ATI to launch DirectX 11 GPUs in seven weeks

For the past week and a half, we’ve been hearing rumors citing various dates for the launch of AMD’s DirectX 11 graphics cards… ranging from GDC in China to newly invented delays that would push the launch window in to November.

However, all of these rumors are false, given that AMD has firmed its “Cinema 3.0/DirectX 11” launch. As tradition goes, the North American launch will happen in seven weeks in San Francisco [sources disclosed Thursday, September 10th] on a very special place indeed – but we’re not at liberty to say where the event will take place. All we can say is that it will be someplace that neither Intel nor nVidia would even remember.

ATI will catapult not one, but rather a complete DirectX 11 line-up into the orbit, ranging from $50 to the high end parts in their respective three-figure pricing brackets. Just like the Radeon 4000 series, consisting out of 4400, 4500, 4600, 4700 and 4800 parts, the new Radeon series will consist out of entry-level, mainstream, performance and high-end parts with one or two GPUs. Note that not all of these parts will be launched on the same day. Some parts might have to wait until Holiday season to get them in OEM-level numbers, but all in all – this is the strongest line-up ATI had in years. We might even dare to say strongest line-up ever from any GPU manufacturer.

According to information we have at hand, initial rumors about the names and specs proved true – these parts bring DirectX 11 compliancy from top to the bottom, and if you want to play upcoming DirectX 11 games [so far, there are six confirmed DX11 titles launching this year] in a budget less than $500, you have no other choice but to go ATI.

Update, July 29, 2009 08:03AM GMT – We received word that Chinese ChipHell website leaked an alleged image of a card belonging to Evergreen family. According to information at hand, the card is a little bit longer than 2900XT, and features two six-pin connectors, just like the 3870 and 4870. Truth to be told, the length of a card would imply a dual-GPU solution to us.

Original Author: Theo Valich

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