X-bit labs

ATI Puts High-End TV Technology into Desktops.

Category: Multimedia

by Anton Shilov

[ 01/06/2005 | 12:36 PM ]

ATI Technologies Thursday announced TV WONDER ELITE, the company’s first new generation add-in card that can receive digital television and offer quality that is on par with contemporary high-end TV-sets.

The new TV WONDER ELITE is based on ATI’s own TV-Tuner and THEATER 550 PRO video processor and is intended for PCI bus. The device can receive digital television using the same type of receiver ATI provides for high-end digital televisions. The company also supplies radio remote controller with the TV WONDER ELITE.

ATI TV-Tuner that is based on RF technology from Microtune and can receive up to 125 PAL and SECAM channels in addition to FM radio, additionally, the set of connectors now also includes SCART support for customers in Europe.

The THEATER 550 PRO video processor integrates nee generation 12-bit video decoder that features 3D comb filtering for NTSC and PAL and 5-line 2D Comb filtering for unprecedented quality; new generation hardware video and audio encoder with new features, such as Advanced Noise Reduction; digital IF demodulation that improves video quality and reduces the overall solution cost by eliminating the need for expensive tuners; worldwide multi-standard audio decoder as well as PCI Express x1 and PCI interface on a single device to allow PC companies additional flexibility in form-factor designs.

TV WONDER ELITE powers a variety of complete software solutions and offers full personal video recorder (PVR) capabilities allowing users to watch, record and pause live television with ease.

TV WONDER ELITE is certified by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) as proof of its high quality image presentation. ISF is a key component for the Display Standards industry, and is dedicated to improving the quality of electronic imaging. With an approved ISF logo, TV WONDER ELITE customers can be assured of having the best image quality, ATI said.

ATI is bundling the new and improved REMOTE WONDER PLUS for full wireless application control. TV WONDER ELITE will be available this winter from major computer retailers with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $149.