Radeon
Latest
AMD integrates ATI Radeon X1250 into Vista-certified 690 chipset
Although ATI's R600 graphics chip may have hit a recent snag, it seems that the company's Radeon X1250 GPU is coming along just fine, as it claims the proud title of "world's first" integrated graphics unit to receive Vista certification. The chip, of course, is a critical piece of AMD's latest 690-series chipset, which integrates Aero-capable graphics, 1GHz HyperTransport interface speeds, and support for Sempron, Athlon 64/64 FX/64 FX X2 processors, PCI Express, Microsoft's DirectDraw, hardware acceleration for MPEG-2/4 and WMV9, TV output, HDCP-compatible DVI / HDMI outputs, and the general smorgasbord of connectors we're all used to seeing these days. Putting the resources of the ATI / AMD merger to full use, the 690 family claims to be the first chipset from the pair that supports ATI's Avivo technology, which purportedly makes your multimedia experiences within Vista a smooth ordeal. AMD's latest should be available right now for an undisclosed price, but we'd wait for a few hands-on opinions before rushing out and skipping over a dedicated GPU in your next rig.[Via 64-Bit-Computers]
Sharp updates Mebius lineup, adds Vista
NEC isn't the only game in town updating its laptop line with Vista pre-installed, as Sharp is revamping its long-standing Mebius lineup to include Microsoft's forthcoming OS as well as a few new pieces of hardware to boot. The 15.4-inch PC-WT70S houses a 1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 processor, 1,280 x 800 resolution, up to 2GB of RAM, 100GB hard drive, ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 graphics chipset, dual-layer DVD burner, PCMCIA, four USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, SD / xD card slots, 802.11b/g, Ethernet, audio in / out, VGA out, and a paltry 1.2-hours of rated battery life. The lower-spec'd PC-WE40S features most of the same kit as its bigger brother, but swaps in an AMD Mobile Sempron 3200+ CPU, 512MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and promises an equally appalling 1.3-hours of longevity. Lastly, the 14.1-inch PC-CH40S (pictured after the break) retains most of the above components, but utilizes a 1,024 x 768 resolution on its marginally smaller screen, and manages to squeeze 2.5-hours out of its Li-ion battery. All three units should be ready to rock the day Windows Vista lands later this month, and while the PC-WT70S will start around ¥170,000 ($1,411), both the PC-CH40S and PC-WE40S will demand ¥150,000 ($1,245) apiece.[Via Impress]
ATI throws down Radeon X1950 series with GDDR4
Looks like ATI is still intent on making a name for itself while ATI's still ATI, busting out its most powerful graphics card yet, the Radeon X1950. Available in both XTX and CrossFire editions, the X1950 series are the first cards to pack GDDR4 memory technology (a full 512MB of it) clocking in at an impressive 2.0GHz, as well as an all-new fansink that should keep the card cool and keep your box from scaring the neighbors. Just make sure your power supply is up to snuff before forking over the $449 for one (or two) of these, cause you know any old off-shelf PC just ain't gonna cut it. Look for it to be available from all the usual sources September 13th, and shortly thereafter as an option from Dell and other OEM vendors.[Via Impress]
Voodoo goes Core 2 with Omen i:121 Extreme
With Alienware having just added Core 2 Duo options to its Area-51 7500 desktop, you didn't really think that rival Voodoo would be far behind, did you? The boutique gaming rig manufacturer has just announced its OMEN i:121 Extreme tower, which crams a 2.93GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800 processor into either a liquid- or air-cooled case designed to "operate at peak efficiency without draining excess power." Since video processing is even more important than CPU horsepower in a system like this, Voodoo is offering the new Omen with a number of graphics configurations, ranging from a single ATI Radeon X1900 or nVidia GeForce 7900GT setup all the way up to SLI or Crossfire dual-card powerhouses. You're also getting 2GB of RAM in the base configuration, along with a 7,200RPM 80GB hard drive and 16x dual-layer Pioneer DVD burner. As usual, pricing on these machines borders on the ridiculous, with SLI and Crossfire rigs starting at $4,400 and $6,000, respectively -- hey, no one said that being on the cutting edge of performance would come cheap.[Via TrustedReviews]
ATI responds to Nvidia, clears up post-takeover rumors
