The release of ATI Radeon HD 4800-series graphics cards by ATI, graphics product group of Advanced Micro Devices, demonstrated that the company is completely capable of releasing advanced graphics processing units on time. Moreover, ATI’s next-generation mainstream graphics chips as well as mobile graphics processors are ready, at least according to PCI-SIG certification.

Based on PCI Express “integrators list”, AMD’s graphics chips code-named RV730, M98-L and M96 are fully compliant with PCI Express 1.1 version of the standard. Inclusion into the list also means that the chips are fully operational and may be rolled out commercially shortly from now.

It is believed that ATI RV730 is the successor of the ATI RV630 and RV635, which have been blamed for low performance right from their launch. The RV730 is projected to offer higher performance compared to the predecessor, which should help AMD’s graphics products group to regain market share from its rival Nvidia Corp.

ATI code-named M98-L and M96 are believed to be high-end and mainstream discrete graphics processors for mobile computers that should also bring higher performance compared to products available from ATI today.

While it is not completely clear when ATI RV730, which may be sold under ATI Radeon HD 4600-series model number, becomes available, it is highly likely that AMD will try hard to ramp up production of such graphics cards by the time back-to-school season starts. Otherwise, the company will have to sell older-generation ATI Radeon HD 3850 in that period for the price of around $100.

AMD did not comment on the news-story.