ATI introduces PCI Express Radeon cards

ATI has today announced its PCI Express lineup of next-generation Radeon cards. ATI is now adding the PCI Express-based X800, X600, and X300 variations to its Radeon X-series--the AGP-based Radeon X800 and the Radeon X800 Pro were announced (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/05/04/news_6095338.html) last month.

PCI Express is the new bus interface technology that will replace the aging PCI bus and AGP interface. ATI's new chips feature native PCI Express support, which offers a seamless change to the new technology. The transition will begin in earnest later this month when Intel releases its PCI Express-enabled Grantsdale and Alderwood chipsets.

ATI's PCI Express announcement offers new information about how the company plans to leverage its new X-series technology across target markets. Like its AGP counterpart, the PCI Express-based X800 remains an enthusiast card with 16-pixel pipelines, six-vertex pipes, and 256-bit memory interface. The new X600 will be ATI's mainstream solution and will be available in XT and Pro versions. Both X600 versions will have a scaled-back graphics engine featuring four-pixel pipelines, two-vertex pipes, and a 128-bit memory interface. The Radeon X600 XT will have a 500/740MHz core/memory clock, and the Radeon X600 Pro will have 400/600MHz clock speeds.

The Radeon X300 and Radeon X300 SE cards fill out ATI's entry-level offerings. The X300 will be the first chip built with TSMC's new 0.11-micron manufacturing process to reach volume production. The X300 cards both feature four-pixel pipelines and two-vertex pipelines. The Radeon X300 will sport a 325/400MHz core/memory clock and a 128-bit memory interface. The Radeon X300 SE will have the same core and memory clock speeds but will only have a 64-bit memory interface for basic systems.

Given the current, nonexistent PCI Express install base, ATI will focus on OEM (original equipment manufacturer) system-builder sales rather than the add-in card market at launch.