ATI Technologies, a leading developer of graphics processing units (GPUs), said Tuesday its new Radeon X1950 Pro chip enables creation of cost-efficient graphics cards with enthusiast-class performance. The novelty succeeds the Radeon X1900 GT released earlier this year and increases performance bar of graphics cards priced at $199.

“The Radeon X1950 Pro is incredibly good value. Bringing ATI's high-end features into the mid-range gives gamers blistering performance and gorgeous image quality that's unmatched at this price,” said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager, PC business, ATI Technologies.

The new Radeon X1950 Pro employs code-named RV570 graphics chip and has 36 pixel shader processors, 8 vertex shader processors 12 texture units, 256-bit memory bus and so on. ATI recommends graphics cards makers to clock the Radeon X1950 Pro at 575MHz and memory at 1.38GHz. The predecessor of the model X1950 Pro – ATI Radeon X1900 GT – had the similar specs (36 pixel processors, 8 vertex processors, 12 texture units), but was clocked at 575MHz/1.20GHz core/memory and used R580 graphics processor designed for high-end graphics boards with some parts of the chip disabled.

Along with the new Radeon X1950 Pro the company also unveiled its so-called native CrossFire technology, which uses internal interconnection instead of a special cables located outside the PC. ATI claims that the new Radeon X1950 Pro contains “built-in compositing engine”.

“The Radeon X1950 Pro shows that ATI is taking gamers’ feedback to heart with the introduction of new native CrossFire technology to make it easier than ever for gamers to get up and running with a CrossFire setup. ATI will continue to enhance CrossFire to be more open, flexible and easy to use, giving gamers the superior performance they expect from our products,” Mr. Bergman said.

Radeon X1950 Pro graphics cards from various board makers are “available and shipping” with an estimated street price of $199 or €199 (value added tax included).