intel Corporation, or Intel, and ATI Technologies, Inc., or ATI, have also intervened in the cases, ATI in both the PC Makers and Game Console Case, and Intel in the PC Makers Case.



13


NVIDIA CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

After some consensual reconfigurations proposed by the various parties, in January 2005, the district court judge entered docket control and discovery orders in the three lawsuits. Plaintiff has recently dismissed one patent from the PC Makers case such that the case now involves three separate patents and is currently scheduled for trial beginning in September 2006. The Game Console Case involves a single patent and is currently scheduled for trial beginning in December 2006. We believe that, to the extent AVG’s infringement allegations target functionality that may be performed by NVIDIA products, those claims are without merit, and we will continue to defend ourselves and our products vigorously.

We are subject to other legal proceedings, but we do not believe that the ultimate outcome of any of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or overall trends in results of operations. However, if an unfavorable ruling were to occur in any specific period, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the results of operations of that period.

Note 1312 - Stock Repurchase Program

On August 9, 2004 we announced that our Board of Directors, or the Board, had authorized a stock repurchase program to repurchase shares of our common stock, subject to certain specifications, up to an aggregate maximum amount of $300.0 million. To date,During the second quarter of fiscal 2006, we repurchased 1.8 million shares of our common stock for $50.0 million. As part of our share repurchase program, we may from time-to-time enter into structured share repurchase transactions with financial institutions. These agreements generally require that we make an up-front payment in exchange for the right to receive a fixed number of shares of our common stock upon execution of the agreement, and an incremental number of shares of our common stock, within a minimum and a maximum, at the end of the term of the agreement. We entered into two such transactions during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 which, in the aggregate, required up-front payments totaling $25.0 million. Under these agreements, we repurchased 0.9 million shares of our common stock, which we recorded on the tradedate of the transactions. Through the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2006, we have repurchased 2.15.8 million shares under our stock repurchase program for a total cost of approximately $24.6$123.1 million.

Note 13 - Change in Accounting Estimate

We compute income taxes for interim reporting purposes using estimates of our effective annual income tax rate for the entire fiscal year. During the second quarter of fiscal 2006, we revised our estimated effective income tax rate for fiscal year 2006 to 16% from the 20% rate that we had used in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The change in the rate was primarily a result of changes in our geographic mix of income subject to tax. As a result of the change, the effective income tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 was 12.2%. The effect of the change in the estimated annual effective income tax rate for fiscal 2006 was to increase net income by $6.6 million for both the three months and six months ended July 31, 2005. The effect of the change in estimate on earnings per share was $0.04 for basic earnings per share and $0.03 for diluted earnings per share for the three months ended July 31, 2005. The effect of the change in estimate on basic and diluted earnings per share was $0.04 for the six months ended July 31, 2005.

Note 14 - Subsequent EventIncome Taxes

On November 19,The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 NVIDIAwas signed into law on October 22, 2004. This act provides a specialone-time dividends received deduction on the repatriation of certain foreign earnings to a United States taxpayer. We are currently in the process of evaluating whether or not, and Intel Corporation announcedto what extent, if any, this provision may benefit NVIDIA.We expect to complete such evaluation before the end of our fiscal year 2006. The range of possible amounts that the companies have signed a broad, multi-year patent cross-license agreement spanning multiple product lineswe are considering for repatriation under this provision is between zero and product generations. Additionally, the companies signed a multi-year chipset agreement for NVIDIA$500 million. The range of income tax expense we would recognize if we repatriate earnings in this range is expected to license Intel's front-side bus technology.
be between zero and $27 million.


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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. When used in this report, the words “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future periods and include, but are not limited to, the features, benefits, capabilities, performance, production and availability of our technology and products, the length of product cycles, our gross margins,margin, sources of revenue and anticipated revenue, including anticipated revenue derived from our relationship with SEC and our license with Microsoft,  revenue mix, increases in and reasons for our expenditures, planned capital expenditures, products under development, our cash flow and cash balances, our liquidity, uses of cash, investments of our cash and marketable securities, our tax rate, repatriation of foreign earnings, our quarterly and annual results of operations, our inventories, product life cycles, average selling prices, our strategies as to our GPU, MCP, WMP and Consumer Electronics Businesses, growth of our businesses, our fastest growing business, factors contributing to the growth of our businesses, the ramp of our WMP product segments,products, the adoption of PCI Express, additional platform innovations, focus of our competitors on platform solutions, importance of digital media processing technology, MXM and PCI Express,stock option grants to our business, expensing of stock options, use of the binomial model for calculating the fair value of stock compensation awards, our critical accounting policies, sourcesour relationship with and the development of revenue and anticipated revenue, including revenue derived from sales of the Xbox, revenue mix, our expectations regarding increases in and reasonsa GPU for our expenditures, planned capital expenditures, the adequacy of our cash flow, our liquidity, uses of cash, investments of our cash and marketable securities, our tax rate, evaluation of repatriation of foreign earnings, our quarterly and annual results of operations,SCE, the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, expectations regarding our competition and our competitive position, our intellectual property, the importance of our strategic relationships, customer demand, our reliance on a limited number of customers, expansion of our technologies and products, including by investment or acquisition, our internal controlscontrol over financial reporting, our ability to attract customers, our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and our foreign currency risk strategy.strategy, compliance with the RoHS Directive and other environmental laws and regulations. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks discussed below as well as unanticipated decreases in average selling prices of a particular product, our inability to decrease inventory purchase commitments in a meaningful timeframe, our inability to compete in new markets, the write-down of the value of inventory, entry of new competitors in our established markets, reduction in demand for or market acceptance of our products or our customers’ products, defects in our products, the impact of competitive pricing pressure, new product announcements or introductions by our competitors, disruptions in our relationships withTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC,United Microelectronics Corporation, or UMC, International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM, United Microelectronics Corporation, or UMC, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, orChartered, and other key suppliers, fluctuations in general economic conditions, failure to achieve design wins,the seasonality of the PC and our other product segments, international and political conditions, the concentration of sales of our products to a limited number of customers, unforeseen redu ctionsreductions in demand for our products, our ability to safeguard our intellectual property, delays in the development of new products, delays in volume production of our products, developments in and expenses related to litigationand the matters set forth under the caption “Business Risks.”These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
 

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In this report, all references to “NVIDIA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”“our,” mean NVIDIA Corporation and our subsidiaries.
 
NVIDIA, GeForce, MXM, SLI, GoForce, NVIDIA Quadro and NVIDIA nForce are our trademarks or registered trademarks in the United States and other countries. We also refer to trademarks of other corporations and organizations in this document.
 
Overview
 
Our Company
 
NVIDIA Corporation is a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors dedicated to creatingprocessors. Our products that enhance the interactiveend-user experience on consumer and professional computing platforms. We design, develop and marketdevices. NVIDIA graphics processing units, or GPUs, media and communications processors, or MCPs, and wireless media processors, or WMPs, have broad market reach and related software. Our products are integral toincorporated into a wide variety of visual computing platforms, including consumer and enterprise personal computers, or PCs, consumer PCs, professionalnotebooks, workstations, notebook PCs, personal digital assistants, or PDAs, cellular phones, and video game consoles and digital media centers.consoles. We were incorporated in California in April 1993 and reincorporated in Delaware in April 1998. Our mission is to be the most important media processing companyheadquarter facilities are in the world.Santa Clara, California.
 
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RecentFiscal 2006 Developments, Future Objectives and Challenges

Intel AgreementGPU Business
 
       On November 19, 2004, NVIDIA and Intel Corporation announced that the companies have signed a broad, multi-year patent cross-license agreement spanning multiple product lines and product generations. Additionally, the companies signed a multi-year chipset agreement for NVIDIA to license Intel's front-side bus technology.
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, or PCI Express

In February 2004, we announced a top-to-bottom family of PCI Express GPUs. By using a PCI Express high-speed interconnect, or HSI, which is a complex piece of networking technology that performs high-speed bi-directional interconnect protocol conversion, we were able to transform our GeForce family of GPUs into PCI Express compatible GPUs.

In May 2004, we announced the Mobile PCI Express Module Specification, or MXM.MXM was jointly developed by NVIDIA and leading notebook PC manufacturers in an effort to accelerate the adoption of PCI Express-based notebooks in all market segments. MXM is an open design specification that supports a wide range of graphics solutions from any GPU manufacturer, allowing system integrators maximum flexibility for build-to-order with various graphics solutions. MXM will also serve as the primary delivery vehicle for our next generation GPUs based on the GeForce Go 6 series architecture.


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In June 2004, we executed on our strategy to delivera full line of GPUs ready to support PCI Express chipsets.Our first PCI Express graphics solutions, the GeForce PCX series, are currently shipping to leading add-in-card partners, original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, system builders and other partners and were released for retail sale during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.

In August 2004, we announced that PCI-SIG, the Special Interest Group responsible for Conventional PCI, PCI-X and PCI Express industry-standard I/O technologies, has added our PCI Express technology-based products to the PCI-SIG Integrators List, including GPUs designed for workstations, desktops, and notebook computers.

In September 2004,2005, we announced the GeForce Go 6600, GT anda mobile GPU designed specifically to deliver advanced multimedia functionality without sacrificing portability.  Also in February 2005, we introduced the GeForce 6600. In October 2004, we announced the GeForce 6200, our first native PCI Express GPUs. In November 2004, we announced the launch of GeForce Go 6800 Ultra mobile GPU - our first native PCI Expressfastest mobile GPU for notebook PCs.to date.  

WMP Business

During the first quarter of fiscalIn March 2005, Motorola, Inc. announced their decision to incorporate our GoForce 4000 in their upcomingwe introduced two new line of 3G multimedia phones. In July 2004, we announced that Samsung Electronics had selected our GoForce 2100 media processor for the SCH-M500 Mobile Intelligent Terminal by Samsung, or MITS, phone. We now have design wins with three of the world's top five cell phone OEMS - Motorola, Samsung and LG Electronics, Inc. Over the next several years, we expect digital media processing technology to play a critical role in the cell phone industry. In September 2004, we unveiled the GoForce 3D 4500, the world's first 3D WMP.

GeForce 6 Series

In April 2004, we announced our latest flagship GPU architecture, the GeForce 6 series. The GeForce 6 series offersGPUs: a number of new features, including a faster architecture than our GeForce FX series, compliance with many of the latest software standards and on-chip video processors for high-definition encoding and decoding and direct-to-television playback. The GeForce 6 series offers more flexibility for game designers and graphic artists, while increasing performance over our previous top-end product, the GeForce FX 5950. During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we launched the production shipment512MB version of the GeForce 6800 Ultra 6800 GTGPU designed for the enthusiast segment, and 6800,a new lower-cost AGP version of the industry’s first GPUsGeForce 6200 GPU, designed to support Microsoft Corporation’s, orbring Microsoft DirectX 99.0 Shader Model 3.0. During3.0 technology to the third quartermainstream segment.  These two GPUs utilize the NVIDIA ForceWare software suite and Unified Driver Architecture to incorporate software optimizations that take full advantage of fiscalour newest features. 
In June 2005, we launched t he production shipment ofand simultaneously shipped our second generation Shader Model 3.0 GPU, the GeForce 66007800 GTX, which is designed to address the high-end enthusiast desktop PC segment. In August 2005, we launched and shipped our second GeForce 7 GPU, the GeForce 7800 GT, which is designed to address the high-end performance desktop PC segment.

In July 2005, we introduced two new NVIDIA Quadro GPUs, the NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 and 6600,the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450, which are targeteddesigned for the high-end and mainstream market, and the GeForce 6200, which delivers the GeForce 6 Series architecture and performance to the value PC segment.
professional segments, respectively. Both products support our Scalable Link Interface, or SLI, Technologytechnology.

In June 2004, we unveiled a new SLI technology that enables certainThe combination of our GeForce 7 and GeForce 6 series or NVIDIA Quadroof GPUs and our SLI technology has created a new class of gaming and workstation class PCs.  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 workstation.  PCI Express-based PCs and workstations based on NVIDIAIn June 2005, we made our SLI technology became available to users in the second halfmainstream segment with our GeForce 6600.
MCP Business
In April 2005, we announced the availability of our NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition MCP for Intel platforms.  This new line of core-logic solutions incorporates a host of new and innovative NVIDIA 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 2005 from PC and workstation manufacturers.2006, NVIDIA nForce Professional MCP shipped in its first enterprise server platform. 

NVIDIA nForce3 andIn August 2005, we announced that the NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 Intel Edition technology is now featured in the new Dell Dimension XPS 600 desktop PC.
Our NVIDIA nForce product line has achieved record revenue for three consecutive quarters.  We believe that Advanced Micro Devices’, or AMD’s, transition to K8, our extension into new segments, and our entry into the Intel market will make our MCP Business one of our fastest growing businesses. Furthermore, we believe that our ability to simultaneously innovate using our GPU, MCP, and software knowledge base will allow us to make additional platform innovations in the future.  We are now beginning production of a new NVIDIA nForce MCP with an integrated GPU and expect this to be an important new growth driver for both our desktop and mobile businesses.
WMP Business
Our strategy in the WMP Business is to lead innovation and capitalize on the emergence of the mobile phone as a versatile consumer lifestyle device.  Our initial focus was on 3G cellular phones.  As a result, our current WMP Business has been heavily concentrated at one original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, and its products have not achieved the anticipated level of commercial success.  However, we expect that we will ramp up production of WMP products related to a number of new design wins with existing and new customers for the holiday season, many of which are scheduled to go into production during the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

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Consumer Electronics Business
In April 2005, we finalized our definitive agreement with Sony Computer Entertainment, or SCE, to jointly develop a custom GPU incorporating our next-generation GeForce GPU and SCE’s system solutions in SCE’s next generation PlayStation3. Our collaboration with SCE includes license fees and royalties for the next generation PlayStation3 and all derivatives, including next generation digital consumer electronics devices.  In addition, we are licensing software development tools for creating shaders and advanced graphics capabilities to SCE. In fiscal 2006, we expect to recognize revenue of approximately $40 million from development, software, and license fees associated with this collaboration. Depending on the ultimate success of this next generation platform, we expect to generate, starting in fiscal 2007, revenue ranging from $50 million to $100 million annually from license fees and royalties over the next five years with the possibility of additional royalties for several years thereafter.
During our fiscal 2004, Microsoft Corporation announced that it had entered into an agreement with one of our competitors to develop technology for future Xbox products and services.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2005, we launched production of the NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb MCP, the first single-chip MCP to offer gigabit Ethernet, dual independent Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, or SATA, controllers, industry leading Redundant Array of Independent Disks, or RAID, features and hardware security processing. In June 2004, we announced the release of the NVIDIA nForce3 Ultra MCP,2006, Microsoft indicated that it would not order any more Xbox-related products from us after our second fiscal quarter. As a MCP for motherboards and PC systems based on the AMD64 computing platform. In October 2004, we introduced the NVIDIA nForce4 MCPs, our new family of high-performance PCI Express-based MCPs for AMD64 computing environments. NVIDIA nForce4 MCPs provide the platform technology that is designed to power this year's fastest gaming, enthusiast, and digital media PCs and motherboards, driving the PCI Express transiti on.


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Repatriation Legislation
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 was signed into law on October 22, 2004. This act provides a special one-time dividends received deduction on the repatriation of certain foreign earnings to a U.S. taxpayer.  We are currently in the process of evaluating whether or not, and to what extent, if any, this provision may benefit NVIDIA. We expect to complete such evaluation before the end of our fiscal year 2006.

Technology License

We entered into a technology license agreement with Tensilica, Inc. effective September 30, 2004. Harvey C. Jones, an NVIDIA director, is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tensilica, Inc.

