ATI Expands High-End PCI Express Line-up

Today we’re going to talk about the addition to ATI’s line-up of graphics processors with the PCI Express interface, namely about the new RADEON X850 processor which is to replace the RADEON X800 as the topmost PCI Express solution. The X800 moves down, so the assortment of ATI’s PCI Express chips looks like follows (from top to bottom):

• RADEON X850
• RADEON X800
• RADEON X700
• RADEON X600
• RADEON X300

These five GPU families cover the entire range of desktop solutions, from the cheapest devices to super-extra-high-performance monsters that cost you as much as half a thousand bucks and more. Like with the X800, there will be several graphics card models based on the RADEON X850 chip. The premium model, the RADEON X850 Platinum Edition, will have 540/1180MHz frequencies (core/memory), 16 pixel pipelines, and a recommended price of $549. The less expensive ($499) RADEON X850 XT will differ in the frequencies only – 520/1080MHz. The RADEON X850 PRO stands somewhat aloof as it will only have 12 pipelines (like the RADEON X800 PRO), but the frequencies will be the same as those of the “XT” model. Besides that, the junior model (by the way, its recommended price is $399) won’t be equipped with two DVI connectors and VIVO functions like the RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition or RADEON X850 XT.

The RADEON X800 family will change, too. The X800 XT Platinum Edition and the X800 XT seem to be retiring; their place is to be occupied by the RADEON X850 XT PE and the RADEON 850 XT. Moreover, ATI is getting ready to answer to GeForce 6800 GT and GeForce 6800-class products with its new RADEON X800 XL (16 pipelines, 400/1000MHz clock rates, $349 recommended price) and the RADEON X800 that costs $249. The latter will have 12 pipelines, 400/700MHz frequencies and a reduced amount of onboard memory (128MB). Thus, the X800/X850 family tree will look as follows:

Click to enlarge

The new graphics processor – R430, not the R423 – will be installed on the new graphics cards (RADEON X800 XL and RADEON X800). The new version of the RADEON X800 will also be manufactured with 0.11-micron tech process; this is going to positively affect the heat dissipation of the chip and to permit the use of a simpler cooling system. Judging by the snapshots provided by ATI Technologies, the additional power connector will also vanish from the new RADEON X800. So, the RADEON X800 is following the fate of the RADEON 9700/9500 chips – as one product series is being divided into two new ones, each of which will use an independent graphics processor.

But back to the RADEON X850. As had been expected, the new GPU retained all the functionality of the RADEON X800. The same 16-pipelined highly efficient architecture from ATI is the foundation of the new chip – this is a guarantee of a highest performance, especially in hard game modes. We described all the particulars of this architecture in our RADEON X800 review.

In fact, the RADEON X850 only differs from the RADEON X800 in the improved tech process (that allows for higher operational frequencies) and in the availability of enhanced power-saving functions. Besides that, ATI has come up with a new and very efficient cooling system, which we will discuss later on. All the technologies implemented in the X800 silicon are of course present in the RADEON X850 chip, SMARTSHADER HD, SMOOTHVISION HD, HyperZ HD and VIDEOSHADER among them. New 3Dc normal map compression algorithms which allow to increase the level of detail through laying a more complex relief are also supported. For more details about these technologies follow this link.