Issue: IBC 2008 - Day 4

AMD'S FIREPRO ACCELERATORS MAKE EUROPEAN DEBUT

AMSTERDAM - AMD (www.ati.amd.com) showed two new graphics accelerators at the IBC show. The units were initially introduced at the recent SIGGRAPH show in Los Angeles and target high-end and entry-level users.

The ATI FirePro V8700 graphics accelerator is well suited for users who work with large models and shader-intensive applications, offering a large frame buffer for complex and large data sets, plus a 30-bit display pipeline for accurate color reproduction. By using GDDR5 memory technology, designers can focus on project work without concerns for memory limitations that traditionally impact applications. This ultra high-end workstation solution has 1GB of frame buffer memory and also features 800 shader (or stream) units, two DisplayPort connectors and a Dual-Link DVI-I display output.

The ATI FirePro V3750 3D workstation graphics accelerator is designed for entry-level users and is one of the first graphic accelerators in this class to feature DisplayPort outputs. The unit features 256MB of frame buffer memory with 320 shader (or stream) processing units, dual link DVI and two DisplayPort connections, together generating a multi-monitor desktop of over 5000 pixels wide from a single accelerator.

The ATI FirePro V8700 is expected to begin shipping in fourth quarter 2008 with an MSRP of $1499. The ATI FirePro V3750 will also ship in the fourth quarter  with a MSRP of $199.