Future Objectives and Challenges

Re-Establish GPU Leadership

We have committed ourselves to recapture technology leadership in our GPU business, while creating an architecture that is cost efficient. Duringresult, the second quarter of fiscal 2005,2006 was the last quarter during which we launchedwill recognize revenue from the industry’s first GPUs that support Microsoft’s Shader Model 3.0sale of our Xbox-related products to Microsoft. However, as a result of our license agreement with Microsoft relating to the production shipmentsuccessor product to their initial Xbox gaming console, the Xbox360, and related devices, we recognized an incremental amount of the GeForce 6800 Ultra, 6800 GT and 6800. During the third quarter of fiscal 2005, we launched the GeForce 6600 GT, GeForce 6600, and GeForce 6200 GPUs. To date, the GeForce 6 series has won over 75 awards worldwide and was named the recommended GPU for id Software’s highly anticipated game, Doom 3.With the GeForce 6 family, we are focused on capturing a significant share of the performance GPU segment, and then leveraging that leadership position into the mainstream and value GPU segments. By the end of fiscal year 2005, we expect to have a top-to-bottom product line that supports Shader Model 3.0.

PCI Express

PCI Express is expected to enable a new level of performance for high bandwidth applications like graphics and networking. The transition to PCI Express, which is extremely complex, is central to our GPU and MCP objectives thisfiscal year. We initiated this transition by creating our GeForce PCX series of GPUs, using HSI technology. During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we executed on our strategy to delivera full line of GPUs ready to support PCI Express chipsets.Our first PCI Express graphics solutions, the GeForce PCX series, are currently shipping to leading add-in-card partners, OEMs, system builders and other partners, and were released for retail salerelated license revenue from Microsoft during the second quarter of fiscal 2005. We expected2006, and expect to ramp up sales of our PCI Express products during the second quarter of fiscal 2005, but as a result of Intel Corporation’s, or Intel’s, delayed PCI Express chipset production, followed by their product recall, the performance desktop segment was impacted by stalling our customers’ production ramp of our GeForce PCX GPUs. During the third quarter of fiscal 2005, we announced and ramped up sales of the GeForce 6600 GT, GeForce 6600 and the GeForce 6200, our first native PCI Express GPUs.do so in future periods.

Gross Margin Improvement

We continue to remain intensely focused on improving our gross margins.margin. During the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005,2006, our gross margin was 32.3%37.8%, which represented an increase of 1.6%180 basis points from our gross margin of 36.0% for the first quarter of fiscal 2006 and an increase of 710 basis points from our gross margin of 30.7% for the second quarter of fiscal 2005. We expect our gross margin to improve bybe approximately 1.0%37% to 38% during the fourththird quarter of fiscal 2005 as the GeForce 6 product family becomes an increasing portion of our business.2006.

MCP Business

Our strategy is to attempt to win the Athlon 64 segment by building MCPs that lead the industry in performance and system technologies. We have dedicated a significant number of our engineers to our MCP business. We believe this investment is strategically important. We intend to offer a full line of MCPs for desktop, notebook and the server segments in the future.

WMP Business
Our WMP objective is to drive the multimedia handheld era by building exciting products that leverage our expertise, resources, and investments in digital media processing combined with our low power technology. With the WMPs on our roadmap, we anticipate that future cell phones will be able to receive television programs, record digital video like a camcorder, enable video phone calls, and be portable game players.


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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, andcost of revenue, expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.contingencies. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, accounts receivable, inventories, long-lived assets, goodwill, income taxes and contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the cir cumstances,circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.

We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our significant judgments and estimates usedThere were no material changes in the preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements. Our management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting policies and estimates with the audit committee of our board of directors and the audit committee has reviewed our disclosures relating to our critical accounting policies and estimates in this report.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue from product sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been delivered, the price is fixed and determinable and collection is reasonably assured. For all sales, we use a binding purchase order and in certain cases we use a contractual agreement as evidence of an arrangement. We consider delivery to occur upon shipment provided title and risk of loss have passed to the customer. At the point of sale, we assess whether the arrangement fee is fixed and determinable and whether collection is reasonably assured. If we determine that collection of a fee is not reasonably assured, we defer the fee and recognize revenue at the time collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt of cash.
Our policy on sales to distributors and stocking representatives is to defer recognition of revenue and related cost of revenue until the distributors and representatives resell the product.
We record estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs at the time revenue is recognized. Our customer programs primarily involve rebates, which are designed to serve as sales incentives to resellers of our products in various target markets. We account for rebates in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 01-9, or EITF 01-9,Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendor’s Products) and, as such, we accrue for 100% of the potential rebates and do not apply a breakage factor. Unclaimed rebates, which historically have not been significant, are reverse d to revenue upon expiration of the rebate. Rebates typically expire nine months from the date of the original sale.
Our customer programs also include marketing development funds, or MDFs. We account for MDFs as either a reduction of revenue or an operating expense in accordance with EITF 01-9. MDFs represent monies paid to retailers, system builders, OEMs, distributors and add-in card partners that are earmarked for market segment development and expansion and typically are designed to support our partners’ activities while also promoting NVIDIA products.
If market conditions decline, we may take actions to increase amounts offered under customer programs, possibly resulting in an incremental reduction of revenue at the time such programs are offered.
We also record a reduction to revenue by establishing a sales return allowance for estimated product returns at the time revenue is recognized, based primarily on historical return rates. However, if product returns for a particular fiscal period exceed historical return rates we may determine that additional sales return allowances are required to properly reflect our estimated exposure for product returns.
Accounts Receivable
We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts receivable for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. Management determines this allowance, which consists of an amount identified for specific customer issues as well as an amount based on general estimated exposure. Our overall estimated exposure excludes amounts covered by credit insurance and letters of credit. If the financial condition of our customers or insurance carrier were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required that could adversely affect our operating results. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain credit insurance in the future. Our current credit insurance agreement expires on December 31, 2004.

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Inventories
We write down our inventory for estimated lower of cost or market, obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required that could adversely affect our operating results. If actual market conditions are more favorable, we may have higher gross margins when products are sold. Sales to date of such products have not had a significant impact on our gross margin.
Valuation of Long-lived Assets
We review long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and intangible assets subject to amortization, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. We utilize a two-step approach to testing long-lived assets for impairment. The first step tests for possible impairment indicators. If an impairment indicator is present, the second step measures whether the asset is recoverable based on a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. Our review require s the use of judgment and estimates. No such impairment charges have occurred to date. However, future events or circumstances may result in a charge to earnings if we determine that the carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable.
Goodwill
We utilize a two-step approach to testing goodwill for impairment. The first step tests for possible impairment by applying a fair value-based test. The second step, if necessary, measures the amount of such an impairment by applying fair value-based tests to individual assets and liabilities. We elected to perform our annual goodwill impairment review during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. We completed our most recent annual impairment test during the fourthfirst quarter of fiscal 20042006 from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 2005. Please see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and concluded that there was no impairment. However, future events or circumstances may resultAnalysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in a charge to earnings due toour Annual Report on Form 10-K for the potentialyear ended January 30, 2005 for a write downdiscussion of goodwill in connection with such tests.our critical accounting policies and estimates.

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Income Taxes
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, or SFAS No. 109,Accounting for Income Taxes, establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for the effect of income taxes. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, we recognize federal, state and foreign current tax liabilities or assets based on our estimate of taxes payable or refundable in the current fiscal year by tax jurisdiction. We also recognize federal, state and foreign deferred tax assets or liabilities for our estimate of future tax effects attributable to temporary differences and carryforwards; and we record a valuation allowance to reduce any deferred tax assets by the amount of any tax benefits that, based on available evidence and judgment, are not expected to be realized.
Our calculation of current and deferred tax assets and liabilities is based on certain estimates and judgments and involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws. Our estimates of current and deferred tax assets and liabilities may change based, in part, on added certainty or finality to an anticipated outcome, changes in accounting or tax laws in the United States, or U.S., or foreign jurisdictions where we operate, or changes in other facts or circumstances. In addition, we recognize liabilities for potential U.S. and foreign income tax contingencies based on our estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes may be due. If we determine that payment of these amounts is unnecessary or if the recorded tax liability is less than our current assessment, we may be requir ed to recognize an income tax benefit or additional income tax expense in our financial statements, accordingly.

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Contingencies
We are subject to the possibility of various loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business. We consider the likelihood of loss or impairment of an asset or the incurrence of a liability, as well as our ability to reasonably estimate the amount of loss in determining loss contingencies. An estimated loss contingency is accrued when it is probable that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We regularly evaluate current information available to us to determine whether such accruals should be adjusted and whether new accruals are required.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain items in our condensed consolidated income statements of operations expressed as a percentage of revenue.

 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
  
Three Months Ended
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
 
October 24,
 
October 26,
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
  
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
                  
                  
Revenue  100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%      100.0%    100.0%    100.0%    100.0% 
Cost of revenue  67.772.468.471.1   62.2  69.3  63.1  68.9 
Gross profit  32.327.631.628.9  37.8  30.7  36.9  31.1 
Operating expenses:                          
Research and development  17.015.017.414.7  14.9  18.7  14.8  17.6 
Sales, general and administrative  9.78.710.39.1  9.0  11.2  8.6  10.5 
In-process research and development  0.00.70.00.2
Total operating expenses  26.724.427.724.0   23.9  29.9  23.4  28.1 
Operating income  5.63.23.94.9   13.9  0.8  13.5  3.0 
Interest and other income, net  0.70.60.60.5  0.9  0.6  0.8  0.6 
Convertible debenture redemption expense  0.0(2.7) 0.0(1.0) 
Income before income tax expense  6.31.14.54.4  14.8  1.4  14.3  3.6 
Income tax expense (benefit)  1.3(0.2) 0.90.7 
Income tax expense  1.8  0.3  2.3  0.7 
Net income  5.0% 1.3% 3.6% 3.7%     13.0%    1.1%    12.0%    2.9% 

Three and NineSix Months Ended October 24,July 31, 2005 and July 25, 2004 and October 26, 2003

Revenue
 
During the secondfirst quarter of fiscal 2005,2006, we began reporting threereorganized our operating segments to bring all major product groups in line with our strategy to position ourselves as a leader in graphics and digital media processing solutions for digital devices. We now report financial information for four product-line operating segments:segments to our chief operating decision maker, or CODM, our Chief Executive Officer: the GPU business,Business, which is composed of products that support desktop PCs, notebook PCs and professional workstations; the MCP business,Business, which is composed of NVIDIA nForce products and Xbox products; and the WMP business,Business, which is comprised of products that supportsupports handheld personal digital assistants, cellular phones and cellular phones.other handheld devices; and the Consumer Electronics Business, which is composed of revenue from our contractual arrangements with SCE for the development of their next-generation PlayStation3, revenue from sales of our Xbox-related products, revenue from our license agreement with Microsoft relating to the successor product to their initial Xbox gaming console, the Xbox360, and related devices, and digital media processor products.  Please refer to Note 11of10 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
 
Revenue was $515.6$574.8 million for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 20052006 and $486.1$456.1 million for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2004,2005, which represented an increase of 6%26%.    ThisRevenue was $1.16 billion for the first half of fiscal 2006 and $928.0 million for the first half of fiscal 2005, which represented an increase of 25%. A discussion of our revenue results for each of our operating segments is as follows:
GPU Business
GPU Business revenue was $385.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and $288.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, which represented an increase of 34%.  The revenue increase was primarily the result of increased sales of our desktop products and NVIDIA Quadro workstation products. Desktop revenue increased due to a significant increase in high-end unit sales volume and increased average selling prices that were offset by a decrease in sales of mainstream desktop products. Workstation revenue increased due to an increase in average selling prices as a result of the increased mix of GeForce 6-based products during the second quarter of fiscal 2006. Offsetting these increases was a slight decrease in mobile revenue due to sales volume decreases that were offset by an increase in average selling prices. 

GPU Business revenue increased by 20% to $795.8 million for the first half of fiscal 2006 compared to $663.8 million for the first half of fiscal 2005. The increase was the result of sales of our GeForce 6 and GeForce 7 families of desktop GPUs that serve the high-end segment. Sales of our NVIDIA Quadro workstation products continued to improve, resulting primarily from an increase in average selling prices.
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MCP Business
MCP Business revenue was $75.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and $33.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, which represented an increase of 128%.  MCP Business revenue increased by 117% to $147.7 million for the first half of fiscal 2006 compared to $68.1 million for the first half of fiscal 2005. The overall increase in MCP Business revenue is primarily due to increased sales of our NVIDIA Quadro workstationnForce4 products, increased memory sales and increased sales of our handheld products, offset by decreases in sales of our Xbox and NVIDIA nForce products and a net decrease in sales of our desktop GPU products. The increase in sales of our NVIDIA Quadro workstation products inwhich we began selling during the thirdfourth quarter of fiscal 2005 when comparedand, to a lesser degree, to increased sales of NVIDIA nForce3 products, offset by decreased sales of NVIDIA nForce2 products.

WMP Business
WMP Business revenue was $2.1 million for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2004 was primarily2006 and $5.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, which represented a decrease of 59%.  WMP Business revenue decreased by 9% to $9.9 million for the first half of fiscal 2006 compared to $10.9 million for the first half of fiscal 2005. The overall decrease in WMP Business revenue is due to unit sales volume increases. Thedecreases, offset by an increase in memory sales inaverage selling prices. Our current WMP Business has been heavily concentrated at one original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, and its products have not achieved the thirdanticipated level of commercial success.  However, we expect that we will ramp up production of WMP products related to a number of new design wins with existing and new customers for the holiday season.

Consumer Electronics Business
Consumer Electronics Business revenue was $81.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and $86.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, when compared towhich represented a decrease of 6%.  During the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 20042006, we recognized revenue from our contractual arrangements with SCE for the development of its next-generation PlayStation3.  No such revenue was a result of the alignment of our memory sales wit h increased shipments of our GeForce 6 productsrecognized during the quarter. The increase in handheld sales in the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005 when compared toas our definitive agreement with SCE was not executed until the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 20042006. Offsetting the SCE revenue was primarily duea decrease in sales ofXbox-related products to sales of our GoForce 4000 WMPs. Sales of our desktop GPU products decreased slightly inMicrosoftin the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2004. This slight decrease in desktop GPU products was the result of a decline in sales of our older desktop GPU products, which was not quite offset by the increase in sales of our newer GeForce 6 GPU products. Sales of our NVIDIA nForce products also decreased slightly in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2004. This slight decrease in NVIDIA nForce sales was a result of a significant increase in sales of our NVIDIA nForce3 products that was more than offset by a decline in sales of our older NVIDIA nForce1 and NVIDIA nForce2 products. Sales of our Xbox products have historically fluctuated based on the timing of orders from Microsoft Corporation, or Microsoft. Sales to Microsoft were slightly lower in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 when compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2004.

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Revenue increased by 7% to $1.44 billion for the first nine months of fiscal 2005 compared to $1.35 billion for the first nine months of fiscal 2004. This revenue increase was primarily due to increased sales of our NVIDIA Quadro workstation products, increased memory sales, increased sales of our handheld products and increased sales of our notebook GPU products, offset by decreases in sales of our Xbox and NVIDIA nForce products. The increase in sales of our NVIDIA Quadro workstation products in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was primarily2006 due to unit sales volume increases. The increase in memory sales indecreases.  During our fiscal 2004, Microsoft Corporation announced that it had entered into an agreement with one of our competitors to develop technology for future Xbox products and services.  During the first nine monthsquarter of fiscal 2006, Microsoft indicated that it would not order any more Xbox-related products from us after our second fiscal quarter. As a result, the second quarter of fiscal 2006 was the last quarter during which we will recognize revenue from the sale of our Xbox-related products to Microsoft. However, as a result of our license agreement with Microsoft relating to the successor product to their initial Xbox gaming console, the Xbox360, and related devices, we recognized an incremental amount of related license revenue from Microsoft during the second quarter of fiscal 2006, and expect to do so in future periods.

