X-bit labs

Silicon Integrated Systems May Integrate ATI's Graphics Cores in Its Chipsets.

Category: Chipsets

by Anton Shilov

[ 06/30/2003 | 12:44 PM ]

Chairman of the board for Silicon Integrated Systems, John Hsuan, said during a conference call with analysts that his company may consider integration of graphics cores from ATI Technologies into its chipsets with graphics capabilities.

SiS’ John Hsuan said that although Hsinchu, Taiwan-based chipset designer would give preference to graphics cores from its subsidiary XGI, in case there is market demand, SiS may also secure license on incorporating graphics cores from ATI into its chipsets, DigiTimes reported.

There is no information about graphics solutions that may be integrated into SiS chipsets, though, this seems to be theoretically possible because ATI makes certain graphics processors at UMC, while UMC’s and SiS’ manufacturing processes have much in common, as a result, adaptation of ATI’s graphics cores for SiS’ core-logic products may be quite simple from technology point of view.

Chairman’s phrase could also be a kind of safe-harbour statement in order to reiterate the company’s commitment to integrated chipsets in case there are problems with incorporating XGI’s cores into chipsets now or in future.

Currently SiS has no chipset with DirectX 8.0-class graphics and there is no information about its core-logic with DirectX 9.0-class graphics solutions.

An ATI Technologies’ representatives said that the Markham, Ontario-based graphics and multimedia company would be happy to have SiS among its clients.