Another reference to 3D stuff,...I think this 3D stuff is confusing, as one person's definition of what 3D is, is different from anothers. I think viewing a demonstration is a good idea.
ATI Technologies boots up newest 3-D cards
ATI Technologies Inc ATY
Shares issued 228,804,102 Aug 13 close $16.39
Mon 13 Aug 2001 News Release
Mr. Dave Norton reports
ATI Technologies has taken performance leadership in the PC graphics
industry with the introduction of its next-generation Radeon processors,
the world's most powerful and innovative family of graphics chip and board
technologies offering the ultimate in pure gaming power, 3-D quality of the
highest order and unparalleled price performance.
Building on the performance leadership demonstrated by its
second-generation Radeon chip and board technologies announced today, and
founded on the heritage of its first-generation Radeon products, ATI's new
family of graphics processors delivers unprecedented performance for both
enthusiast and mainstream computing, offering consumers the most complete
range of solutions available from any graphics manufacturer in the world.
"Today's introduction of our revolutionary, new Radeon family of graphics
processors is proof positive of our ability to deliver on our strategy that
calls for technology leadership, improving market share leadership and
absolute customer acceptance of ATI's value," said David Norton, president
and chief operating officer, ATI Technologies Inc. "ATI is breaking new
ground in high-performance gaming, mainstream 3-D visual effects and
mid-range workstation content development capability, while establishing a
new standard for power, quality and value in every category in our
industry."
The new Radeon graphics processor family consists of three category-leading
products:
Radeon 8500
Designed with the most advanced graphics technology in the world, the
Radeon 8500 delivers up to 33-per-cent-higher performance than the nearest
competitive graphics processor (1). Major technological advancements
include Truform, an innovative rendering technology that helps to deliver
the smoothest, most natural 3-D images ever seen on existing and
next-generation 3-D games, and Smartshader, an advanced technology that
takes advantage of the new Microsoft DirectX 8.1 application programming
interface to enable more complex and realistic texture and lighting effects
without sacrificing performance, including supporting Pixel Shaders Version
1.4.
Radeon 7500
This graphics processor offers an ideal combination of performance,
innovative 3-D features and real value for mainstream commercial and
consumer computer users. It delivers up to a 60-per-cent improvement in
performance compared with the previous generation of Radeon
high-performance processors (2). The Radeon 7500 targets the performance
mainstream, offering a level of performance not seen at its price point.
Fire GL 8800
Combining the Fire GL's pioneering workstation reputation and software
excellence in OpenGL with ATI's new industry-leading technology, the Fire
GL 8800 is easily the most affordable mid-range 3-D graphics board for
CAD/CAM and the modelling and animation aspects of digital content and
creation.
(1) Based on 3DMark 2001 benchmark tests performed in July, 2001. For more
information on the benchmarking process, visit www.MadOnion.com.
(2) Based on 3DwinBench benchmark tests performed in July, 2001. For more
information on the benchmarking process, visit www.ZDNet.com.
Radeon 8500: the ultimate gaming graphics card
The Radeon 8500 is powered by the most advanced graphics technology in the
world, and features 64 megabytes of double data rate memory, digital flat
panel (DVI) support as well as dual monitor and video output, and DVD video
playback. The first gaming card with complete hardware support for DirectX
8.1, the Radeon 8500 will be available in late September and has a
manufacturer's suggested retail price of $399 (U.S.).
"The Radeon 8500 clearly positions ATI as the technology and performance
leader in the enthusiast segment of the PC desktop market, providing an
unequalled visual experience for games," said Rick Bergman, senior
vice-president of marketing and general manager, desktop business, ATI
Technologies Inc. "The Radeon 8500 moves our industry's objective of
bringing full visual reality to the PC and Mac platforms a quantum step
forward."
"With the Truform and Smartshader components of the Radeon 8500 graphics
chip, combined with the DirectX 8.1 environment that will first be
available in the Windows XP operating system, game developers can produce
more visually innovative and complex 3-D computer graphics including higher
order surfaces without hindering performance," said Channing Verbeck,
director of Windows graphics and gaming technologies at Microsoft Corp. "We
look forward to continuing to work with innovators like ATI that utilize
the groundbreaking features in DirectX 8.1, such as the improved pixel
shaders, to help bring the game development community the best platform for
next-generation Windows-based PC games."
"Beyond what ATI's Radeon 8500 will do in the way of offering a great 3-D
platform for next-generation games is what it will do for current games
through its innovative Truform technology," said Mark Dochtermann,
technical director, MumboJumbo. "When playing Myth III on Truform-enabled
3-D hardware, the Myrkridia, Trow and other units look much more natural
and realistic than ever before, bringing gamers one giant step closer to
experiencing full visual reality with this graphics chip."
Radeon 7500: the performance mainstream graphics board
The Radeon 7500 brings premium level features to the mainstream market.
Coming standard with dual monitor support, including VGA and digital flat
panel (DVI) displays and integrated TV out, low power and acoustic levels,
and proven technologies, the Radeon 7500 features 64 MB DDR. Available in
late September, it has an MSRP of $199 (U.S.).
"The lion's share of the market for graphics products is represented by
mainstream users who are looking for a combination of price and
performance, yet with features that enhance visual reality -- and ATI has
hit the mark better than anyone else historically, and it looks like
history will repeat itself with ATI's latest offering, the Radeon 7500,"
said Dr. Jon Peddie, president, Jon Peddie Associates. "With memory
bandwidth up to 8.8 gigabytes per second, performance that has only been
seen on the current generation of high-performance boards, the Radeon 7500
packs a lot of punch for a mainstream price."
"Radeon 7500 builds on the strength of the original, award winning Radeon
technology," said Jewelle Schiedel-Webb, director, product marketing,
desktop marketing, ATI Technologies Inc. "The overall value proposition
associated with the Radeon 7500 -- processor speed, 3-D performance and
price -- is unparalleled."
Fire GL 8800: the mid-range workstation solution
The Fire GL 8800 combines the extensive and proven workstation experience
of the Fire GL brand with the leading-edge technology of the Radeon 8800
chip to offer workstation users a fully featured, economically priced,
mid-range workstation solution. Featuring 64 MB DDR memory and VGA and DVI
support, the Fire GL 8800 is optimized for superior application performance
using OpenGL and Linux drivers. It is the first workstation graphics
processor in the industry to support the Microsoft DirectX 8.1 API. It
begins shipping in October.
"The Fire GL 8800 provides ATI with a fully featured, mid-range workstation
graphics board to complement its recently introduced high-performance Fire
GL 4 processor," said Ian Cartwright, vice-president and general manager,
workstation products, ATI Technologies Inc. "This newest addition to the
Fire GL line will redefine the price versus performance value proposition.
In addition, it offers ATI customers and technology partners a
high-performance workstation product that is fully capable of supporting
the most intensive CAD/CAM and digital content and creation requirements."
"The market for workstation products based on Intel processors and
Microsoft operating systems has grown steadily since the original
introduction of these technologies in 1996, so much so that this market has
become the mainstream segment where most workstation computing is done,"
said Pia Rieppo, principal analyst, workstations, Gartner Dataquest.
"Today, the 3-D capabilities of these widely used platforms have been
considerably enhanced, such that intricate CAD/CAM and digital content
creation applications -- considered far too complex for these workman-like
products just a few years ago -- are now possible at attractive price
points."
(c) Copyright 2001 Canjex Publishing Ltd. stockwatch.com |