Consumer Electronics Business revenue increased by 26% to $139.6 million for the first half of fiscal 2006 compared to $110.5 million for the first half of fiscal 2005. During the first half of fiscal 2006, we recognized revenue from our contractual arrangements with SCE for the development of its next-generation PlayStation3. No such revenue was recognized during the first half of fiscal 2005 when compared toas our definitive agreement with SCE was not executed until the first nine monthsquarter of fiscal 2004 was a result2006. In addition, revenue from sales of the alignment of memory sales with incr eased shipments of our GeForce 6Xbox-related products to Microsoft during the period. The increase in handheld sales infirst half of fiscal 2006 was greater than the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was primarily due to our acquisition of MediaQ, Inc. in October 2003, which represented our initial entry into the handheld market. The slight increase in notebook GPU products in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was a result ofunit sales of our GeForce FX Go notebook GPU products outpacing the decline in other of our older notebook GPU product lines during the period. The decrease in NVIDIA nForce sales during the first nine months of fiscal 2005 when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was a result of a significant increase in sales of our NVIDIA nForce3 products that was more than offset by a decline in sales of our older NVIDIA nForce1 and NVIDIA nForce2 products. Sales of our Xbox products have historically fluctuated based on the timing of orders from Mi crosoft. Sales to Microsoft were slightly lower in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 when compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2004.volume increases.
Consolidated Revenue
 
Revenue from sales to customers outside of the United States and other Americas accounted for 64%76% and 67% of total revenue for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2006 and 2005, and 67% for the third quarter of fiscal 2004.respectively. Revenue from sales to customers outside of the United States and other Americas accounted for 70%79% and 77% of total revenue for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2006 and 2005, and 73% for the first nine months of fiscal 2004.respectively. Revenue by geographic region is allocated to individual countries based on the location to which the products are initially billed even if the foreign contract equipment manufacturers, or CEMs’, and add-in board and motherboard manufacturers’ revenue is attributable to end customers in a different location.  The decrease in the percentage of revenue from sales to customers outside of the United States and other Americas is primarily due to increased sales to one of our CEMs,Xbox-related products, which are billed to Microsoft in the United States.
 
Sales to Microsoft accounted for approximately 21%13% of revenue for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 20052006 and 25%10% of revenue for the third quarterfirst half of fiscal 2004.2006. Our other three largest customers accounted for approximately 30%25% of revenue for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 20052006 and 37%32% of revenue for the third quarterfirst half of fiscal 2004.2006. Sales to Microsoft accounted for approximately 16%20% of revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 and 13% of revenue for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 and 18% of revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2004.2005. Our other three largest customers accounted for approximately 36%28% of revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 and 41% of revenue for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 and 42% of revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2004.2005. 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, we expect Xbox revenue to decrease significantly due to a seasonal decline in orders from Microsoft. We believe that we can offset this decrease with increased sales of our GeForce 6 series of GPUs and increased sales of our handheld products. In future periods, our revenue may be affected by demand for and market acceptance of our products and/or our customers’ products, our ability to successfully develop and produce our products in volume production, competitive pressures resulting in lower than expected average selling prices, and new product announcements or product introductions by our competitors.
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Gross Profit

Gross profit consists of total revenue, net of allowances, less cost of revenue. Cost of revenue consists primarily of the cost of semiconductors purchased from subcontractors, including wafer fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, manufacturing support costs, including labor and overhead associated with such purchases, final test yield fallout, inventory provisions and shipping costs.  Cost of revenue also includes development costs for license and service arrangements. Gross margin is the ratio of gross profit to revenue. Our gross margin can vary in any period depending on the mix of types of products sold.
 

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Our gross margin was 32.3%37.8% and 27.6%30.7% for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 20052006 and the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2004,2005, respectively. Our gross margin was 31.6%36.9% and 28.9%31.1% for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2006 and the first half of fiscal 2005, and the first nine monthsrespectively. A discussion of fiscal 2004, respectively. Gross margins improvedour gross profit results for each of our operating segments is as follows:
GPU Business
The gross margin of our GPU Business increased during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005 and the first nine months of fiscal 20052006 as compared to the same periods in the prior yearsecond quarter of 2005 as a result of three primary factors. First, during fiscal 2004 our GeForce FX series of GPU products had experienced lower gross margins than previous series of GeForce GPU products, suchwell as the GeForce 4 series. Company-wide efforts were made to drive down cost and improve gross margins and, as a result, during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2006 as compared to the first half of fiscal 2005 we were ableprimarily due to improvethe initial sales of our gross margins. In addition, in the first nine months of fiscal 2005, we realizedGeForce 7 series GPUs and increased sales of our performance GeForce FX desktop GPU products and began shipping our GeForce 6 series GPUs, which are amongcollectively now account for more than 75% of our highest gross margin products. Finally,GPU Business revenue.  In addition, revenue from our NVIDIA Quadro workstation products, which typically provide the highest gross margins of any of our products, increased as a percentage of our total revenueGPU Business revenue.

MCP Business
The gross margin of our MCP Business increased during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2005as well as during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 when2006 as compared to the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2004. This2005 primarily due to the increase in revenue from sales of our mixNVIDIA nForce3 and NVIDIA nForce4 products.  Also, our NVIDIA nForce3 and NVIDIA nForce4 products have experienced higher gross margins than our previous generations of revenue toward higher-marginNVIDIA nForce products, led to a positive impact of overallsuch as the NVIDIA nForce2. 

 WMP Business
The gross margin of our WMP Business increased during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005 and the first nine months of fiscal 2005.
In the future, we could be subject to excess or obsolete inventories and be required to take additional write-downs if growth slows or if we incorrectly forecast product demand. A reduction in demand and market acceptance of our products and/or our customers’ products could also negatively impact our gross margins. We remain intensely focused on driving down cost and improving gross margins. We expect margins to continue to improve throughout the year2006 as the GeForce 6 series becomes an increasing portion of our business.

Operating Expenses

Research and Development.    Research and development expenses consist of salaries and benefits, cost of development tools and software, cost of new product development, consultant costs and other expenses such as facilities and equipment costs. Research and development expenses increased by $14.8 million, or 20%, from the third quarter of fiscal 2004compared to the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005 primarily due to an $8.2increase in average selling prices.  Our WMP Business has been heavily concentrated at one OEM.  The gross margin of our WMP Business decreased during the first half of fiscal 2006 as compared to the first half of fiscal 2005 due to the write-off in the first half of fiscal 2006 of certain handheld products that we believe exceeds the demand of that OEM. 

Consumer Electronics Business
The gross margin of our Consumer Electronics Business increased during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2005 as well as during the first half of fiscal 2006 as compared to the first half of fiscal 2005 primarily due to the reduction of die costs for Xbox-related products. The reduction in die costs began during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 as the result of our utilization of a different foundry for the manufacturing of the semiconductor wafers used for Xbox-related products.
Consolidated Gross Margin
The improvement in our gross margin reflects our continuing focus on delivering cost effective product architectures, enhancing business processes and driving profitable growth.  We expect our gross margin to be approximately 37% to 38% during the third quarter of fiscal 2006.

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Operating Expenses
Research and Development

  
Three Months Ended
     
Six Months Ended
     
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
  
%
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
  $ % 
  
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
Change
 
  
(in millions)
 
Research and Development:
                 
Salaries and related benefits $50.1 $43.3 $6.8  16% $98.9 $84.2 $14.7  17% 
Computer software and lab equipment  11.5  10.4  1.1  10%  22.4  20.6  1.8  9% 
New product development  8.5  8.1  0.4  5%  15.3  12.7  2.6  20% 
Facility expense  8.3  8.1  0.2  2%  16.1  15.5  0.6  4% 
Depreciation and amortization  14.3  14.2  0.1  1%  28.6  27.7  0.9  3% 
License and development project costs  (9.6) -  (9.6) -  (14.3) -  (14.3) - 
Other  2.7  1.3  1.4  108%  4.7  2.5  2.2  88% 
Total $85.8 $85.4 $0.4  0.5% $171.7 $163.2 $8.5  5% 
Research and development as a percentage of net revenue  
14.9
%
 
18.7
%
       
14.8
%
 
17.6
%
      
Research and development expenses were $85.8 million and $85.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, an increase of $0.4 million, or 0.5%. This increase was primarily due to a $6.8 million increase in salaries and benefits related to 200 additional personnel and a $1.1 million increase in computer software and lab equipment. These increases were offset by an increase of $9.6 million in license and development project costs, primarily related to development costs related to our collaboration with SCE that are classified as cost of revenue in our condensed consolidated income statement and other engineering costs that were capitalized on our condensed consolidated balance sheet and will be expensed on a percentage of completion basis under a development contract. Neither of these development projects were in effect during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.
Research and development expenses were $171.7 million and $163.2 million for the first half of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, an increase of $8.5 million, or 5%. This increase was primarily due to a $14.7 million increase in salaries and benefits related to 200 additional personnel, a $1.7 million increase in depreciation charges primarily related to purchases of new research and development emulation equipment and intangible assets, a $3.8$2.6 million increase in new product development costs related to an overall increase in product tape-outs and prototype materials, and a $1.1 million increa se in other expenses, such as travel and entertainment, facilities and legal fees, during the period. Research and development expenses increased by $53.1 million, or 27%, from the first nine months of fiscal 2004 to the first nine months of fiscal 2005 primarily due to a $27.6 million increase related to additional personnel, a $13.9$1.8 million increase in depreciation chargescomputer software and lab equipment. These increases were offset by an increase of $14.3 million in license and development project costs, primarily related to purchasesdevelopment costs related to our collaboration with SCE that are classified as cost of newrevenue in our condensed consolidated income statement and other engineering costs that were capitalized on our condensed consolidated balance sheet and will be expensed on a percentage of completion basis under a development contract. Neither of these development projects were in effect during the first half of fiscal 2005.
We anticipate that we will continue to devote substantial resources to research and development, emulation equipment and intangible assets, a $7.9 millionwe expect these expenses to increase in new product development costs, a $2.3 million increaseabsolute dollars in facility expensesthe foreseeable future due to the increased complexity and a $1.4 million increase in other expenses, such as travel and entertainment, and legal fees, during the period.greater number of products under development.

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Sales, General and Administrative.    

  
Three Months Ended
     
Six Months Ended
     
  
July 31,
 
July 25,
  $ 
%
 
July 31,
 
July 25,
  $ % 
  
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
Change
 
2005
 
2004
 
Change
 
Change
 
  
(in millions)
 
Sales, General and Administrative:
                         
Salaries and related benefits $28.0 $22.7 $5.3  23% $54.2 $45.3 $8.9  20% 
Advertising and promotions  6.9  13.1  (6.2) (47%)  13.8  23.8  (10.0) (42%) 
Legal and accounting fees  4.6  1.6  3.0  195%  8.6  4.1  4.5  110% 
Facility expense  3.0  2.2  0.8  38%  6.1  4.5  1.6  35% 
Depreciation and amortization  8.3  8.9  (0.6) (7%)  16.3  17.8  (1.5) (8%) 
Other  0.9  2.4  (1.5) (63%)  0.7  2.6  (1.9) (73%) 
Total $51.7 $50.9 $0.8  2% $99.7 $98.1 $1.6  2% 
Sales, general and administrative as a percentage of net revenue  
9.0
%
 
11.2
%
       
8.6
%
 
10.5
%
      

Sales, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, commissionswere $51.7 million and bonuses, promotional tradeshow and advertising expenses, marketing development expenses, travel and entertainment expenses, legal and accounting expenses and other expenses. Sales, general and administrative expenses increased $7.9$50.9 million or 19%, fromin the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 20042006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, an increase of $0.8 million, or 2%. This increase was primarily due to a $5.3 million increase related to 77 additional personnel, a $3.0 million increase in legal expenses primarily due to certain insurance reimbursements that were received during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005, primarily due to a $4.1 million increase related to 82 additional personnel primarily in sales and marketing, $2.7an $0.8 million increase in advertising, marketing development and travel and entertainment expenses relatedfacilities expense due to the launchexpansion of our new GeForce 6 products, a $1.5 million increase related to legal, tax and accounting fees, and $400,000 overall decrease in other general administrative activities. Sales, general and administrative expenses increased $25.3 million, or 21%, from the first nine months of fiscal 2004 to the first nine months of fiscal 2005 primarily due to an $18.0 million increase in advertising, marketing development and travel and entertainment expenses related to the launch of our new GeForce 6 products, a $12.3 increase related to additional personnel primarily in sales and marketing, and a $2.6 million increase in depreciation charges primarily related to purchases of office equipment during fiscal 2004.international sites. These increases were offset by a $3.7$6.2 million decrease in computer software equipment,advertising and promotions,primarily associated with a $2.4reduction in certain marketing programs, trade show expenses and advertising duringthe second quarter of fiscal 2006 compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2005.

Sales, general and administrative expenses were $99.7 million and $98.1 million for the first half of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, an increase of $1.6 million, or 2%. This increase was primarily due to an $8.9 million increase related to 77 additional personnel, a $4.5 million increase in legal expenses primarily due to certain insurance reimbursements that were received during the first half of fiscal 2005, and a $1.6 million increase in facilities expense due primarily to the expansion of our international sites. These increases were offset by a $10.0 million decrease in legal fees relatedadvertising and promotions, primarily associated with a reduction in certain marketing programs, trade show expenses and advertising during the first half of fiscal 2006 compared to resolutionthe first half of the Microsoft arbitrationfiscal 2005. In addition, deprecation and shareholder lawsuits, tax and accounting fees, and aamortization decreased $1.5 million decreaseprimarily due to the end of life of some intangible assets that occurred during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.

We expect sales, general and administrative expenses to continue to increase in other general administrative activities.absolute dollars as we continue to support our operations and global business expansion efforts, expand our sales, launch our new products, and protect our business interests.

Interest Income and Interest Expense

Interest income consists of interest earned on cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. Interest income decreased $2.0was $4.9 million from $4.6and $2.7 million to $2.6 million fromin the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2004 to2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, an increase of $2.2 million. Interest income was $8.8 million and $5.5 million for the third quarterfirst half of fiscal 2005. Interest income decreased $7.8 million from $16.0 million to $8.2 million from the first nine months2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, an increase of fiscal 2004 to the first nine months of fiscal 2005.$3.3 million. These decreasesincreases were primarily the result of lowerhigher average balances of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities dueand higher yields during the first half of fiscal 2006 when compared to the redemption of our convertible subordinated debentures during the third quarterfirst half of fiscal 2004.2005.

Interest expense consists primarily consists of interest incurred as a result of capital lease obligations and, prior to the redemption in the third quarter of fiscal 2004, interest on our convertible subordinated debentures. Interest expense decreased from $3.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 to $25,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2005. Interest expense decreased $11.8 million from $11.9 million to $150,000 from the first nine months of fiscal 2004 to the first nine months of fiscal 2005. These decreases were primarily due to the redemption of our convertible subordinated debentures.obligations.


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Other Income and Other Expense, net

Other income and expense primarily consists of realized gains and losses on the sale of marketable securities. Other income decreased by $1.4 million from the third quarter of fiscal 2004 to the third quarter of fiscal 2005 primarily due to $2.5 million of realized gains on the sale of marketable securities during the third quarter of fiscal 2004 as a result of our liquidation of a significant portion of our marketable securities portfolio in order to obtain the cash required to redeem our convertible subordinated debentures in October 2003. This decrease was offset by a $1.0 million realized gain during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005 related to the receipt of cash and marketable securities as part of an investment exchange. Other income decreased by $2.1 million from the first nine months of fiscal 2004 to the first nine months of fiscal primarily due to $2.5 million of realized gains on the sale of marketable securities during the third quarter of fiscal 2004.

