Additional details regarding the forthcoming DirectX 11 family of graphics processing units (GPUs) from ATI, graphics business unit of Advanced Micro Devices, have transpired on the Internet. It looks like all the products are named after evergreen trees and that there will be at least four graphics processing units.

The ATI Evergreen family of DirectX 11 compatible graphics chips will initially consist of five products, according to HKEPC web-site. Typically, the graphics chip designer releases three graphics chips for various market segments at first, therefore, since the flagship X2 version consists of two GPUs, there are four code-names assigned for the initial product lineup. Five code-names may either imply that the fifth code name indicates a graphics core for future chipsets, a special cut-down or expanded version of another product aimed at special customers or just a future graphics processor based on the same architecture.

• Cypress – dual-chip flagship graphics solutions powered by two RV870 chips (originally known as R800);
• Juniper – single-chip performance-mainstream graphics solution(s) based on RV870 chip;
• Redwood – single chip mainstream graphics solution(s) based on RV830 chip;
• Cedar – single chip entry-level graphics solution(s) based on RV810 chip;
• Hemlock – unknown.

Since the information comes from an unofficial source and is currently has not been confirmed by any other sources, any details should be considered as guesses.

ATI demonstrated its first DirectX 11 graphics processors at Computex Taipei 2009 in early June, however, it did not outline any actual timeframes for introduction. There are unofficial reports over the Internet that ATI may release its chip known under “RV870” and “Evergreen” code-names in September or October. However, there are also claims that ATI Radeon HD 5000-series is only due in November.

ATI/AMD did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: ATI, AMD, Radeon, RV870, RV830, RV810, Evergreen, 40nm, DirectX, Cypress, Juniper, Redwood, Cedar, Hemlock