Apparently, ATI FIRE GL X1 and Z1 are clocked at 324MHz for the VPU and 276MHz (552MHz) for the DDR SDRAM memory. Although the memory clocks are slower compared to the original RADEON 9700 PRO (310(620)MHz) graphics card, ATI representatives said to The Inquirer that performance of the professional solutions is still be equal or higher due to more aggressive performance latencies of the memory when compared to the consumer’s graphics card in professional applications.

The FIRE GL X1 (probably 128MB version) is available in Dell’s workstation Precision 650, but not in retail as ATI originally promised. The MSRP of the X1-128MB should be $795. The FIRE GL Z1 will be available in January 2003 with a suggested retail price of $595.

Keep in mind that the FIRE GL X1 is based on the RADEON 9700 technology, hence, features 8 rendering pipelines, while the FIRE GL Z1 is powered by the RADEON 9500 technology with only 4 pixel pipelines.