Income Taxes

We recognized income tax expense of $6.5$10.4 million and $13.1$1.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively. Income tax expense as a percentage of income before taxes, or our annual effective tax rate, was 12.2% for the threesecond quarter of fiscal 2006 and nine months ended October 24, 2004, respectively. The effective income tax rate20% for the three and nine months ended October 24, 2004 was 20%.second quarter of fiscal 2005. We recognized income tax benefit of $800,000 for the three months ended October 26, 2003, and recognized income tax expense of $10.2$26.5 million and $6.6 million for the nine months ended October 26, 2003. Thefirst half of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively. Our annual effective income tax rate was 16% for the threefirst half of fiscal 2006 and nine months ended October 26, 2003 was (14.5%) and 16.8%, respectively. The20% for the first half of fiscal 2005. During the second quarter of fiscal 2006, we reduced our effective income tax rate to 16% for the three and nine months ended October 26, 2003 was composedyear from the 20% effective tax rate used in the first quarter of three separate rates. The $13.1 million convertible debenture redemption expense was tax affectedfiscal 2006, primarily as a benefit at a 40% rate. The $3.5 million write-offresult of in-process research and development was not tax affected and the operatingchanges in our geographic mix of income was taxed at our anticipated 20% rate for fiscal 2004. Oursubject to tax.Our annual effective tax rate is lower than the U.S.United States Federal Statutory rate of 35% due primarily to income earned in lower tax jurisdictions and research and development tax credits.

The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 was signed into law on October 22, 2004. This act provides a specialone-time dividends received deduction on the repatriation of certain foreign earnings to a United States taxpayer. We are currently in the process of evaluating whether or not, and to what extent, if any, this provision may benefit NVIDIA.We expect to complete such evaluation before the end of our fiscal year 2006. The range of possible amounts that we are considering for repatriation under this provision is between zero and $500 million. The range of income tax expense we would recognize if we repatriate earnings in this range is expected to be between zero and $27 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 
As of October 24, 2004,July 31, 2005, we had $587.9$717.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, a decreasean increase of $16.2$47.5 million from $670.0 million at the end of fiscal 2004.2005. Our portfolio of cash equivalents and marketable securities is managed by several financial institutions. Our investment policy requires the purchase of top-tier investment grade securities, the diversification of asset type and certain limits on our portfolio duration.
 
Operating activities generated cash of $33.0$136.9 million and $50.6$32.6 million during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 20052006 and fiscal 2004,2005, respectively. Net cash provided byCash flows from operating activities duringfor the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 was2006 were derived primarily from our net income of $139.3 million, and a decrease of $14.6 million in our inventories on our condensed consolidated balance sheet. Offsetting these increases is an increase in our accounts receivable of $48.6 million, primarily due to $52.3 millionthe decreased linearity of net income andsales during the second quarter of fiscal 2006, which resulted in a $77.7 million increase accounts payable related to the timing of payments made to our suppliers offset by a $63.3 million increase in inventory caused by a ramp-up in productionhigher percentage of our new GeForce 6 products and a $122.0 million increaseshipments in accounts receivable primarily related to increased sales during the last month of the thirdquarter when compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, and a decrease of our accounts payable of $17.2 million primarily due to the difference in timing of when payments were made to vendors in the second quarter of fiscal 2006 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.
 
Cash used in investing activities has consisted primarily of investments in marketable securities and purchases of property and equipment, which include leasehold improvements for our facilities, and intangible assets. Investing activities used cash of $93.4$60.3 million during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 compared to cash provided of $108.9 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2004.2006. Net cash used by investing activities during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 20052006 was primarily due to $44.1$42.7 million of cash used for capital expenditures, including purchases of new research and development equipment, hardware equipment, technology licenses, software and intangible assets, and $17.6 million of net purchases of marketable securities. In addition, we used $49.3 million for capital expenditures primarily attributable to purchases of leasehold improvements for our new data center at our headquarters campus, new research and development emulation equipment, technology licenses, software and inta ngible assets. We expect to spend approximately $15.0$30 million to $25.0$50 million for capital expenditures during the remainder of fiscal 2005,2006, primarily for purchases of software licenses, emulation equipment, computercomputers and engineering workstations. In addition, we may continue to use cash in connection with the acquisition of new businesses or assets.
 
Financing activities providedused cash of $2.7$43.0 million during the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 20052006, primarily from $30.8as a result of $98.5 million of cash used in our stock repurchase program, offset by $55.9 million of common stock issued under employee stock plans, offset by $24.6 million related to our stock repurchase program.plans.
 

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Stock Repurchase Program
 
On August 9, 2004 we announced that our Board of Directors, or the Board, had authorized a stock repurchase program under which we may purchase up to $300.0 millionrepurchase shares of our common stock, oversubject to certain specifications, up to an aggregate maximum amount of $300.0 million. During the second quarter of fiscal 2006, we repurchased 1.8 million shares of our common stock for $50.0 million. As part of our share repurchase program, we may from time-to-time enter into structured share repurchase transactions with financial institutions. These agreements generally require that we make an up-front payment in exchange for the right to receive a three year period through August 2007. The repurchases will be madefixed number of shares of our common stock upon execution of the agreement, and an incremental number of shares of our common stock, within a minimum and a maximum, at the end of the term of the agreement. We entered into two such transactions during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 which, in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, from time to time, in compliance with Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Actaggregate, required up-front payments totaling $25.0 million. Under these agreements, we repurchased 0.9 million shares of 1934, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. Our stock repurchase program does not obligate us to acquire any particular amount ofour common stock, and may be suspended at any time at our discretion. The repurchases will be funded from our available working capital. Towhich we recorded on the trade date of the transactions. Through the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2006, we have repurchased 2.15.8 million shares under our stock repurchase program for a total cost of approximately $24.6$123.1 million.
 
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Operating Capital and Capital Expenditure Requirements
 
We believe that our existing cash balances and anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet our operating, acquisition and capital requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, there is no assurance thatIf we will notwere to need to raise additional equity or debt financing, within this time frame. Additional financingit may not be available on favorable terms or at all and may be dilutive to our then-current stockholders. We also may require additional capital for other purposes not presently contemplated. If we are unable to obtain sufficient capital, we could be required to curtail capital equipment purchases or research and development expenditures, which could harm our business. Factors that could affect our cash used or generated from operations and, as a result, our need to seek additio naladditional borrowings or capital include:
 
·  decreased demand and market acceptance for our products and/or our customers’ products;
 
·  inability to successfully develop and produce in volume production our next-generation products;
 
·  competitive pressures resulting in lower than expected average selling prices; and
 
·  new product announcements or product introductions by our competitors.
 
For additional factors see "Business Risks - Our operating results are unpredictable and may fluctuate, and if our operating results are below the expectations of securities analysts or investors our stock price could decline."
section entitled “Business Risks.”
 
Other key factors that could affect our liquidity include:
 
Shelf Registration Statement
 
In December 2003, we filed a Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, under their "shelf"“shelf” registration process. This shelf registration was declared effective by the SEC on March 25, 2004. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, stock purchase contracts and/or stock purchase units in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $500.0 million. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. In particular, we expect to incur significant operating expenses in connection with:
 
·  continuing to develop our technology;
 
·  hiring additional personnel;
 
·  expanding our sales and marketing organization and activities;
 
·  acquiring complementary technologies, assets or businesses; and
 
·  capital expenditures.
 
3dfx Asset Purchase
 
The 3dfx asset purchase closed on April 18, 2001. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the cash consideration due at the closing was $70.0 million, less $15.0 million that was loaned to 3dfx pursuant to a Credit Agreement dated December 15, 2000. The Asset Purchase Agreement also provided, subject to the other provisions thereof, that if 3dfx properly certified that all its debts and other liabilities had been provided for, then we would have been obligated to pay 3dfx two million shares of NVIDIA common stock. If 3dfx could not make such a certification, but instead properly certified that its debts and liabilities could be satisfied for less than $25.0 million, then 3dfx could have elected to receive a cash payment equal to the amount of such debts and liabilities and a reduced number of shares of our common stock, with such reduction calculated by dividing the cash payment by $25.00 per share. If 3dfx could not certify that all of its debts and liabilities had been provided for, or could not be satisfied, for less than $25.0 million, we would not be obligated under the agreement to pay any additional consideration for the assets. We are currently party to litigation relating to certain aspects of the asset purchase and 3dfx’s subsequent bankruptcy in October 2002. Please see Part II,I, Item 1, “Legal Proceedings”Note 11, “Litigation” for further information regarding this litigation.


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Contractual Obligations

As of October 24, 2004,July 31, 2005, our outstanding inventory purchase obligations have increaseddecreased to $359.3approximately $267 million from $213.3approximately $457 million as of January 25, 200430, 2005, primarily due to a decrease in purchase orders forfrom the ramping of our new GeForce 6 series of GPUs.GPUs in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. There were no other material changes in our contractual obligations from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 25, 2004.30, 2005. Please see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 25, 2004.30, 2005 for a description of our contractual obligations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2003,December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued InterpretationStatement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 46,123(R), or FIN 46,SFAS No. 123(R),Consolidation of Variable Interest EntitiesShare-Based Payment,which addresses consolidation by business enterprisesrequires the measurement and recognition of variable interest entities, or VIEs, either: (1) that do not have sufficient equity investment at risk to permitcompensation expense for all stock-based compensation payments. In April 2005, the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (2) in whichSEC delayed the equity investors lack an essential characteristic of a controlling financial interest. In December 2003, the FASB completed deliberations of proposed modifications to FIN 46, or FIN 46 (R), resulting in an effective date of no later thanSFAS No. 123(R), which is now effective for annual periods that begin after June 15, 2005. In March 2005, the SEC issuedStaff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, or SAB No. 107, which includes interpretive guidance for the initial implementation of SFAS 123(R). SFAS No. 123(R) allows for either prospective recognition of compensation expense or retrospective recognition. We are currently evaluating which expense recognition method we will apply upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R). We will implement the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) beginning in fiscal 2007. Once adopted, the standard will have an adverse impact on our operating results.

During the first interimquarter of fiscal 2006, we transitioned from a Black-Scholes model to a binomial model for calculating the estimated fair value of new stock-based compensation awards granted under our stock option plans. As a result of recent regulatory guidance, including SAB No. 107, and in anticipation of the impending effective date of SFAS No. 123(R), we reevaluated the assumptions we use to estimate the value of employee stock options and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan, beginning with stock options granted and shares issued under our employee stock purchase plan in our first quarter of fiscal 2006. Our management determined that the use of implied volatility is expected to be more reflective of market conditions and, therefore, can reasonably be expected to be a better indicator of expected volatility than historical volatility. Additionally, in the first quarter of fiscal 2006, we began segregating options into groups for employees with relatively homogeneous exercise behavior in order to make full use of the capabilities of the binomial valuation model. As such, the expected term is based on detailed historical data about employees' exercise behavior, vesting schedules, and death and disability probabilities. Our management believes the resulting binomial calculation provides a more refined estimate of the fair value of our employee stock options. For our employee stock purchase plan, our management decided to continue to use the Black-Scholes model to calculate the estimated fair value.

In June 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, or annual period ending after March 15, 2004. TheSFAS No. 154,Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3. SFAS No. 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle, and changes the requirements for accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. We will adopt SFAS 154 during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. We do not expect the adoption of FIN 46(R) did notSFAS No. 154 to have ana material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or financial position.cash flows.

In March 2004, the FASB approved the consensus reached on the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-1, or EITF 03-1,The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments.EITF 03-1 provides guidance for identifying impaired investments and new disclosure requirements for investments that are deemed to be temporarily impaired. On September 30, 2004, the FASB issued a final staff position EITF Issue 03-1-1 that delays the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance included in paragraphs 10 through 20 of EITF 03-1. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures required by EITF 03-1 remain effective for our fiscal year ending 2005. We do not believe the impact of adoption of this EITF consensus will be significant to our overall results of operations or financial position.


ITEM 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
We invest in a variety of financial instruments, consisting principally of investments in commercial paper, money market funds and highly liquid debt securities of corporations, municipalities and the United States government and its agencies. These investments are denominated in U.S.United States dollars.
 
We account for our investment instruments in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, or SFAS No. 115,Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. All of the cash equivalents and marketable securities are treated as "available-for-sale"“available-for-sale” under SFAS No. 115. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Due in part t oto these factors, our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates or we may suffer losses in principal if we are forced to sell securities that decline in market value due to changes in interest rates. However, because we classify our debt securities as "available-for-sale,"“available-for-sale”, no gains or losses are recognized due to changes in interest rates unless such securities are sold prior to maturity. These securities are reported at fair value with the related unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity, net of tax.
 
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Exchange Rate Risk

We consider our direct exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations to be minimal. Currently, sales and arrangements with third-party manufacturers and subcontractors provide for pricing and payment in U.S.United States dollars, and, therefore, are not subject to exchange rate fluctuations. Increases in the value of the Unites States’ dollar relative to other currencies would make our products more expensive, which could negatively impact our ability to compete. Conversely, decreases in the value of the United States’ dollar relative to other currencies could result in our suppliers raising their prices in order to continue doing business with us. To date, we have not engaged in any currency hedging activities, although we may do so in the future. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could harm our business in the future.

Business Risks
 
In addition to the risks discussed in "Management's“Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," our business is subject to the risks set forth below.
 
Risks Related to Our Operations
 
Our failure to estimate customer demand properly may result in excess or obsolete inventory or, conversely, may result in inadequate inventory levels, anyeither of which could adversely affect our financial results.
 
Inventory purchases are based upon future demand forecasts. If there wereforecasts, which may not accurately predict the quantity or type of our products that our customers will want in the future. In forecasting demand, we must make multiple assumptions which may prove to be a sudden and significant decreaseincorrect. Situations that may result in demand for our products,excess or if there were a higher incidenceobsolete inventory, which could result in write-downs of inventory obsolescence becausethe value of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements, we could be required to write-down our inventory and/or a forced reduction in average selling prices, and where our gross marginsmargin could be adversely affected. During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, demand for our non PCI Express mainstream desktop products declined significantly due in large part to unexpected competitive pricing actions taken by our competition. As a result of these competitive pricing actions, we were required to reduce the average selling prices of certain of our mainstream and value desktop products and our gross margins were adversely affected. If such competitive pricing actions were to recur in the future, we could be forced to continue to reduce average selling prices or to write-down our inventory and our gross margins could be adversely affected. affected include:
·  if there was a sudden and significant decrease in demand for our products;
·  if there was a higher incidence of inventory obsolescence because of rapidly changing technology and customer requirements;
·  if we fail to estimate customer demand properly for our old products as our new products are introduced; and
·  if our competition were to take unexpected competitive pricing actions.
Conversely, if we underestimate our customers’ demand for either our old or new products, we may have inadequate manufacturing capability and may not be able to obtain sufficient inventory to fill our customers’ orders on a timely basis. IfEven if we are unableable to increase production levels to meet customer demand, we may not be able to do so in a cost effective manner. Inability to fill our customers' orders on a timely basis could damage our reputation andcustomer relationships, result in lost revenue, may be negatively affected.cause a loss in market share or damage our reputation.
 
We order materials in advance of anticipated customer demand. Therefore, we have limited ability to reduce our inventory purchase commitments quickly in response to any revenue shortfalls.

Substantially all of our sales are made on the basis of purchase orders rather than long-term agreements. As a result, we may commit resources to the production of products without having received advance purchase commitments from customers. Any inability to sell products to which we have devoted significant resources could harm our business. In addition, cancellation or deferral of product orders could result in our holding excess inventory, which could adversely affect our profit marginsgross margin and restrict our ability to fund operations. We may build inventories during periods of anticipated growth and in connection with selling workstation boards directly to major original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs. Additionally, because we typically sell a substantial portion of our products in the last month of each quarter and, therefore, we recognize a substantial portion of our revenue in the last month of each q uarter,quarter, we may not be able to reduce our inventory purchase commitments in a timely manner in response to any revenue shortfalls. We could be subject to excess or obsolete inventories and be required to take corresponding inventory write-downs if growth slows or if we incorrectly forecast product demand. A reduction in demand could negatively impact our gross marginsmargin and financial results. For example, our WMP business has been heavily concentrated at one OEM. During the first half of fiscal 2006, the OEM reduced the demand for our products. As a result, we wrote-down the value of certain handheld products in our inventory that we believe exceeded the demand of that OEM, which negatively impacted our gross margin.

