ATI Technologies, a leading supplier of discrete graphics components, has validated its next-generation mainstream graphics processing units (GPUs) with PCI Express Special Interest Group, which supervises the standard. Usually the chips get validated when they are production ready.

The recent updates in the PCI Express Integrator’s List include ATI’s chips code-named RV535, RV560 and RV570. The former is an incarnation of the Radeon X1600-series produced using 90nm production technology at UMC, whereas the rest two are expected to be the new performance-mainstream and mainstream offerings from ATI.

The code-named RV570 graphics chip is expected to feature 36 pixel shader processors, 12 texture units and 256-bit memory bus. The product will target performance-mainstream market and will be branded as the Radeon X1900-series and will be targeted at below $299 segment. The mainstream market will see a new chip code-named RV560, which will be branded as the Radeon X1700-series and will cost up to $199. This part is expected to feature 24 pixel shader processors, 8 texture units and 128-bit memory bus. In order to minimize the cost of the chip, ATI is likely to use TSMC’s 80nm process technology for its manufacturing, even though it is not yet confirmed.

This PCI-SIG Integrators List includes all products that have a complete and satisfactory PCI Compliance Checklist on file at PCI-SIG, have passed the test criteria set forth at the PCI Compliance Workshops and are production ready. It should be noted that RV535 chips are already on the market working on Radeon X1650 Pro graphics boards.

ATI did not comment on the news-story.