ATI, graphics product group of Advanced Micro Devices, unveiled the world’s first mobile graphics processor lineup that supports Microsoft DirectX 10 capabilities. The new chips will also enable so-called Hybrid CrossFire capability to cut down power consumption of laptops with discrete graphics adapters. Unfortunately, the chips are not widely available immediately.

The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000 family will initially consist of ATI Radeon HD 3400 and HD 3600 models, but eventually is also projected to include more powerful options. The new graphics chips support DirectX 10.1 graphics capabilities, PCI Express 2.0, DisplayPort interconnection as well as some other innovations, including so-called Hybrid CrossFire, when coupled with code-named ATI RS780 core-logic set. ATI Hybrid CrossFire technology is projected to let computer switch between built-in graphics core and discrete graphics core to either boost performance or save power. Additionally, Hybrid CrossFire lets combining graphics performance of built-in and standalone graphics processors to get higher 3D rendering speed. As all modern graphics processors, the new chips support efficient high-definition video decoding and high-quality post-processing engine.

“ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000 series from AMD showcases our technology leadership by delivering customers the most feature-rich family of notebook graphics solutions we’ve ever produced. ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000 series delivers the absolute latest industry-standard technology breakthroughs for notebooks with Microsoft DirectX 10.1 and PCI Express 2.0 support. AMD is also the first company to offer integrated DisplayPort connectivity,” said Matt Skynner, vice president of marketing AMD’s graphics products group.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, AMD showcased the upcoming notebook platform, code-named Puma. In Puma, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000 series graphics will join AMD Turion Ultra notebook processors and the forthcoming AMD RS780 chipset to deliver powerfully entertaining power-efficient mobility. AMD plans to introduce Puma in the second quarter of 2008.

With the release of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000-series family of graphics processors graphics product group of AMD (former ATI Technologies) hopes to return back to leadership in the mobile graphics field, at least, on paper. The Mobility Radeon HD 3000-series is the only DirectX 10.1-compliant family of mobile graphics chips and is also the only announced graphics processors that support Hybrid CrossFire technology designed to boost graphics performance of mobile graphics sub-system when it is needed.

Unfortunately, the new ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400/3600 chips are not yet available widely. ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 series and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3600 series are currently shipping in notebooks from Asustek Computer. It is unclear when other makers employ the new chips. Additional products in the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000 series are scheduled for availability from notebook manufacturers in the first half of 2008, the company said.