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We are dependent on key personnel and the loss of these employees could negatively impact our business.
 
Our performance is substantially dependent on the performance of our executive officers and key employees. None of our executive officers or employees is bound by an employment agreement, and someaning our relationships with our executive officers and employees are at will. We do not have "key person"“key person” life insurance policies on any of our employees. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers, technical personnel or other key employees, particularly Jen-Hsun Huang, our President and Chief Executive Officer, would harm our business. Our success will depend on our ability to identify, hire, train and retain highly qualified technical and managerial personnel. Our failure to attract and retain the necessary technical and managerial personnel would harm our business. The integration of new executives or personnel could disrupt our ongoing operations.
 
Failure to achieve expected manufacturing yields for existing and/or new products would reduce our gross margins.margin and could adversely effect our ability to compete effectively.
 
Semiconductor manufacturing yields are a function both of product design, which is developed largely by us, and process technology, which typically is proprietary to the manufacturer. Since low yields may result from either design or process technology failures, yield problems may not be effectively determined or resolved until an actual product exists that can be analyzed and tested to identify process sensitivities relating to the design rules that are used. As a result, yield problems may not be identified until well into the production process, and resolutionprocess. Resolution of yield problems would requirerequires cooperation by and communication between us and the manufacturer.


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Because of our potentially limited access to wafer fabrication capacity from our manufacturers, any decrease in manufacturing yields could result in an increase in our per unit costs and force us to allocate our available product supply among our customers. This could potentially harm customer relationships, our reputation, our revenue and our gross profit. Our wafer manufacturers may be unable to achieve or maintain acceptable manufacturing yields in the future. Our inability to achieve planned yields from our wafer manufacturers could harmwould reduce our business.gross margin. We also face the risk of product recalls or product returns resulting from design or manufacturing defects that are not discovered during the manufacturing and testing process. In the event of aA significant number of product returns due to a defect or recall, could damage our business could suffer.reputation and result in our customers working with our competitors.

To stay competitive, we may have to invest more resources in research and development.development than anticipated, which could increase our operating expenses and negatively impact our operating results.

If new competitors, technological advances by existing competitors or other competitive factors require us to invest significantly greater resources than anticipated in research and development efforts, our operating expenses would increase. We have substantially increased our engineering and technical resources and have 1,2181,384 full-time employees engaged in research and development as of October 24, 2004,July 31, 2005, compared to 1,0121,288 employees as of October 26, 2003. During the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, researchMay 1, 2005. Research and development expenditures represented 17.0%14.9% and 15.0%14.8% as a percentage of revenue respectively. Duringduring the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, research and development expenditures represented 17.4% and 14.7% as a percentage of revenue,2006, respectively. If we are required to inves tinvest significantly greater resources than anticipated in research and development efforts without an increase in revenue, our operating results would decline. In order to remain competitive, we anticipate that we will continue to devote substantial resources to research and development, and we expect these expenses to increase in absolute dollars in the foreseeable future due to the increased complexity and the greater number of products under development. Research and development expenses are likely to fluctuate from time to time to the extent we make periodic incremental investments in research and development and these investments may be independent of our level of revenue.

Our operating expenses are relatively fixed and we may have limited ability to reduce operating expenses quickly in response to any revenue shortfalls.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, ourOur operating expenses, which are comprised of research and development expenses and sales, general and administrative expenses, represented 26.7%23.9% and 24.4% as a percentage23.4% of our total revenue respectively. Duringduring the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, our operating expenses represented 27.7% and 24.0% as a percentage of our total revenue,2006, respectively. WeSince we typically recognize a substantial portion of our revenuesrevenue in the last month of each quarter, we may not be able to adjust our operating expenses in a timely manner in response to any revenue shortfalls. If we are unable to reduce operating expenses quickly in response to any revenue shortfalls, it would negatively impact our financial results.results would be negatively impacted.

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Failure to transition to new manufacturing process technologies could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively.operating results and gross margin.

Our strategy is to utilize the most advanced manufacturing process technology appropriate for our products and available from commercial third-party foundries. Use of advanced processes may have greater risk of initial yield problems and higher product cost. Manufacturing process technologies are subject to rapid change and require significant expenditures for research and development. We continuously evaluate the benefits of migrating to smaller geometry process technologies in order to improve performance and reduce costs. We currently use 0.15-micron,0.15 micron, 0.14 micron, 0.13 andmicron, 0.11 micron, and 90 nanometer process technologies for our familyfamilies of GPUs, MCPs and WMPs. The majority of our newest GPUs, the GeForce 7 series, the GeForce 6 series, GeForce FX and the GeForce FX Go products are manufactured in 0.13-micron0.13 micron and 0.11 micron process technology.technologies. In our family of MCPs, the nForce4 product is manufactured in 0.15 micron and 90 nanometer process technologies.

We have experienced difficulty in migrating to new manufacturing processes in the past and, consequently, have suffered reduced yields, delays in product deliveries and increased expense levels. We may face similar difficulties, delays and expenses as we continue to transition our products to smaller geometry processes. Moreover, we are dependent on our relationships with our third-party manufacturers to migrate to smaller geometry processes successfully. We may continueThe inability by us or our third-party manufacturers to have difficulty migrating to new manufacturing process technologies successfully or on a timely basis. Our inability toeffectively and efficiently transition to new manufacturing process technologies may adversely affect our operating results and negatively impact our gross margins.
margin.
 
Our operating results are unpredictable and may fluctuate, and if our operating results are below the expectations of securities analysts or investors, the trading price of our stock price could decline.
 
Many of our revenue components fluctuate and are difficult to predict, and our operating expenses are largely independent of revenue in any particular period. It is, therefore, difficult for us to accurately forecast revenue and profits or losses. As a result, it is possible that in some quarters our operating results could be below the expectations of securities analysts or investors, which could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, perhaps substantially. For example, on August 5, 2004, we announced that the operating results for our second quarter of fiscal 2005 included significantly lower amounts of revenue and earnings per share than had been expected by securities analysts. Our announcement was followed by a decline in the trading price of our common stock. We believe that our quarterly a ndand annual results of operations may continue to be affected by a variety of factors that could harm our revenue, gross profit and results of operations.
 

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Factors that have affected our results of operations in the past, and could affect our results of operations in the future, include the following:
·  demand and market acceptance for our products and/or our customers’ products;
·  the successful development and volume production of our next-generation products;
·  new product announcements or product introductions by our competitors;
·  our ability to introduce new products in accordance with OEMs’ design requirements and design cycles;
·  changes in the timing of product orders due to unexpected delays in the introduction of our customers’ products;
·  fluctuations in the availability of manufacturing capacity or manufacturing yields;
·  declines in spending by corporations and consumers related to perceptions regarding an economic downturn in the U.S. and international economies;
·  competitive pressures resulting in lower than expected average selling prices;
·  product rates of return in excess of that forecasted or expected due to quality issues;
·  the rescheduling or cancellation of customer orders;
·  the loss of a key customer or the termination of a strategic relationship;
·  seasonal fluctuations associated with the PC and consumer products market;
·  substantial disruption in our suppliers’ operations, either as a result of a natural disaster, equipment failure, terrorism or other cause;
·  supply constraints for and changes in the cost of the other components incorporated into our customers’ products, including memory devices;
·  our ability to reduce the manufacturing costs of our products;
·  legal and other costs related to defending intellectual property and other types of lawsuits;
·  customer receivable bad debt write-offs;
·  costs associated with the repair and replacement of defective products;
·  unexpected inventory write-downs; and
·  introductions of enabling technologies to keep pace with faster generations of processors and controllers.
Any one or more of the factors discussed abovein this quarterly report or other factors could prevent us from achieving our expected future revenue or net income. Accordingly, we believe that period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance. In addition, the results of any quarterly period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a subsequent quarter or a full fiscal year.
 

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Risks Related to Our Products
 
We need to develop new products and to manage product transitions in order to succeed.If the adoption rate of PCI Express does not grow as anticipated, our business results could suffer.
 
PCI Express enables a new level of performance for high bandwidth applications like graphics and networking. Industry adoption of PCI Express was slower than we expected during fiscal 2005, has continued to be slower than we expected during the first half of fiscal 2006, and there is no assurance that the adoption rate will increase during the second half of fiscal 2006. If the adoption rate of PCI Express does not increase or our PCI Express compatible products do not meet consumer and/or customer demand or expectations, we may experience a decrease in revenue relative to market expectations and/or an increase in inventory.
Our
If we are unable to achieve design wins, our products may not be adopted by our target markets and customers either of which could negatively impact our financial results.
The future success of our business depends to a significant extent on our ability to successfully develop new competitive products for our target segments. Our add-in boardmarkets and motherboard manufacturers,customers. We believe achieving design wins, which entails having our existing and future products chosen for hardware components or subassemblies designed by PC OEMs, original design manufacturers, or ODMs, and majoradd-in board and motherboard manufacturers, will aid our future success. Our OEM, ODM, and add-in board and motherboard manufacturers’ customers typically introduce new system configurations as often as twice per year, typically based on spring and fall design cycles. Accordingly, when our customers are making their design decisions, our existing products must have competitive performance levels or we must timely introduce new products with such performance characteristics in order to be included in new system configurations. This requires that we do the following:
 
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·  anticipate the features and functionality that customers and consumers will demand;
 
·  incorporate those features and functionalities into products that meet the exacting design requirements of OEMs, ODMs, CEMs and add-in board and motherboard manufacturers;
 
·  price our products competitively; and
 
·  introduce the products to the market within the limited windowdesign cycle for OEMs, ODMs and add-in board and motherboard manufacturers.
 
If OEMs and ODMs do not include our products in their systems, they will typically not use our products in their design systems until at least the next design configuration. Therefore, we endeavor to develop close relationships with our OEMs and ODMs in an attempt to allow us to better anticipate and address customer needs in new products so that our products will achieve design wins.
As
Our ability to achieve design wins also depends in part on our ability to identify and ensure compliance with evolving industry standards. Unanticipated changes in industry standards could render our products incompatible with products developed by major hardware manufacturers and software developers, including Intel and Microsoft. Such changes would require us to invest significant time and resources to redesign our products to ensure compliance with relevant standards. If our products are not in compliance with prevailing industry standards for a result,significant period of time, our ability to achieve design wins could suffer. If we believe that significant expendituresare unable to achieve new design wins for researchexisting or new customers, we may lose market share and development will continue toour operating results would be requirednegatively impacted.
Achievement of design wins may not result in the future.success of our products and could result in a loss of market share.
The process of being qualified for inclusion in an OEM product can be lengthy and could cause us to miss a cycle in the demand of end users for a particular product feature, which also could result in a loss of market share and harm our business. Even if do have design wins for OEM and ODM products, we may not be able to successfully develop or introduce new products in sufficient volumes within the appropriate time to meet both the OEM, ODM, add-in board and motherboard manufacturers’ design cycles as well as other market demand. Even if we achieve a significant number of design wins, there can be no assurance that our OEM and ODM customers will actually take the design to production or that the design will be commercially successful. Furthermore, there may be changes in the timing of product orders due to unexpected delays in the introduction of our customers’ products that could negatively impact the success of our products. Any of these factors could result in a loss of market share and could negatively impact our financial results.
Our business results could be adversely affected if our product development efforts are unsuccessful.
We have in the past experienced delays in the development of some new products. Any delay in the future or failure of our graphics processors or other processors to meet or exceed specifications of competitive products could materially harm our business. The success of our new product introductions will depend on severalmany factors, including the following:
 
·  proper new product definition;
 
·  timely completion and introduction of new product designs;
 
·  the ability of IBM,Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, International Business Machines Corporation, or IBM,United Microelectronics Corporation, or UMC,Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, orChartered,and any additional third-party manufacturers to effectively manufacture our new products in a timely manner;
 
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·  dependence on third-party subcontractors for assembly, testing and packaging of our products and in meeting product delivery schedules and maintaining product quality;
 
·  the quality of any new products;
 
·  differentiation of new products from those of our competitors;
 
·  market acceptance of our products and our customers' products; and
 
·  availability of adequate quantity and configurations of various types of memory products.
 
A critical component of our product development effort is our partnerships with leaders in the computer aided design, or CAD, industry. We have invested significant resources to develop relationships with industry leaders, including Cadence Design Systems, Inc., IKOS Systems, Inc. and Synopsys, Inc., often assisting these companies in the product definition of their new products. We believe that forming these relationships and utilizing next-generation development tools to design, simulate and verify our products will help us remain at the forefront of the 3D graphics, communications and networking marketssegments and develop products that utilize leading-edge technology on a rapid basis. We believe this approach assists us in meeting the new design schedules of PC OEMs and cellcellular phone manufacturers. If these relationsh ipsrelationships are not successful, we may not be able to develop new products in a timely manner, which could result in a loss of market share, a decrease in revenue and a negative impact on our operating results.
In addition, our strategy includes utilizing the most advanced semiconductor process technology appropriate for our products and available from commercial third-party foundries. Use of advanced processes has in the past resulted in initial yield problems. New products that we introduce may not incorporate the features and functionality demanded by OEMs, ODMs, add-in board and motherboard manufacturers and consumers of PCs and consumer electronics. In addition, we may not successfully develop or introduce new products in sufficient volumes within the appropriate time to meet both the OEMs’ design cycles and market demand. We have in the past experienced delays in the development of some new products. Our failure to successfully develop, introduce or achieve market acceptance for new digital media processors would harm our business. In particular, we experienced delays in the introduction of digital media processors using our next generation technology during the first half of fiscal 2004. In addition, we expected to ramp up sales of our PCI Express products during the second quarter of fiscal 2005, but as a result of Intel Corporation’s, or Intel’s, delayed PCI Express chipset production, followed by their product recall, the performance desktop segment was impacted by stalling our customers’ production ramp of our GeForce PCX GPUs. Any such delay in the future or failure of our digital media processors or other processors to meet or exceed specifications of competitive products could materially harm our business.

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Our failure to identify new market or product opportunities or develop new products could harm our business.
 
As our digital mediagraphics processors or other processors develop and competition increases, we anticipate that product life cycles at the high end will remain short and average selling prices will continue to decline. In particular, we expect average selling prices and gross margins for our digital media processors to decline as each product matures and as unit volume increases. As a result, we will need to introduce new products and enhancements to existing products to maintain overall average selling prices and gross margins. In order for our digital media processors to achieve high volumes, leading PC OEMs, ODMs, and add-in board and motherboard manufacturers must select our digital media processor for design into their products, and then successfully complete the designs of their products and sell them. We may be unable to successf ullysuccessfully identify new product opportunities or to develop and bring to market new products in a timely fashion. In addition, we cannot guarantee that new products we develop will be selected for design into PC OEMs’, ODMs’, and add-in board and motherboard manufacturers’ products, that any new designs will be successfully completed or that any new products will be sold.
As the complexity of our products and the manufacturing process for our products increases, there is an increasing risk that we will experience problems with the performance of our products and that there will be delays in the development, introduction or volume shipment of our products. We may experience difficulties related to the production of current or future products or other factors that may delay the introduction or volume sale of new products we developed.develop. In addition, we may be unable to successfully manage the production transition risks with respect to future products. Failure to achieve any of the foregoing with respect to future p roductsproducts or product enhancements could result in rapidly declining average selling prices, reduced margins and reduced demand for products or loss of market share. In addition, technologies developed by others may render our digital media processors non-competitive or obsolete or result in our holding excess inventory, any of which would harm our business.
PCI Express is central to our GPU as well as MCP strategies this fiscal year and the outcome of this strategy will impact our business.

PCI Express is expected to enable a new level of performance for high bandwidth applications like graphics and networking. The transition to PCI Express, which is extremely complex, is central to our GPU and MCP objectives this fiscal year. Our transition strategy includes using a PCI Express high-speed interconnect, or HSI. HSI is a complex piece of networking technology that performs high-speed bi-directional interconnect protocol conversion. Using HSI, we transformed some of our GPUs into PCI Express compatible GPUs. In February 2004, we launched a top-to-bottom family of PCI Express solutions.

