AMD Delivers DisplayPort to Workstation Graphics

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — March 31, 2008 — AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced it is advancing application performance with stunning imagery through the introduction of the first commercially available 3D workstation graphics card with DisplayPort support. The ATI FireGL™ V7700 professional graphics accelerator provides superior rendering speed, 3D performance and color fidelity for Computer Aided Design (CAD), Digital Content Creation (DCC) and Medical Imaging professionals. ATI FireGL V7700 delivers the top-quality image quality needed to create photorealistic visualizations of real-world objects and environments —like the design concept for a new aircraft or a home remodel—by providing designers with The Ultimate Visual Experience™.

“Imaging and 3D professionals require innovative, high-performance solutions and are increasingly turning to AMD to meet their real-world needs. The ATI FireGL™ family of workstation graphics accelerators is designed to deliver visible advantages and performance leadership at every price point, from entry level to ultra-high end,” said Janet Matsuda, senior director of Professional Graphics at AMD. “This accelerator with DisplayPort support is the latest example of AMD’s leadership in delivering new graphics technologies ahead of the competition.”

“The balanced power of the ATI FireGL product line has the accuracy and speed needed for medical imaging applications like mammography screening,” said Albert Xthona, product manager for Digital Mammography at Barco. “For example, Mammography viewing uses 10-bit precision to help deliver the most information to the eye of the radiologist, and increasingly other medical applications will rely on 10-bit gray and 30-bit color rendering. With the additional speed offered by the PCI Express 2.0 interface, very large data sets are handled smoothly, saving time for busy medical staff.”

The new ATI FireGL V7700 workstation graphics accelerator with DisplayPort support brings The Ultimate Visual Experience to life. The card features a 10-bit display engine that can produce more than one billion colors at any given time, delivering unprecedented image fidelity at a lower cost.?

“Our customers are eager to adopt the latest standards like DisplayPort and PCI Express 2.0 that make their environments more productive while delivering next-generation display capabilities today,” said Peter Chen, president, Exxact Corporation. “As an exceptional innovator and promoter of industry standards, it comes as no surprise to learn that AMD is the first to deliver a graphics card with DisplayPort support. Like most AMD innovations, we plan to implement the solution in earnest.”

Price Performance Leadership

The ATI FireGL V7700 supports emerging technologies while being optimized to work with today’s existing technologies. ATI FireGL accelerators are engineered to deliver continued innovation and reliability for a wide range of professional operating environments, including Microsoft® Windows® XP, Windows Vista® and Linux®. The unified driver, which supports all ATI FireGL workstation products, helps reduce the total cost of ownership by simplifying installation, deployment and maintenance. Additional noteworthy features include:

•       512MB of memory: Enabling effortless real-time interaction with large datasets and complex models and scenes.
•       Dual Link DVI Output: The combination of DisplayPort output and a Dual Link enabled DVI output, generates a multi-monitor desktop over 5000 pixels wide from a single accelerator. With native multi-card support, users can see more and do more using four displays driven by two ATI FireGL products in the same workstation.
•       Application Certification: The ATI FireGL workstation graphics accelerators are thoroughly tested and certified with major CAD and DCC applications, helping ensure reliability and stability.
•       AutoDetect: Based on a new generation GPU with 320 unified shader units, the ATI FireGL V7700 maximizes throughput by automatically directing graphics horsepower where it’s needed most. Intelligent management of computational resources enables enhanced utilization of the GPU delivering real-time rendering of complex models and scenes while increasing frame rates.

Pricing and Availability

The ATI FireGL V7700 3D workstation graphics accelerator card is expected to begin shipping in April 2008 and will be available from system integrators and AMD channel partners worldwide. The MSRP is $1,099 USD.

For more information about ATI FireGL products from AMD, please visit http://ati.amd.com/products/firegl.html.