MARKHAM, ON/ Munich, Germany – January 24, 2006 – Gamers and multimedia enthusiasts alike will be delighted by the launch and immediate availability of the Radeon® X1900 graphics processor from ATI (TSX: ATY, NASDAQ: ATYT). With the most advanced and complete set of features, PCI Express® add-in-cards based on the Radeon X1900 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) will, without question, be the cards of choice for gamers looking for the best performance and for multimedia enthusiasts looking for a high-performance, high-quality digital media experience.
The Radeon® X1900 XT and Radeon® X1900 XTX are must-have cards for gamers. They deliver the best performance, with three times the shader performance than the previous generation. The parallel architecture -- with 48 pixel shader processors -- generates rich, vibrant scenes, bringing games to life. Combined with the cards’ high clock frequencies, the architecture is capable of more than half a TeraFLOP of shader computations. In real-life gaming that can mean games run up to 60 percent faster on the Radeon X1900 XTX than the nearest competing product.
But the architecture isn’t just about brute force performance, it also delivers the industry’s best image quality including the ability to apply advanced features such as antialiasing and high dynamic range lighting simultaneously – capabilities exclusive to ATI. The Radeon X1900 also features ATI’s Avivo™ technologies which ensure optimal image quality, connectivity and HD video capabilities.
“The desktop graphics market was worth $1.39 billion in Q3’04, and ATI is clearly going after it with the launch of the Radeon X1900 products,” said Dr. Jon Peddie, president, Jon Peddie Associates, the market research in Tiburon, CA, that tracks the PC graphics chip market. “Not only have they delivered the fastest graphics card, they have made it available immediately at launch and in good quantities around the world. We expect this new board to be very well received.”
For gamers who want the ultimate in gaming, ATI is also introducing the Radeon® X1900 CrossFire™ for multi-GPU systems. Combined with either the Radeon X1900 XT or Radeon X1900 XTX, the Radeon X1900 CrossFire gives gamers access to even more performance and image quality.
The Radeon X1900 XT, Radeon X1900 XTX and Radeon X1900 CrossFire are shipping immediately from ATI and its board partners around the world. The Radeon X1900 XT has a suggested retail price of USD$549 and the Radeon X1900 XTX has a suggested retail price of USD$649. These prices are well below that of competing products. The Radeon X1900 CrossFire has a suggested retail price of USD$599. ATI has already shipped many thousands of Radeon X1900 GPUs to partners and into the channel.
Also launching today is the All-In-Wonder® X1900, which joins ATI's multimedia product family that spans nearly 10 years of market leadership. ATI's fastest multimedia video card delivers outstanding graphics performance while enabling Avivo™ technologies for the best possible video and image quality. All-In-Wonder X1900 comes bundled with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 4.0 Plus Adobe® Premiere® Elements 2.0 software -- award-winning photo and video editing recognized for exceptional photo and video features.
All-In-Wonder X1900 also includes ATI's award winning software application Multimedia Center™, Remote Wonder Plus™ (for wireless computer control, Gemstar GuidePlus+ program scheduling in North America, European program guide for DVB-T broadcasts, input and output cables, support for Windows XP® Media Center and more.
All-In-Wonder X1900 has a manufacturers suggested retail price of USD$499 and is available now from ATI.com in North America and by mid-February in Europe from major online stores.
“All of the Radeon X1900 products raise the bar in so many ways. They deliver the best performance, they offer image quality features unavailable from any other company and they are widely available,” said Peter Edinger, Managing Director & Vice President EMEA, ATI Technologies (Europe) GmbH. "ATI committed to delivering the best products with this launch and has definitely followed through."
All of the Radeon X1900 products are supported by ATI’s Catalyst suite of software, ensuring customers have easy and ongoing access to software updates for performance, stability and added features. The Radeon X1900 products will also help customers prepare for the upcoming Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.
For more information on the products introduced today, or any of ATI’s products please visit www.ati.com.