In May 2004, we announced MXM, which was jointly developed by NVIDIA and leading notebook PC manufacturers in an effort to accelerate the adoption of PCI Express-based notebooks in all market segments. MXM is an open design specification that supports a wide range of graphics solutions from any GPU manufacturer, allowing system integrators flexibility for build-to-order with various graphics solutions. MXM will also serve as the primary delivery vehicle for our next generation GPUs based on the GeForce Go 6 series architecture. During the third quarter of fiscal 2005, we announced the GeForce 6600 GT, GeForce 6600 and the GeForce 6200, our first native PCI Express GPUs. In June 2004, we executed on our strategy to delivera full line of GPUs ready to support PCI Express chipsets.Our first PCI Express graphics solutions, the GeForce PCX series, are currently shipping to leading add-in-card partners, OEMs, system builders and other partners and were released for retail sale during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.If our PCI Express compatible products do not meet consumer and/or analysts expectations, our business could suffer.

We could suffer a loss of market share if our products contain significant defects.

Products as complex as those we offer may contain defects or experience failures when introduced or when new versions or enhancements to existing products are released. We have in the past discovered defects and incompatibilities with customers’ hardware in certainsome of our products and may experience delays or loss of revenue to correct any new defects or incompatibilities in the future. Errors in new products or releases after commencement of commercial shipments could result in loss of market share, failure to achieve market acceptance, and harm our financial results.or loss of design wins. Our products typically go through only one verification cycle prior to beginning volume production and distribution. As a result, our products may contain defects or flaws that are undetected prior to volume production and distribution. If these defects or flaws exist and are not detected prior to volume production and distribution, we may be required to reimburse customers for costs to repair or replace the affected products in the field. We may also be required to incur additional research and development costs to find and correct the defect, which could divert the attention of our management and engineers from the development of new products. These costs could be significant and could adversely affect our business and operating results. We may also suffer a loss of reputation and/or a loss in our market share, either of which could materially harm our financial results.
 

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Risks Related to Our Partners and Customers
The loss of future revenue from Microsoft will result in a reduction of our historical revenue level and operating results if we do not increase revenue from other customers.
 
During our fiscal 2004, Microsoft Corporation announced that it had entered into an agreement with one of our competitors to develop technology for future Xbox products and services.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2006, Microsoft indicated that it would not order any more Xbox-related products from us after our second fiscal quarter. As a result, the second quarter of fiscal 2006 was the last quarter during which we will recognize revenue from the sale of our Xbox-related products to Microsoft. However, as a result of our license agreement with Microsoft relating to the successor product to their initial Xbox gaming console, the Xbox360, and related devices, we recognized an incremental amount of related license revenue from Microsoft during the second quarter of fiscal 2006, and expect to do so in future periods. Revenue from Microsoft during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 accounted for 13% and 20% respectively, of our total revenue. Revenue from Microsoft for the first half of fiscal 2006 was $118.2 million, or 10% of our total revenue. As a result of the loss of future Xbox-related revenue from Microsoft, we will need to increase revenue from our other customers in order to be able to maintain our revenue levels and operating results consistent with the second quarter of fiscal 2006. If we do not replace our Xbox-related revenue with revenue from other customers, our operating results will be adversely affected.
We may not be successful in developing the graphics processor required for SCE’s PlayStation3 within the timeframe necessary to achieve commercial success and, even if successful, there can be no assurance that the PlayStation3 will achieve long term commercial success.
In April 2005, we finalized our definitive agreement with SCE to jointly develop a custom GPU incorporating our next-generation GeForce GPU and SCE’s system solutions in SCE’s next generation PlayStation3.  Our collaboration with SCE includes license fees and royalties for the next generation PlayStation and all derivatives, including next generation digital consumer electronics devices.  In addition, we are licensing software development tools for creating shaders and advanced graphics capabilities to SCE.   In fiscal 2006, we expect to recognize revenue of approximately $40 million from development, software, and license fees associated with this collaboration.   Depending on the ultimate success of this next generation platform, we expect to generate, starting in fiscal 2007, revenue ranging from $50 million to $100 million annually from license fees and royalties over the next five years, with the possibility of additional royalties for several years thereafter.  We may not be successful in developing the graphics processor required for SCE’s PlayStation3 within the timeframe necessary to achieve commercial success. In addition, even if the graphics processor is developed on a timely basis there can be no assurance that the PlayStation3 will achieve long term commercial success, given the intense competition in the game console market.  As such, our revenue and gross margin may be adversely affected if any of these risks occur.
We may not be able to realize the potential financial or strategic benefits of business acquisitions, which could hurt our ability to grow our business, develop new products or sell our products.
In the past we have acquired and invested in other businesses that offered products, services and technologies that we believed would help expand or enhance our products and services or help expand our distribution channels. We may enter into future acquisitions of, or investments in, businesses, in order to complement or expand our current businesses or enter into a new business market. If we do consider an acquisition, strategic alliance or joint venture, the negotiations could divert management’s attention as well as other resources. For any previous or future acquisition or investment, the following risks could impair our ability to grow our business and develop new products, and ultimately, could impair our ability to sell our products, which could negatively impact our growth or our financial results:
·  difficulty in combining the technology, products, operations or workforce of the acquired business with our business;
·  disruption of our ongoing businesses;
·  difficulty in realizing the potential financial or strategic benefits of the transaction;
·  diversion of management’s attention from our business;
·  difficulty in maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies;
·  disruption of or delays in ongoing research and development efforts;
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·  diversion of capital and other resources;
·  assumption of liabilities;
·  diversion of resources due to litigation arising from a potential or actual business acquisitions or investments;
·  difficulties in entering into new markets in which we have limited or no experience and where competitors in such markets have stronger positions; and
·  impairment of relationships with employees and customers, or the loss of key employees as a result of any integration of new businesses and management personnel.
In addition, the consideration for any future acquisition could be paid in cash, shares of our common stock, the issuance of convertible debt securities or a combination of cash, convertible debt and common stock. If we pay a portion of the purchase price in cash, our cash reserves would be reduced. If the consideration is paid with shares of our common stock, or convertible debentures, the holdings of existing stockholders would be diluted. We cannot forecast the number, timing or size of future acquisitions, or the effect that any such acquisitions might have on our operations or financial results.
 
We sell our products to a small number of customers and our business could suffer by the loss of these customers.
 
We have only a limited number of customers and our sales are highly concentrated. Sales to Microsoft accounted for approximately 13% of revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and 10% of revenue for the first half of fiscal 2006. Our other three largest customers accounted for approximately 25% of revenue for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 and 32% of revenue for the first half of fiscal 2006.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2006, Microsoft indicated that it would not order any more Xbox-related products from us after our second fiscal quarter. As a result, the second quarter of fiscal 2006 was the last quarter during which we will recognize revenue from the sale of our Xbox-related products to Microsoft. Although a small number of our other customers represent the majority of our revenue, their end customers include a large number of OEMs and system integrators throughout the world.world who, in many cases, specify the graphics supplier. Our sales process involves achieving key design wins with leading PC OEMs and major system builders and supporting the product design into high volume production with key CEMs, ODMs, motherboard and add-in board manufacturers. These design wins in turn influence the retail and system builder channel that is serviced by CEMs, ODMs, motherboard and add-in board manufacturers. Our distribution strategy is to work with a small number of leading independent CEMs, ODMs, motherboard manufacturers, add-in board manufacturers and stocking representatives,distributors, each of whi chwhich has relationships with a broad range of system builders and leading PC OEMs. Currently, we sell a significant majority of our digital media processors directly to stocking representatives, CEMs, ODMs, motherboard and add-in board manufacturers, which then sell boards with our graphics processor to leading PC OEMs, retail outlets and to a large number of system builders. If we were to lose sales to our PC OEMs, CEMs, ODMs, motherboard and add-in board manufacturers and were unable to replace the lost sales with sales to different customers, or if they were to significantly reduce the number of products they order from us, our revenue may not reach or exceed the expected level in any period, which could harm our financial condition and our results of operations.

Difficulties in collecting accounts receivable could result in significant charges against income, which could harm our business.
Our accounts receivable are highly concentrated and make us vulnerable to adverse changes in our customers' businesses and to downturns in the economy and the industry. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. This allowance consists of an amount identified for specific customers and an amount based on overall estimated exposure. As of October 24, 2004 and October 26, 2003 our allowance for doubtful accounts represented 0.4% and 0.6% of revenue for each fiscal quarter, respectively. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required which could adversely affect our operating results. We may have to re cord additional reserves or write-offs in the future, which could harm our business.
 
We depend on foundries and independent contractors to manufacture our products and these third parties may not be able to satisfy our manufacturing requirements, which would harm our business.
 
We do not manufacture the semiconductor wafers used for our products and do not own or operate a wafer fabrication facility. Our products require wafers manufactured with state-of-the-art fabrication equipment and techniques. We utilize TSMC, IBM, UMC and Chartered to produce our semiconductor wafers and utilize independent subcontractors to perform assembly, testing and packaging. Our wafer requirements represent a significant portion of the total production capacity at IBM. We depend on these suppliers to allocate to us a portion of their manufacturing capacity sufficient to meet our needs, to produce products of acceptable quality and at acceptable manufacturing yields, and to deliver those products to us on a timely basis at acceptable prices. These manufacturers may be unable to meet our near-term or long - -termlong-term manufacturing or pricing requirements. We obtain manufacturing services on a purchase order basis. TSMC, IBM, UMC, and CharteredThe foundries we use have no obligation to provide us with any specified minimum quantities of product. TSMC, IBM, UMC and Chartered fabricate wafers for other companies, including certainsome of our competitors, and could choose to prioritize capacity for other users, reduce or eliminate deliveries to us, or increase the prices that they charge us on short notice. If we are unable to meet customer demand due to reduced or eliminated deliveries, we could lose sales to customers, which would negatively impact our revenue and our reputation. Because the lead-time needed to establish a strategic relationship with a new manufacturing partner could be several quarters, there is no readily available alternative source of supply for any specific product. In addition, the time and expense to qualify a new foundry could result in additional expense, diversion of resources or lost sales any of which would negatively impact our financial results. We believe that long-term market acceptance for our products will depend on reliable relationships with TSMC, IBM, UMC, Chartered and any other manufacturers used by uswe may use to ensure adequate product supply and competitive pricing to respond to customer demand. Any difficulties like these would harm our business.
 

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There can be no assurance that IBM will be able to produce wafers of acceptable quality and with acceptable manufacturing yield and deliver those wafers to us and our independent assembly and testing subcontractors on a timely basis.
During fiscal 2004, we announced that we had formed a multi-year strategic alliance under which IBM would manufacture certain GeForce GPUs. IBM began manufacturing GeForce GPUs in July 2003 at its plant in New York. Our manufacturing yields and product performance could suffer due to difficulties associated with adapting our technology and product design to the proprietary process technology and design rules of IBM. Any decrease in manufacturing yields could result in an increase in our per unit costs and force us to allocate our available product supply among our customers. This could potentially harm customer relationships as well as our revenue and gross profit. We also face the risk of product recalls or product returns resulting from design or manufacturing defects that are not discovered during the manufa cturing and testing process. In the event of a significant number of product returns due to a defect or recall, our business could suffer.
 
We are dependent on third parties located outside of the United States for assembly, testing and packaging of our products, which reduces our control over the delivery and quantity of our products.
 
Our digital media processors are assembled and tested primarily by Siliconware Precision Industries Company Ltd., Amkor Technology Inc., STATS ChipPAC Incorporated and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc., all of which are located outside of the United States. We do not have long-term agreements with any of these subcontractors. As a result of our dependence on third-party subcontractors for assembly, testing and packaging of our products, we do not directly control product delivery schedules or product quality. Any product shortages, quality assurance problems or political instability outside of the United States could increase the costs of manufacture, assembly or testing of our products, which could cause our gross margin to decline. Due to the amount of time typically required to qualify assemblers and testers, w ewe could experience significant delays in the shipment of our products if we are required to find alternative third parties to assemble or test our products or components. Any such delays could result in a loss of reputation or a decrease in sales to our customers.
 
We rely on third-party vendors to supply software development tools to us for the development of our new products and we may be unable to obtain the tools necessary to develop these products.
 
In the design and development of new products and product enhancements, we rely on third-party software development tools. While we currently are not dependent on any one vendor for the supply of these tools, some or all of these tools may not be readily available in the future. For example, we have experienced delays in the introduction of products in the past as a result of the inability of then available software development tools to fully simulate the complex features and functionalities of our products. The design requirements necessary to meet consumer demands for more features and greater functionality from digital media processors in the future may exceed the capabilities of the software development tools that are available to us. If the software development tools we use become unavailable or fail to produce des ignsdesigns that meet consumer demands, our business could suffer.
 
We may not be ableDifficulties in collecting accounts receivable could result in significant charges against income and the deferral of revenue recognition from sales to realize the potentialaffected customers, which could harm our operating results and financial or strategic benefits of business acquisitions and that could hurt our ability to grow our business, develop new products and sell our products.condition.
 
Our accounts receivable are highly concentrated and make us vulnerable to adverse changes in our customers' businesses and to downturns in the economy and the industry. In addition, difficulties in collecting accounts receivable or the past we have acquiredloss of any significant customer could materially and investedadversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Accounts receivable owed by foreign customers may be difficult to collect. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. This allowance consists of an amount identified for specific customers and an amount based on overall estimated exposure. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in other businesses that offered products, services and technologies that we believed would help expand or enhance our products and services or help expand our distribution channels. For any previous or future acquisition or investment, the following risks could impair ouran impairment of their ability to growmake payments, additional allowances may be required and we may be required to defer revenue recognition on sales to affected customers, which could adversely affect our business and develop new products and, ultimately, could impair our ability to sell our products:
·  difficulty in combining the technology, operations or workforce of the acquired business;
·  disruption of our ongoing businesses;
·  difficulty in realizing the potential financial or strategic benefits of the transaction;
·  diversion of management’s attention from our business;
·  difficulty in maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies; and

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·  possible impairment of relationships with employees and customers as a result of any integration of new businesses and management personnel.
In addition, the consideration for any future acquisition could be paid in cash, shares of our common stock, or a combination of cash and common stock. If the consideration is paid with our common stock, existing stockholders would be further diluted.
The impact on our future revenue by Microsoft’s announcement that it has entered into an agreement with one of our competitors to develop technology for future Xbox products and services is uncertain.
During fiscal 2004, Microsoft announced that it had entered into an agreement with one of our competitors to develop technology for future Xbox products and services. The impact that this announcementoperating results. We may have to record additional reserves or write-offs and/or defer revenue on certain sales transactions in the future, which could negatively impact our future revenue from Microsoft is uncertain, but we anticipate that we will not achieve historical levels of Xbox revenue in fiscal 2006. Revenue from Microsoft during the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 accounted for 21% and 25%, respectively, of our total revenue. During the first nine months of fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 revenue from Microsoft accounted for 16% and 18%, respectively, of our total revenue. Revenue from Microsoft during fiscal 2004, fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002 accounted for 15%, 23% and 9%, respectively, of our total revenue.financial results.

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and our agreement with Microsoft could delay or prevent a change in control.
 
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting stock. These provisions include the following:
 
·  the ability of the board of directors to create and issue preferred stock without prior stockholder approval;
 
·  the prohibition of stockholder action by written consent;
 
·  a classified board of directors; and
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·  advance notice requirements for director nominations and stockholder proposals.
 
On March 5, 2000, we entered into an agreement with Microsoft in which we agreed to develop and sell graphics chips and to license certain technology to Microsoft and its licensees for use in the Xbox. In the event that an individual or corporation makes an offer to purchase shares equal to or greater than 30% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, Microsoft has first and last rights of refusal to purchase the stock. The Microsoft provision and the other factors listed above could also delay or prevent a change in control of NVIDIA.
 