Not too long after Nvidia CEO, Jen Hsun-Huang, described AMD's purchase of ATI as a "gift" and as a sign of their main competitor "throwing in the towel," comes this retort from the newly formed CPU-GPU monster:"The PC market is a tough place to be without any friends. ATI now has all the resources of AMD behind it, and will be producing faster, more compact GPUs and reaching the channel more effectively than ever before. Nvidia's words are bravado, designed to confuse the market while the company tries to find a way to compete now that it's standing alone."Oh my, such comments are in desperate need of thermal paste and an officially endorsed heatsink and fan combination! Or, um, burn. While Nvidia is hardly "alone" in the market, the point ATI makes is not entirely without merit. In a considerably competitive hardware market, combining resources and technology couldn't easily be labeled as a terrible strategy and certainly not as a white flag flapping in the wind. Both companies have valid points -- we'll see which is more convincing once they start releasing their next generation of wares.The rest of AMD's response is aimed at several rumors that have cropped up since the original takeover announcement. They pledge to remain committed to GPUs and to support graphics solutions on Intel platforms, rubbishing the suggestion that Intel is revoking ATI's license. Perhaps that's where Nvidia and ATI can agree: having a strange PC hardware format war would be unpleasant for all parties involved.[Via Voodoo Extreme, thanks devian!]
eMachines releases five desktops for cash-strapped students
Even though summer has only barely begun, Gateway's eMachines is already looking ahead to the upcoming school year, having just announced five new Vista-ready desktops for the student on a budget. Starting at the "top of the line," we have the T6536 (pictured, with optional monitor) and T6534, which both feature Athlon 64 processors from AMD (3800+ and 3700+, respectively), nVidia GeForce 6100 graphics, and 250GB of storage, but the extra $90 you're spending on the $540 T6536 doubles the RAM from 512MB to 1GB and bumps the OS up to Windows XP Media Center Edition. Next in line is the T5046, which will set you back the same $450 as the T6534 but changes up the specs with a hyper-threaded Pentium 4 processor, Radeon Xpress 200 graphics from ATI, 512MB of RAM, a 200GB HDD, and the same dual-layer DVD burner found in both members of the 6000-series. Finally, the super-budget-conscious consumer has the option of either the $350 T3506 or $380 T3508, with the former machine offering a Celeron D352 CPU, Radeon X300-based graphics, 512MB of RAM, 120GB HDD, and a CD-RW/DVD combo drive, while the latter rig steps it up to a Celeron D356, Radeon Xpress 200 chip, 160GB hard drive, and that good old multi-format DVD burner. All of the new machines are available immediately, which gives you plenty of time to load up the software you'll need for surviving next year's vigorous academic schedule -- namely tunes, vids, and games.Read- T6536Read- T6534Read- T5046Read- T3508Read- T3506[All models via Yahoo]
ATI teams with Havok for boundless gaming
ATI made some noise today with a pair of announcements regarding their new physics processing technologies. The 3D graphics leader is introducing the CrossFire X1900 multi-GPU solution, which gives gamers a choice of asymmetrical physics configurations -- what ATI has coined "boundless gaming". The setup requires either one or two graphics cards for rendering, and a separate card for physics processing. "Boundless" refers to the open architecture that allows for different cards to be used in each role, so gamers can decide between various high and low end cards to handle each function. ATI maintains an updated list of CrossFire certified components.ATI will also be working more closely with middleware provider Havok to promote the Havok FX SDK. Games that have leveraged the Havok technology include Half-Life 2, Perfect Dark Zero, FEAR, and the Splinter Cell series.See also: ATI's new CrossFire aimed at Athlon gamers Havok vs. AGEIA: the physics/PhysX showdown
MPC TransPort T3200 business laptop
MPC Computers just announced their stoic little TransPort T3200 laptop targeting high-end, security-minded professionals. If that's your gig sonny, then listen up. The T3200 gets it done with a full line-up of Intel Core Duo processor options, up to 2GB DDR2 RAM, 120GB S-ATA (5400RPM) disks, DVD/RW combo drive, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth, integrated fingerprint scanner, and 15.4-inch WSXGA (1680 x 1050) display driven by ATI Mobility X1600 graphics for right around $3,000 large, fully-spec'd. Slap in an optional GPS and GPRS module and set the workers free![Via MobileWhack]
Info on New ATI Drivers & WoW
For all you Radeon card users out there, it seems that the latest version of ATI's drivers, the just-released Catalyst 6.4, contain an issue that may affect WoW players. From the official notes:"World of Warcraft: Enabling CrossFire may intermittently result in the character appearing off center. Further details can be found in topic number 737-22017"So, for god's sake, people...turn off Crossfire - whatever it is - and keep yourself centered. The new drivers can be downloaded from ATI's site here.
