ATI Readies New R430, RV410 Graphics Chips

[Oblivion]

ATI Sticks to 0.11 Micron Fabrication Process

ATI Technologies is preparing two graphics processors to be made using 0.11 micron process technology at TSMC. The new chips are likely to deliver higher performance and lower cost compared to processors manufactured using 0.13 micron fabrication process.

According to a report from DigiTimes, ATI will launch production of its code-named R430 and RV410 graphics processors this quarter. Both chips are likely to have micro-architecture similar to that used in today?s RADEON X800-series graphics processors and native support of PCI Express interconnection. Typically, ATI Technologies positions its ?R? chips to serve high-end and performance-mainstream markets, while the ?RV? graphics processors are intended for entry-level and mainstream sSpecifications Unclearnclear

Technical specifications of ATI?s code-named R430 and RV410 chips are not disclosed at this time. Due to the insignificant change of the code-name from the current high-end offering previously code-named R420, the difference between the currently available RADEON X800 PRO as well as RADEON X800 XT products and code-named R430 chip may not be substantial. Last year ATI introduced graphics processor internally called R360 (RADEON 9800 XT) that had the same feature-set, but higher clock-speed compared to the previously launched R350 (RADEON 9800 PRO).

Thinner manufacturing technologies are used to cut-down the manufacturing costs and possibly increase clock-speed of complex processors. It is not clear whether the R430 is a cost-effective version of R420 or its speed-bin with higher potential.

ATI already uses TSMC?s 0.11 micron process technology to produce its entry-level RADEON X300-series graphics chips.

Usually lower end graphics chips feature less pixel and vertex pipes and have commonly cut-down architecture compared to the more expensive parts. Today?s high-performance visual processing units from ATI feature 16 or 12 pixel as well as 6 vertex pipelines. Less powerful RV410 chip may have 8 or 4 pixel pipelines along with 6 or fewer vertex pipes.

ATI?s competitor No.1, NVIDIA Corporation, is also preparing a number of new chips for high-end, mainstream and entry-level market segments to enter in the second half of the year.

Representatives for ATI Technologies did not comment on the story.

X-Bit Labs

[Max Veteran]

Go ATI! Own nVidia :D

[Brandon]

Maybe this winter i will upgrade my 9500 pro... or maybe ill wait untill summer so the prices drop!!!... but i'd need to get a new PSU, so i dont know, impressive though

[Symbiotic Hat]

I bet this one supports PS 3.0. Stupid ATI should have had that support with the X800 series.

[JustGeorge]

I wonder if the x300 is more powerful than a 9600XT?

[Robbie Khan Reviews]

Go ATI! Own nVidia :D

somehow....i seriously doubt that.

[jerry]

I wonder if the x300 is more powerful than a 9600XT?

X600 is slightly faster than 9600XT, so X300 should be slower than 9600XT.

[JustGeorge]

Is the x600 out yet? What the retail price of it?

[BananaMan]

I bet this one supports PS 3.0. Stupid ATI should have had that support with the X800 series.

Doubt it. This is just a refresh of R420 core. Introducing PS3.0 would be a fundamental change, not something that you would normally see in a simple refresh like this one.

Still, I would be more than happy to be wrong in this case.

[Boogiman]

I don't get it. Ati just launched a new line of GPU's and now the new ones are already here. I was going to buy the X800 XT but i don't know for sure now.

[spidoinkel]

hm.. was planning on getting a new gfx card on student loan day however i will wait to get specs on these beasts and make a decision then ;)

[giga Veteran]

I would suspect PS3.0 to be in R500. (I think Xbox 2 will use R500 or R600)