Risks Related to Our Competition
 
The 3D graphics, platform processor and handheld industries are highly competitive and we may be unable to compete.
 
The market for GPUs, MCPs and WMPs for PCs and handhelds is intensely competitive and is characterized by rapid technological change, evolving industry standards and declining average selling prices. We believe that the principal competitive factors in this market are performance, breadth of product offerings, access to customers and distribution channels, backward-forward software support, conformity to industry standard Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs, manufacturing capabilities, price of digital media processors and total system costs of add-in boards and motherboards. We believe that our ability to remain competitive will depend on how well we are able to anticipate the features and functions that customers will demand and whether we are able to deliver consistent volumes of our products at acceptable levels of quality. We expect competition to increase both from existing competitors and new market entrants with products that may be less costly than ours, or may provide better performance or additional features not provided by our products, which could harm our business. For example, during the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we implemented pricing reductions on certain of our mainstream products in order to respond to our competition’s competitive pricing actions.
 
Our primaryAn additional significant source of competition is from companies that provide or intend to provide GPU and MCP solutions for the PC market. Some of our competitors may have greater marketing, financial, distribution and WMP segments.manufacturing resources than we do and may be more able to adapt to customer or technological changes. Our current competitors include the following:
 
·suppliers of MCPs that incorporate a combination of 3D graphics, networking, audio, communications and Input/Output, or I/O, functionality as part of their existing solutions, such as ATI Technologies, Inc., or ATI, Broadcom Corporation, or Broadcom, Intel, Silicon Integrated Systems, CorporationInc. and VIA Technologies, Inc., or VIA;


 
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·suppliers of standalone desktop standalone GPUs that incorporate 3D graphics functionality as part of their existing solutions, such as ATI, Creative Technology, Ltd., Matrox Electronics Systems Ltd. and XGI Technology, Inc.;

·suppliers of standalone notebook standalone GPUs that incorporate 3D graphics functionality as part of their existing solutions, such as ATI, Silicon Motion Inc.Corporation, and the joint venture of a division offormed by SONICblue Incorporated (formerly S3 Incorporated) and VIA; and

·suppliers of WMPs for handheld devices that incorporate advanced graphics functionality as part of their existing solutions, such as ATI, Renesas Technology, Broadcom and Seiko-Epson Corporation.Seiko-Epson.
 
If and to the extent we offer products outside of the PC, consumer electronics and handheld segments,markets, we may face competition from some of our existing competitors as well as from companies with which we currently do not compete. We cannot accurately predict if we will compete successfully in any new markets we may enter.
Our failure to achieve one or more design wins would harm our business.
Our future success will depend in large part on achieving design wins, which entails having our existing and future products chosen for hardware components or subassemblies designed by PC OEMs, ODMs, and add-in board and motherboard manufacturers. Our add-in board and motherboard manufacturers and major OEM and ODM customers typically introduce new system configurations as often as twice per year, generally based on spring and fall design cycles. Accordingly, our existing products must have competitive performance levels or we must timely introduce new products with such performance characteristics in order to be included in new system configurations. Our failure to achieve one or more design wins would harm our business. The process of being qualified for inclusion in an OEM’s product can be lengthy and c ould cause us to miss a cycle in the demand of end users for a particular product feature, which also could harm our business.
Our ability to achieve design wins also depends in part on our ability to identify and ensure compliance with evolving industry standards. Unanticipated changes in industry standards could render our products incompatible with products developed by major hardware manufacturers and software developers, including Intel and Microsoft. This would require us to invest significant time and resources to redesign our products to ensure compliance with relevant standards. If our products are not in compliance with prevailing industry standards for a significant period of time, our ability to achieve design wins could suffer. If we are unable to achievecompete in our current and any new design wins for existing or new customers,markets, our financial results will suffer.
If Intel continues to pursue platform solutions, we may lose market sharenot be able to successfully compete.

We expect substantial competition from Intel’s publicized focus on moving to selling platform solutions dominated by Intel products, such as when Intel achieved success with its Centrino platform solution. In addition to its current notebook platform initiative, we expect that Intel is now focused on developing and our operating results wouldselling platform solutions for the workstation, server and desktop segments. If Intel continues to pursue these initiatives, we may not be negatively impacted.able to successfully compete in these segments.

Risks Related to Market Conditions
 
We are dependent on the PC market and the rate of its growth has and may in the future have a negative impact on our business.
 
We derive the majority of our revenue from the sale of products for use in the desktop PC and notebook PC segments,markets, including professional workstations. We expect to continue to derive most of our revenue from the sale or license of products for use in the desktop PC and notebook PC segmentsmarkets in the next several years. A reduction in sales of PCs, or a reduction in the growth rate of PC sales, will reduce demand for our products. Moreover, changes in demand could be large and sudden. Since PC manufacturers often build inventories during periods of anticipated growth, they may be left with excess inventories if growth slows or if they have incorrectly forecast product transitions. In these cases, PC manufacturers may abruptly suspend substantially all purchases of additional inventory from suppliers like us until the e xcessexcess inventory has been absorbed.
 
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OurIf our products maydo not continue to be accepted by the PC and consumer electronics segments.markets or if demand by the PC and consumer electronics markets for new and innovative products decreases, our business and operating results would suffer.
 
Our success depends in part upon continued broad adoption of our digital media processors for 3D graphics in PC and consumer electronics applications. The market for digital media processors has been characterized by unpredictable and sometimes rapid shifts in the popularity of products, often caused by the publication of competitive industry benchmark results, changes in pricing of dynamic randomrandom-access memory devices pricing and other changes in the total system cost of add-in boards, as well as by severe price competition and by frequent new technology and product introductions. Only a small number of products have achieved broad market acceptance and such market acceptance, if achieved, is difficult to sustain due to intense competition and frequent new technology and product introductions. Since the PCGPU segment is our core b usiness,business, our business would suffer if for any reason our current or future digital mediagraphics processors do not continue to achieve widespread acceptance in the PC segment.market. If we are unable to complete the timely development of products or if we were unable to successfully and cost-effectively manufacture and deliver products that meet the requirements of the PC segment,market, we may experience a decrease in revenue which could negatively impact our operating results.

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Additionally, there can be no assurance that the industry will continue to demand new products with improved standards, features or performance. If our customers and the market do not continue to demand new products with increased performance, features, functionality or standards, sales of our products could decline and our business and operating results could suffer.
 
We are subject to risks associated with international operations which may harm our business.
 
WeA significant portion of our semiconductor wafers are manufactured, assembled, tested and packaged by third-parties located outside of the United States. Additionally, we generated 64%76% and 79% of our total revenue from sales to customers outside of the United States and other Americas for the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 20052006 and 70% for the first nine monthshalf of fiscal 2005. Revenue from sales to customers2006, respectively. The manufacture, assembly, test and packaging of our products outside of the United States and other Americas accounted for 67% of total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 and 73% for the first nine months of fiscal 2004. Salessales to these customers outside of the United States and other Americas subjects us to a number of risks associated with conducting business outside of the United States and other Americas, including, the following:but not limited to:
 
·  international economic and political conditions;
 
·  unexpected changes in, or impositions of, legislative or regulatory requirements;
 
·  labor issues in foreign countries;
·  cultural differences in the conduct of business;
 
·  inadequate local infrastructure;
 
·  delays resulting from difficulty in obtaining export licenses for certain technology, tariffs, quotas and other trade barriers and restrictions;
 
·  transportation delays;
 
·  longer payment cycles;
 
·  difficulty in collecting accounts receivable;
 
·  increasesfluctuations in the U.S. dollar as compared to other currencies;currency exchange rates;
 
·  imposition of additional taxes and penalties;
 
·  different legal standards with respect to protection of intellectual property;
 
·  the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws; and
 
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·  other factors beyond our control, including terrorism, civil unrest, war and diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and the Bird flu, which may delay the manufacture, assembly, testing and packing of our products.Avian flu.
 
If sales to any of our customers outside of the United States and other Americas are delayed or cancelled because of any of the above factors, our revenue may be negatively impacted.
 
We have sales offices in several international locations including Taiwan, Russia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. We also have a design center in Germany and one in India. Our international operations are subject to the many of the risks contained in the above list. Difficulties with our international operations, including finding appropriate staffing, may divert management’s attention and other resources any of which could negatively impact our operating results.
 
Currently, all of our arrangements with third-party manufacturers and subcontractors provide for pricing and payment in U.S.United States dollars as are sales to our customers located outside of the United States and other Americas. Increases in the value of the Unites States’ dollar relative to other currencies would make our products more expensive, which would negatively impact our ability to compete. Conversely, decreases in the value of the United States’ dollar relative to other currencies could result in our suppliers raising their prices in order to continue doing business with us. To date, we have not engaged in any currency hedging activities, although we may do so in the future. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could harm our business in the future.
 
Our failure to comply with any applicable environmental regulations could result in a range of consequences, including fines, suspension of production, excess inventory, sales limitations, and criminal and civil liabilities.
Due to environmental concerns, the need for lead-free solutions in electronic components and systems is receiving increasing attention within the semiconductor industry as companies are moving towards becoming compliant with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, or RoHS Directive. The RoHS Directive is European legislation that restricts the use of a number of substances, including lead, effective July 2006.  We believe that our products will be compliant with the RoHS Directive and that materials will be available to meet these emerging regulations.  However, it is possible that unanticipated supply shortages or delays or excess non-compliant inventory may occur as a result of these new regulations. Failure to comply with any applicable environmental regulations could result in a range of consequences including fines, suspension of production, excess inventory, sales limitations, and criminal and civil liabilities.

Hostilities involving the United States and/or terrorist attacks could harm our business.

The financial, political, economic and other uncertainties following the terrorist attacks uponon the United States in 2001 led to a weakening of the global economy. SubsequentSimilar terrorist acts and/or the threat of future outbreak or continued escalation of hostilities involving the United States and Iraq or other countries could adversely affect the growth rate of our revenue and have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, any escalation in these events or similar future events may disrupt our operations or those of our customers, distributors and suppliers, which could also adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
Our business is cyclical in nature and an industry downturn could harm our financial results.
 
Our business is directly affected by market conditions in the highly cyclical semiconductor industry, including alternating periods of overcapacity and capacity constraints, variations in manufacturing costs and yields, significant expenditures for capital equipment and product development and rapid technological change. If we are unable to respond to changes in our industry, which can be unpredictable and rapid, in an efficient and timely manner, our operating results could suffer. In particular, from time to time, the semiconductor industry has experienced significant and sometimes prolonged downturns characterized by diminished product demand and accelerated erosion of average selling prices. If we cannot take appropriate actions such as reducing our manufacturing or operating costs to sufficiently offset declines in demand during a d ownturn,downturn, our revenue and earnings will suffer during downturns.
 

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Political instability in Taiwan and in The People’s Republic of China or elsewhere could harm our business.
 
Because of our reliance on TSMCfoundries and UMC,independent contractors located in Taiwan, our business may be harmed by political instability in Taiwan, including the worsening of the strained relations between The People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, or if relations between the United States and The People’s Republic of China are strained due to foreign relations events. If any of our suppliers experienced a substantial disruption in their operations, as a result of a natural disaster, political unrest, economic instability, acts of terrorism or war, equipment failure or other cause, it could harm our business.
 
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We are exposed to fluctuations in the market values of our portfolio investments and in interest rates.
 
We invest in a variety of financial instruments, consisting principally of investments in commercial paper, money market funds and highly liquid debt securities of corporations, municipalities and the United States government and its agencies. These investments are denominated in U.S.United States dollars.
 
We account for our investment instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 115. All of the cash equivalents and marketable securities are treated as "available-for-sale"“available-for-sale” under SFAS No. 115. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate debt securities may have their market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall. Part of our portfolio includes equity investments in publicly traded companies, the value of which are subject to market price volatility. Due in part to these factors, our future investment income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates or if the decline in fair value of our publicly traded equi tyequity investments is judged to be other-than-temporary. We may suffer losses in principal if forced to sell securities that decline in market value due to changes in interest rates. However, because our debt securities are classified as "available-for-sale",“available-for-sale,” no gains or losses are recognized due to changes in interest rates unless such securities are sold prior to maturity.
 
Our stock price may continue to experience significant short-term fluctuations.
 
The trading price of our common stock has fluctuated greatly. These price fluctuations have been rapid and severe. For example, on August 5, 2004, we announced that the operating results for our second quarter of fiscal 2005 included significantly lower amounts of revenue and earnings per share than had been expected by securities analysts. Our announcement was followed by a decline in the trading price of our common stock. We believe that our quarterly and annual results of operations may continue to be affected by a variety of factors that could harm our revenue, gross profit and results of operations. Theoperations, any of which could impact our stock price. Additionally, the price of our common stock may continue to fluctuate greatly in the future due to factors that are non-company specific, such as the decline in the U.S. economy,United States and/or international economies, acts of terror against the United States, war or due to a variety of company specific factors, including quarter to quarter variations in our operating results, shortfalls in revenue or earnings from levels expected by securities analysts and the other factors discussed in these risk factors.
 
Risks Related to Intellectual Property, Litigation and Government Action

WhileExpensing employee stock options in future periods will materially and aversely affect our reported operating results.

Since inception, we have used stock options and our employee stock purchase program as fundamental components of our compensation packages. To date we generally have not recognized compensation cost for employee stock options or shares sold pursuant to our employee stock purchase program. We believe that these incentives directly motivate our employees and, through the use of vesting, encourage our employees to remain with us. In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123(R), which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense for all stock-based compensation payments. In April 2005, the SEC delayed the effective date of SFAS No. 123(R), which is now effective for annual periods that begin after June 15, 2005. SFAS No. 123(R) requires that we currently have adequate internal controls over financial reporting, we are exposed to risks from recent legislation requiring companies to evaluate those internal controls.
 Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2004 requires our management to report on,record compensation expense for stock options and our independent auditorsemployee stock purchase plan using the fair value of those awards. Expensing these incentives in future periods will materially and adversely affect our reported operating results as the stock-based compensation expense would be charged directly against our reported earnings. To the extent that SFAS No. 123(R) makes it more expensive to attestgrant stock options or to the effectiveness of our internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. Wecontinue to have an ongoingemployee stock purchase program, to perform the system and process evaluation and testing necessary to comply with these requirements. This legislation is relatively new and neither companies nor accounting firms have significant experience in complying with its requirements. As a result, we expectmay decide to incur increased cash compensation costs. In addition, actions that we may take to reduce stock-based compensation expense may make it difficult to attract, retain and motivate employees, which could adversely affect our competitive position as well as our business and operating results.
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We are currently involved in patent litigation, which, if not resolved favorably, could require us to devote additionalpay damages.
We are currently involved in patent litigation. On October 19, 2004, Opti Incorporated, or Opti, filed a complaint for patent infringement against us in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Opti asserts that unspecified NVIDIA chipsets infringe five United States patents held by Opti. Opti seeks unspecified damages for our alleged conduct, attorneys fees and triple damages because of our alleged willful infringement of these patents. NVIDIA filed a response to this complaint in December 2004. After a case management resourcesconference in July 2005, discovery has just begun and a trial date has now been set for July 2006. We believe the claims asserted against us are without merit and we will continue to Section 404 compliance. defend ourselves vigorously.
In August 2004, a Texas limited partnership named American Video Graphics, LP, or AVG, filed three separate complaints for patent infringement against various corporate defendants, not including NVIDIA, in the eventUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. AVG initially asserted that our chief executive officer, chief financial officereach of the approximately thirty defendants sells products that infringe one or independent auditors determinemore of seven separate patents that our internal controls over financial reportingAVG claims relate generally to graphics processing functionality. Each of the three lawsuits target a different group of defendants; one case involves approximately twenty of the leading personal computer manufacturers, the PC Makers Case, one case involves the three leading video game console makers, the Game Console Case, and one case involves approximately ten of the leading video game publishers, the Game Publishers Case. In November 2004, NVIDIA sought and was granted permission to intervene in two of the three pending AVG lawsuits, the PC Makers Case and the Game Console Case. Our complaint in intervention alleges both that the patents in suit are invalid and that, to the extent AVG’s claims target NVIDIA products, the asserted patents are not effective as defined under S ection 404, investor perceptionsinfringed. Two other leading suppliers of usgraphics processing products, Intel and ATI, have also intervened in the cases, ATI in both the PC Makers and Game Console Case, and Intel in the PC Makers Case.

