BobyJo
09-30-2002, 08:57 PM
ATI fights Nvidia’s NV30 with new R350 chip
Charles Chou, Taipei; Christy Lee, DigiTimes.com [Monday 30 September 2002]
ATI Technologies recently revealed that it will launch a new R350 chip and later a more simplified RV350 to brace for the competition from Nvidia’s NV30 in the fourth quarter.
Following their usual production policies, Nvidia will adopt the latest 0.13-micron process for its NV30 chip line, while ATI will continue using the more mature 0.15-micron process to ensure yield rates.
Besides the manufacturing process, ATI did not give any more details about product specifications for the new R350 and RV350 chips.
Though the unit cost for 0.15-micron processing is generally higher than for 0.13-micron processing, ATI noted that the better yield rate that the 0.15-micron process delivers will be able to cover the overall cost gap. Still, it is believed that the competitiveness offered by the different processes will become clearer when Nvidia’s 0.13-micron NV30 chips hit the market in volume after November.
In addition to the R350 and RV350 chips, ATI disclosed that it may also introduce a RV280 chip, based on the Radeon 9000 core, by the end of this year to support the rising demand for AGP 8x technology. However, with the roll-out, ATI will no doubt experience a fast-expanding product portfolio, as the company has scheduled to launch the four-pipeline Radeon 9500 series in October as well.
To create more specific marketing segments, Wang Pao-chu, ATI’s CEO for Greater China, said that the company will adjust product lines depending on future market response.
Charles Chou, Taipei; Christy Lee, DigiTimes.com [Monday 30 September 2002]
ATI Technologies recently revealed that it will launch a new R350 chip and later a more simplified RV350 to brace for the competition from Nvidia’s NV30 in the fourth quarter.
Following their usual production policies, Nvidia will adopt the latest 0.13-micron process for its NV30 chip line, while ATI will continue using the more mature 0.15-micron process to ensure yield rates.
Besides the manufacturing process, ATI did not give any more details about product specifications for the new R350 and RV350 chips.
Though the unit cost for 0.15-micron processing is generally higher than for 0.13-micron processing, ATI noted that the better yield rate that the 0.15-micron process delivers will be able to cover the overall cost gap. Still, it is believed that the competitiveness offered by the different processes will become clearer when Nvidia’s 0.13-micron NV30 chips hit the market in volume after November.
In addition to the R350 and RV350 chips, ATI disclosed that it may also introduce a RV280 chip, based on the Radeon 9000 core, by the end of this year to support the rising demand for AGP 8x technology. However, with the roll-out, ATI will no doubt experience a fast-expanding product portfolio, as the company has scheduled to launch the four-pipeline Radeon 9500 series in October as well.
To create more specific marketing segments, Wang Pao-chu, ATI’s CEO for Greater China, said that the company will adjust product lines depending on future market response.