AMD launches first chipsets with ATI graphics

AMD today launched a new chipset with integrated graphics - the first since it took over graphics hardware specialist ATI.

The new 690 chipset will ship initially 34 different value and mainstream AM2 socket motherboards.

It comes in two flavours: the 690G and 690V. The 690G, which packs an ATI Radeon X1250 with integrated HDMI and DVI, is the first integrated graphics chipset with two digital ouputs.

However, on all the 690G motherboards PCW has seen, only one HDMI port is mounted directly on the motherboard; the other is on a card occupying a single PCI-Express slot.

The 690G features HDCP keys onboard so the motherboard can decode high definition content from HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs out of the box.

The 690V uses a Radeon X1200. which lacks digital outputs, and has only am analogue output.

The X1200 and X1250 graphics chipsets are similar to X700 graphics cards in terms of performance, featuring four vertex pipelines and DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 2 hardware support. The graphics chip borrows memory from your main system Ram.

Phil Eisler, senior vice president for AMD's chipset division, said the power of ATI's famed Radeon 9700 graphics card "is packed into this $15 chipset".

AMD claims the graphics chip has the best hardware acceleration video quality from an integrated graphics chip, scoring 80 in the HQV (Hollywood Quality Video) benchmark, compared to Nvidia's 20 for its MCP61 integrated graphics and Intel's 48 for its G965.

The chipset also features a fully integrated audio solution and all HDMI outputs will contain the audio stream.

AMD says motherboards based on the higher specified 690G chipset will cost $80 (about £50 inc. VAT).

See also:
AMD launches low-drain Athlon 64s
AMD goes low power for quad-core
AMD closes ATI acquisition

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