Fanboy Roundup: That's a good look for you
Let's talk redesigns! DS Fanboy has an interesting consideration of Nintendo's converging design aesthetic, from the Game Boy micro, to the Revolution controller, to the new DS lite. PSP Fanboy wonders where the different colors are in Sony's black & white world; you could always upgrade the look of your PSP with a nice external battery though. And, with the announcement of the first replaceable cases for the console, Xbox 360 Fanboy considers the impending surge of Xbox 360 case modders. Here are the Fanboy highlights for the week:DS FanboyLinux on the DS: Now with Wi-Fi support Nintendo Power has a flood of Metroid Prime Hunters infoNintendo: Converging design PSP FanboyPigs fly! Get eight hours of play on a PSP!Multicolored PSPs missing in actionWill Rez sound off on the PSP?Xbox 360 FanboyRadeon equivalent to Xbox 360 over $500Xbox 360 replacement case conceptsXbox 360 could still be MIA through spring
Radeon equivalent to Xbox 360 over $500
Pundits predicted the next-generation of consoles, specifically the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, would maintain graphical supremacy for at least several years before their PC equivalents arrived on the scene. Of course that wasn't going to happen: specs of the unreleased ATI Radeon x1900 XTX indicate it's very similar to the ATI XENOS GPU found in the Xbox 360. Both Hard OCP and Tech Reports report that the x1900 XTX sports 48 pixel pipelines, a 650 Mhz processor, and 512MB of 1.5GHz RAM. The Xbox 360 also has 48 pipelines, a 500MHz processor, and 512MB of 700MHz RAM. It looks like ATI may have just one upped the custom GPU design they just sold to Microsoft. The problem with computer games tends to be that only a couple games even try to take advantage of monster cards like this one; most of them go for the lowest common denominator, opting to build an engine that is scalable enough to look great on all manner of systems. Here's the real kicker: the x1900 XTX commands a whopping $500 plus! For that price, you could get an Xbox 360 and have enough left over for a game and a Live membership! [Via b Xbox 360]
ATI's "Avivo" specification pulls PC's, HDTV's closer
ATI has already shown their flexibility by partnering with JVC to put their chips in TV's, are now spreading the benefits of that technology across their product line with their newly-announced "Avivo" technology. Simply put, Avivo is a set of image enhancement, display, and connection specifications that you'll be able to find in many of ATI's future products. MPEG-2, H.264, HDCP or otherwise, if it is high def and you want to play it or output it to a TV, you will be able to with full hardware support on Avivo compatible products. Video cards equipped with the technology will support progressive scan output and hardware-assisted video encoding so you can convert for other devices without wasting precious CPU cycles. I'm glad to see this, as my home PC currently has an ATI Radeon 9200SE that is great, however setting everything up to work properly and output to my monitor and/or TV when and how I want has been more difficult than necessary. Now that they are designing such connectivity in from the ground up, it will be good for everyone. Expect Avivo labeled products to be available in the next month or so.Will it do your laundry, dishes and homework? No, but it will let you play that high-definition movie you just downloaded on your big screen TV with no loss of quality and leave you with CPU power to work with at the same time.