After some consensual reconfigurations proposed by the various parties, in January 2005, the district court judge entered docket control and discovery orders in the three lawsuits. Plaintiff has recently dismissed one patent from the PC Makers case such that the case now involves three separate patents and is currently scheduled for trial beginning in September 2006. The Game Console Case involves a single patent and is currently scheduled for trial beginning in December 2006. We believe that, to the extent AVG’s infringement allegations target functionality that may be adversely effectedperformed by NVIDIA products, those claims are without merit, and could cause a decline in the market price ofwe will continue to defend ourselves and our stock.products vigorously.
 
Our defenses against these suits may be unsuccessful. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate the range of any loss or damages resulting from these suits due to uncertainty regarding the ultimate outcome. If these cases go forward, we expect that they will result additional legal and other costs, regardless of the outcome, which could be substantial.

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Our industry is characterized by vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights orand positions thatwhich could result in substantial costs to us.significant expense.
 
The semiconductor industry is characterized by vigorous protection and pursuit of intellectual property rights and positions, which hashave resulted in protracted and expensive litigation. The digital mediagraphics processor industry, in particular, has been recently characterized recently by the aggressive pursuit of intellectual property positions, and we expect our competitors will continue to aggressively pursue intellectual property positions. The technology that we use to design and develop our products and that is incorporated into our products may be subject to claims that it infringes the patents or intellectual property rights of others. Our success is dependent on our ability to develop new products without infringing or misappropriating the intellectual property rights of others or by licensing the intellectual property of third parties. As such, we have licensed technology from third parties for the incorporation into our products, and expect to continue to pursue aggressive intellectual property positions. In addition, from time to time we receive notices or are included in legal actions alleging that we have infringed patents or other intellectual property rights owned by third parties. We expect that, as the number of issued hardware and software patents increases, and as competition in our product lines intensifies, the volume of intellectual property infringement claims may increase. If infr ingement claims are made against us, we may seek licenses under the claimants’ patents or other intellectual property rights. However, licenses may not be offered at all or on terms acceptable to us, particularly by competitors. The failure to obtain aenter into license from a third party for technology used by us could cause us to incur substantial liabilities and to suspend the manufacture of and sale of one or more products, which could reduce our revenue and harm our business. Furthermore, we may initiate claims or litigation againstagreements with third parties for infringementfuture products. These licenses may result in royalty payments to third parties, the cross licensing of technology by us or payment of other consideration. If these arrangements are not concluded on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our proprietary rights or to establish the validity ofcompetitive position and our proprietary rights, whichbusiness could be costly. We have agreed to indemnify certain customers for certain claims of infringement arising out of sale of our products. If we have to initiate a claim or indemnify a customer, our operating expenses may increase which could negatively impact our operating results.
suffer.
 
Our ability to compete will be harmed if we are unable to adequately protect our intellectual property.
 
We rely primarily on a combination of patents, trademarks, trade secrets, employee and third-party nondisclosure agreements and licensing arrangements to protect our intellectual property in the United States and internationally. We have numerous patents issued, allowed and pending in the United States and in foreign countries. Our patents and pending patent applications relate to technology used by us in connection with our products, including our digital media processors. We also rely on international treaties and organizations and foreign laws to protect our intellectual property. The laws of certain foreign countries in which our products are or may be manufactured or sold, including various countries in Asia, may not protect our products or intellectual property rights to the same extent as by the laws of the United States. This makes the possibility of piracy of our technology and products more likely. We continuously assess whether and where to seek formal protection for particular innovations and technologies based on such factors as: the commercial significance of our operations and our competitors’ operations in particular countries and regions; the location in which our products are manufactured; our strategic technology or product directions in different countries; and the degree to which intellectual property laws exist and are meaningfully enforced in different jurisdictions.as the:
 
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·  commercial significance of our operations and our competitors’ operations in particular countries and regions;
·  location in which our products are manufactured; our strategic technology or product directions in different countries; and
·  
degree to which intellectual property laws exist and are meaningfully enforced in different jurisdictions.
 
Our pending patent applications and any future applications may not be approved. In addition, any issued patents may not provide us with competitive advantages or may be challenged by third parties. The enforcement of patents by others may harm our ability to conduct our business. Others may independently develop substantially equivalent intellectual property or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets or intellectual property. Our failure to effectively protect our intellectual property could harm our business.
Litigation to defend against alleged infringement of intellectual property rights or to enforce our intellectual property rights and the outcome of such litigation could result in substantial costs to us.
From time to time we receive notices or are included in legal actions alleging that we have infringed patents or other intellectual property rights owned by third parties. We expect that, as the number of issued hardware and software patents increases, and as competition in our product lines intensifies, the volume of intellectual property infringement claims may increase. We may become involved in future lawsuits or other legal proceedings alleging patent infringement or other intellectual property rights violations by us or by our customers that we have licensedagreed to indemnify them for certain claims of infringement arising out of the sale of our products to these customers. In addition, litigation or other legal proceedings may be necessary to:
·  assert claims of infringement;
·  enforce our patents;
·  protect our trade secrets or know-how; or
·  determine the enforceability, scope and validity of the propriety rights of others.
If infringement claims are made against us, we may seek licenses under the claimants’ patents or other intellectual property rights. In addition, we or an indemnified customer may be required to obtain a license to a third parties’ patents or intellectual property. However, licenses may not be offered to us at all or on terms acceptable to us, particularly by competitors. If we fail to obtain a license from a third party for technology fromthat we use or that is used in one of our products used by an indemnified customer, we could be subject to substantial liabilities or have to suspend or discontinue the manufacture of and sale of one or more of our products either of which could reduce our revenue and harm our business. Furthermore, the indemnification of a customer may increase our operating expenses which could negatively impact our operating results.
Alternatively, we may initiate claims or litigation against third parties for incorporationinfringement of our proprietary rights or to establish the validity of our proprietary rights, which could be costly. If we have to initiate a claim, our operating expenses may increase which could negatively impact our operating results. Additionally, if one of our patents in invalidated or found to be unenforceable, we would be unable to license the patent which could result in a loss of revenue.
Regardless of the outcome, litigation or negotiations involving intellectual property rights can be very costly and can divert management’s attention from other matters. We may be unsuccessful in defending or pursuing these lawsuits or claims. An unfavorable ruling could include significant damages, invalidation of a patent or family of patents, indemnification of customers, payment of lost profits, or, when it has been sought, injunctive relief.
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While we believe that we currently have adequate internal control over financial reporting, we are exposed to risks from recent legislation requiring companies to evaluate those internal controls.
 Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires our digital media processors,management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. We have an ongoing program to perform the system and process evaluation and testing necessary to comply with these requirements. This legislation is relatively new and neither companies nor accounting firms have significant experience in complying with its requirements. As a result, we have incurred, and expect to continue to enter into license agreements for future products. These licenses may result in royalty paymentsincur increased expense and to third parties,devote additional management resources to Section 404 compliance. In the cross licensing of technology by us or payment of other con sideration. If these arrangements are not concluded on commercially reasonable terms,event that our business could suffer.
Litigation against uschief executive officer, chief financial officer or our customers concerning infringement would likely result in significant expense toindependent registered public accounting firm determine that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective as defined under Section 404, investor perceptions of us and divert the efforts of our technical and management personnel.
We are currently subject to claims of patent infringement, and we may be subject to patent infringement claims or suits brought by other parties in the future. These claims and any future lawsuits could divert our resources, including management’s attention, and result in the payment of substantial damages.
We are subject to changes in financial accounting standards, which may affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct business.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board and various federal legislative proposals have proposed changes to Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, that may require us to recognize compensation expense for our employee stock options. We currently use the intrinsic value method to measure compensation expense for stock-based awards to our employees. Under this method, we generally do not recognize compensation expense for an employee stock option when the exercise price of the stock option is equal to the fair market value on the date of grant. If any change to U.S. GAAP is adopted that requires us to recognize compensation expense for our employee stock options, our reported results of operations may be adversely affected.affected and could cause a decline in the market price of our stock.
 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

(i)EvaluationBased on their evaluation as of Disclosure ControlsJuly 31, 2005, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Procedures.We maintain “disclosureChief Financial Officer, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures” as such term is (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) ofunder the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (the “Exchange Act”). or the Exchange Act) were effective to ensure that the material information required to be disclosed by us in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and instructions for Form 10-Q.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal controls, will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our CompanyNVIDIA have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of c ompliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.


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Based on their evaluation as of October 24, 2004, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, subject to the limitations noted above, our disclosure controls and procedures were reasonably effective to ensure that the material information required to be disclosed by us in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

(ii)Changes in Internal Controls. There was no change in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) identified in connection with the evaluation described in Item 4(i) above that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.



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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

3dfx

On December 15, 2000, NVIDIA Corporation and onePlease see Part I, Item 1, Note 11, “Litigation” for discussion of our indirect subsidiaries entered into an agreement to purchase certain graphics chip assets from 3dfx. The asset purchase closed on April 18, 2001. In May 2002, we were served with a complaint filed by the landlord of 3dfx’s San Jose, California commercial real estate lease. In October 2002, 3dfx filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California. In December 2002, we were served with a complaint filed by the landlord of 3dfx’s Austin, Texas commercial real estate lease. The landlords’ complaints both assert claims for, among other things, interference with contract, successor liability and fraudulent transfer. The landlords’ are seeking to recover, among other things, a mounts owed on their leases in the aggregate amount of approximately $10 million. In March 2003, we were served with a complaint filed by the Trustee appointed by the Bankruptcy Court to represent the interests of the 3dfx bankruptcy estate. The Trustee’s complaint asserts claims for, among other things, successor liability and fraudulent transfer. The Trustee’s complaint seeks additional payments from us, the amount of which has not been quantified. The landlords’ actions have been removed to the Bankruptcy Court from the Superior Court of California and consolidated with the Trustee’s action for purposes of discovery. Discovery is currently proceeding and no trial date has been set. We believe the claims asserted against us are without merit and we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously.

Opti Incorporated

On October 19, 2004, Opti Incorporated (“Opti”) filed a complaint for patent infringement against NVIDIA in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Opti asserts that unspecified NVIDIA chipsets infringe five U.S. patents held by Opti. Opti seeks unspecified damages for our conduct, attorneys fees and triple damages for alleged willful infringement by NVIDIA. NVIDIA intends to respond to this complaint in December. We believe the claims asserted against us are without merit and we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously.

We are subject to other legal proceedings, but we do not believe that the ultimate outcome of any of these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or overall trends in results of operations. However, if an unfavorable ruling were to occur in any specific period, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the results of operations of that period.proceedings.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIESIssuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans of Programs
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
 
              
July 26, 2004 through August 22, 2004  1,075,000 $10.57  1,075,000 $288,642,283 
              
August 23, 2004 through September 19, 2004  819,253 $12.83  819,253 $278,133,053 
              
September 20, 2004 through October 24, 2004  190,100 $14.61  190,100 $275,356,213 
              
  Total  2,084,353 $11.82 (2) 2,084,353    


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Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans of Programs
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
     
May 2, 2005 through May 29, 2005-$--$226,888,622
     
May 30, 2005 through June 26, 2005828,109$27.35828,109$204,239,263
     
June 27, 2005 through July 31, 20051,012,184 (3)$27.061,012,184 (3)$176,846,554
     
Total1,840,293$27.19 (2)1,840,293 

(1) We have an ongoing authorization from the Board of Directors, subject to certain specifications, to repurchase shares of our common stock up to an aggregate maximum amount of $300.0 million on the open market or in negotiated transactions through August 2007.

(2) Represents average price paid per share during the thirdsecond quarter of fiscal 2005.2006.

(3) As part of our share repurchase program, we may from time-to-time enter into structured share repurchase transactions with financial institutions. We entered into two such transactions during the second quarter of fiscal 2006 which, in the aggregate, required up-front payments totaling $25.0 million. Under these agreements, we repurchased 0.9 million shares of our common stock, which we recorded on the trade date of the transactions.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on August 19, 2004,July 21, 2005 the following proposals were adopted by the margin indicated. Proxies for the Annual Meeting were solicited pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and there was no solicitation in opposition of management’s solicitation.

1.  The election of three (3) directors to serve for a three-year term until the 20072008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The results of the voting were as follows:

a. James C. GaitherSteven Chu, Ph.D.

Number of shares voted For   136,914,619       150,220,428
Number of shares Withholding Authority         13,461,6292,563,801

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b. Jen-Hsun HuangHarvey C. Jones

Number of shares voted For   141,365,382         140,084,771
Number of shares Withholding Authority          9,010,86612,699,458

c. A. Brooke SeawellWilliam J. Miller

Number of shares voted For   139,831,912        149,448,713
Number of shares Withholding Authority   10,544,3363,335,516


The other directors whose term of office as a director continued after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders are Steven Chu, Ph.D., Harvey C. Jones, William J. Miller, Tench Coxe, and Mark A. Stevens.Stevens, Mark L. Perry, James C. Gaither, A. Brooke Seawell and Jen-Hsun Huang.

2.  Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditorsregistered accounting firm for our fiscal year ending January 30, 2005.29, 2006. The results of the voting were as follows:

Number of shares voted For146,041,003149,899,287
Number of shares voted Against739,4492,064,763
Number of shares Abstaining3,595,796820,179
Number of Broker Non-Votes0

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.



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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
Description
10.1#10.171998 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock OptionFiscal Year 2006 Variable Compensation Plan (Annual Grant - Board Service),(filed as amended.
10.2#1998 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (Committee Grant - Committee Service), as amended.
10.3#1998 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (Initial Grant ).
10.4#1998 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
10.5#            1998 Equity Incentive Plan ISO, as amended.
10.6#1998 Equity Incentive Plan NSO, as amended
10.7#Certificate of Stock Option Grant
31.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer as requiredExhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 10, 2005 and incorporated herein by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1*Certification of Chief Executive Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.2*Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan arrangement.

* The certifications attached as Exhibit 32.1 and Exhibit 32.2 accompany this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of NVIDIA Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date of this Form 10-Q, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.




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SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on November 22, 2004.

                            ;         NVIDIA Corporation

                            ;         By:             /s/   MARVIN D. BURKETT
                         &nb sp;          Marvin D. Burkett
                         &nb sp;          Chief Financial Officer
                                    (Duly Authorized Officer and
                                    Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
Description
10.1#1998 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (Annual Grant - Board Service), as amended.
10.2#1998 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (Committee Grant - Committee Service), as amended.
10.3#1998 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan (Initial Grant)reference).
10.4#1998 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

10.5#    

1998 Equity Incentive Plan ISO, as amended.

10.6# 

1998 Equity Incentive Plan NSO, as amended.

10.7# 

Certificate of Stock Option Grant

31.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1*Certification of Chief Executive Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.2*Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

# Indicates management contract* The certifications attached as Exhibit 32.1 and Exhibit 32.2 accompany this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of NVIDIA Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, or compensatory plan arrangement.the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date of this Form 10-Q, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.


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SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,on August 25, 2005.

NVIDIA Corporation

By:/s/ MARVIN D. BURKETT
Marvin D. Burkett
Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
Description
10.17Fiscal Year 2006 Variable Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 10, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).
31.1Certification of Chief Executive Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1*Certification of Chief Executive Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.2*Certification of Chief Financial Officer as required by Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

* The certifications attached as Exhibit 32.1 and Exhibit 32.2 accompany this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of NVIDIA Corporation under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether made before or after the date of this Form 10-Q, irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.


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