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New mid-range offering ideally suited to 3D animation and CAD/CAM
MARKHAM, Ontario - ATI Technologies Inc. (TSE:ATY, NASDAQ:ATYT), a world
leader in the supply of graphics, video and multimedia solutions, today
introduced the FIRE GL(tm) 8800, a new mid-range 3D workstation graphics
board ideally suited for CAD/CAM and the modeling and animation aspects of
digital content and creation.
Powered by ATI's most powerful graphics chip -- the RADEON(tm) 8800 -- the
FIRE GL 8800 affords users a choice of software drivers for the most popular
workstation operating system environments -Windows 2000®/Windows NT® and
Linux with fully hardware-accelerated OpenGL® capabilities. Standard
features include 64MB (megabytes) of DDR (double data rate) memory and
industry-leading optimized Workstation OpenGL performance, DVD (digital
versatile disc) video playback as well as support for 3D resolutions (32-bit
color) up to 2048 X 1536 pixels, digital flat panel (DVI) and dual monitors.
The FIRE GL 8800 uses a 165 MHz integrated TMDS (transition minimized
differential signaling) transmitter to support DVI up to 1600 X 1200 pixels
resolution.
The FIRE GL 8800 is ideally suited for professional content creators and
content playback with superior application performance using OpenGL. It also
supports Microsoft's new DirectX 8.1(tm) specification. For example, game
developers can "create it" and "play it," i.e. design a game in OpenGL and
play it back using ATI's innovative TRUFORM(tm) and SMARTSHADER(tm)
rendering technologies.
Certified by the industry's key CAD/CAM and DCC applications providers, the
FIRE GL 8800 offers users the highest level of product reliability and
stability. In addition, ATI has established a dedicated group of workstation
software and hardware engineers led by the recently acquired FIRE GL
development team; Customer Service expertise in support of its workstation
solutions; and a focus on various workstation vertical markets.
"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 Rick Bergman, Senior Vice President of Marketing &
General Manager, Desktop Marketing, ATI Technologies Inc. "This newest
addition to the FIRE GL line will redefine the price versus performance
value proposition. In addition, if 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 3D
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."
Supporting the FIRE GL 8800's advanced 3D modeling and animation
capabilities are the following ATI-developed applications technologies:
* TRUFORM, an innovative rendering technology that helps to deliver
the smoothest, most natural 3D images ever seen on both existing and
next-generation 3D games and personal computers;
* SMARTSHADER, an advanced technology that takes advantage of
Microsoft's new DirectX 8.1 features to enable more complex and realistic
texture and lighting effects without sacrificing performance;
* HydraVision(tm), a leading-edge desktop management software
technology that provides users with an interface for simplified management
of multiple displays, traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors, flat
panel displays and televisions;
* CHARISMA ENGINE(tm) II, which supports full transformation, clipping
and lighting (T&L) at 62.5 million triangles/second peak processing
capability;
* PIXEL TAPESTRY(tm) II, the FIRE GL 8800 3D rendering engine, which
powers an incredible 2.4 gigatexels per second for the highest fill rates in
32-bit at high resolutions.
"The addition of the FIRE GL 8800 represents ATI's commitment to the
workstation market as well as driving the value and performance long
associated with PC graphics processor technology into the workstation
segment," explained Ed Huang, Director of Workstations, Desktop Marketing,
ATI Technologies Inc. "The FIRE GL 8800 will deliver a modeling and
animation experience that users can immediately benefit from, whether they
are creating future entertainment products or developing next-generation
automotive designs."
MARKHAM, Ontario - ATI Technologies Inc. (TSE:ATY, NASDAQ:ATYT), a world
leader in the supply of graphics, video and multimedia solutions, today
introduced the FIRE GL(tm) 8800, a new mid-range 3D workstation graphics
board ideally suited for CAD/CAM and the modeling and animation aspects of
digital content and creation.
Powered by ATI's most powerful graphics chip -- the RADEON(tm) 8800 -- the
FIRE GL 8800 affords users a choice of software drivers for the most popular
workstation operating system environments -Windows 2000®/Windows NT® and
Linux with fully hardware-accelerated OpenGL® capabilities. Standard
features include 64MB (megabytes) of DDR (double data rate) memory and
industry-leading optimized Workstation OpenGL performance, DVD (digital
versatile disc) video playback as well as support for 3D resolutions (32-bit
color) up to 2048 X 1536 pixels, digital flat panel (DVI) and dual monitors.
The FIRE GL 8800 uses a 165 MHz integrated TMDS (transition minimized
differential signaling) transmitter to support DVI up to 1600 X 1200 pixels
resolution.
The FIRE GL 8800 is ideally suited for professional content creators and
content playback with superior application performance using OpenGL. It also
supports Microsoft's new DirectX 8.1(tm) specification. For example, game
developers can "create it" and "play it," i.e. design a game in OpenGL and
play it back using ATI's innovative TRUFORM(tm) and SMARTSHADER(tm)
rendering technologies.
Certified by the industry's key CAD/CAM and DCC applications providers, the
FIRE GL 8800 offers users the highest level of product reliability and
stability. In addition, ATI has established a dedicated group of workstation
software and hardware engineers led by the recently acquired FIRE GL
development team; Customer Service expertise in support of its workstation
solutions; and a focus on various workstation vertical markets.
"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 Rick Bergman, Senior Vice President of Marketing &
General Manager, Desktop Marketing, ATI Technologies Inc. "This newest
addition to the FIRE GL line will redefine the price versus performance
value proposition. In addition, if 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 3D
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."
Supporting the FIRE GL 8800's advanced 3D modeling and animation
capabilities are the following ATI-developed applications technologies:
* TRUFORM, an innovative rendering technology that helps to deliver
the smoothest, most natural 3D images ever seen on both existing and
next-generation 3D games and personal computers;
* SMARTSHADER, an advanced technology that takes advantage of
Microsoft's new DirectX 8.1 features to enable more complex and realistic
texture and lighting effects without sacrificing performance;
* HydraVision(tm), a leading-edge desktop management software
technology that provides users with an interface for simplified management
of multiple displays, traditional CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors, flat
panel displays and televisions;
* CHARISMA ENGINE(tm) II, which supports full transformation, clipping
and lighting (T&L) at 62.5 million triangles/second peak processing
capability;
* PIXEL TAPESTRY(tm) II, the FIRE GL 8800 3D rendering engine, which
powers an incredible 2.4 gigatexels per second for the highest fill rates in
32-bit at high resolutions.
"The addition of the FIRE GL 8800 represents ATI's commitment to the
workstation market as well as driving the value and performance long
associated with PC graphics processor technology into the workstation
segment," explained Ed Huang, Director of Workstations, Desktop Marketing,
ATI Technologies Inc. "The FIRE GL 8800 will deliver a modeling and
animation experience that users can immediately benefit from, whether they
are creating future entertainment products or developing next-generation
automotive designs."
.