Press Release
- Archives 2001
ATI unveils Radeon® 8500LE graphics chip, cost-effective, industry-leading technology
Designed and marketed solely to OEM, ODM and AIB customers and based on award-winning, innovative technology
October 29, 2001
MARKHAM, Ontario –
ATI Technologies Inc. (TSE:ATY, NASDAQ:ATYT), a world leader in the supply of graphics, video and multimedia solutions, today introduced the Radeon® 8500LE graphics processor, the latest addition to Radeon®, the world’s most powerful and innovative family of graphics chip and board technologies.
Based on the award-winning Radeon 8500 chip architecture, the Radeon 8500LE affords customers all of the industry-leading features of the world’s fastest and most technologically advanced graphics chip at a cost that is extremely appealing to a broader group of customers and at a performance level (250 MHz (megahertz) core clock speed compared to the Radeon 8500’s 275 MHz core clock speed) that would satisfy even the most power-hungry game or application. While ATI is marketing the Radeon 8500 through retail outlets worldwide, it is not selling the Radeon 8500LE through retail under the ATI brand name. ATI will only distribute the Radeon 8500LE to OEMs, ODMs and AIBs, who will then market the technology under their own brand names, selling it to systems integrators, distributors and retailers.
“We recognize that our OEM (original equipment manufacturer), ODM (original design manufacturer) and AIB (add-in-board manufacturer) customers want components at a variety of price and performance levels when choosing options for their systems,” said Jewelle Schiedel-Webb, Director, Desktop Marketing, ATI Technologies Inc. “The Radeon 8500LE will allow our OEM, ODM and AIB customers to include the technology-leading features of the Radeon 8500 chip with their products but, by using a variety of memory speeds and types, the cost of the product can be tailored to suit a broader range of customers.”
Thirteen companies are announcing Radeon 8500LE designs, including CP Technology Co. Ltd.; DFI Inc.; Ennyah Technologies Corp.; Giga-Byte Technology Co. Ltd.; Jetway Information Co. Ltd; Joytech Computer Co. Ltd.; Power Magic Multimedia Ltd.; Raising Rich Ltd.; Sapphire Developments Ltd.; Shuttle Inc.; Super Grace Electronics Ltd.; Wistron Corporation; Yuan Yuan High-Tech Development Co. Ltd. Some of these designs are already shipping.
“We are excited by the opportunity to incorporate ATI’s Radeon 8500LE in our product lineup,” said Larry Yeo, Executive Vice President, CP Technology. “We see this product bringing high-end 3D graphics technology to customers at a variety of price points.”
“The majority of the market falls into the mainstream category. The Radeon 8500LE allows us to bring high-end 3D technologies into that segment,” said Johnson Lin, General Manager, Giga-Byte Technology. “Now our customers will have more options, and that is good for our business.”
“Our customers are looking for excellent performance at an excellent price,” said K.D. Au, President of Sapphire Developments Ltd. “With the Radeon 8500LE, we will be able to offer high-end, leading-edge technologies such as TruForm and SmartShader at a very attractive price – and with amazing performance.”
"Choosing leading-edge features used to mean choosing the most expensive product available, but features and cost are mutually exclusive," said Ted Huang, President, Yuan Yuan High-Tech Development Co. Ltd. "The Radeon 8500LE offers industry leading features to our customers at flexible price points."
The Radeon 8500LE includes all of the new technologies found in the Radeon 8500, including TruForm™, an innovative rendering technology that helps to deliver the smoothest, most natural 3D images ever seen on existing and next-generation 3D games; and SmartShader™, an advanced technology that is the first application of its kind to take advantage of Microsoft’s new DirectX 8.1 specification, including supporting Pixel Shaders Versions 1.2 - 1.4 to enable more complex and realistic texture and lighting effects without sacrificing performance.
The Radeon 8500LE joins the Radeon 8500 in fully supporting Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows XP, including DirectX 8.1.
The Radeon 8500LE brings the critically acclaimed Radeon PC graphics family to eight members. Other chips and boards in the Radeon family include the Radeon® 8500 desktop PC graphics processor, the All-in-Wonder™ Radeon® 8500DV multimedia graphics processor, the Radeon® 7500, Radeon® 7200 and Radeon® 7000 desktop PC graphics boards, the Mobility™ Radeon® 7500 mobile graphics chip, and the FireGL 8800 workstation graphics solution.
The Radeon family of graphics chip and board technologies offers consumers the most complete range of solutions available from any graphics manufacturer in the world as well as the ultimate in pure gaming power, 3D quality of the highest order and unparalleled price-performance.
Copyright 2001 ATI Technologies Inc. All rights reserved. ATI and ATI product and product feature names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ATI Technologies Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Company Background
Founded in 1985, ATI Technologies Inc. is a world leader in
the supply of graphics, video and multimedia solutions for
the personal computer and Mac platforms. The pioneer, innovator
and market leader in the graphics industry, ATI provides cutting-edge
technologies for the PC, workstation, set-top box, game console
and other consumer appliances markets. The Company has more
than 1,900 employees supporting customers from its headquarters
in Markham, Ontario, Canada, as well as from offices in Barbados,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, the
United Kingdom and the United States. ATI common shares trade
on NASDAQ (ATYT) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ATY).
Contact Information
For media or industry analyst support, please
visit our Web site at http://www.ati.com
or contact:
Patricia Macdonald
Public Relations Manager
Desktop Marketing
ATI Technologies Inc.
(905) 882-2600, Ext. 8809
pmacdona@ati.com
Derek Baker
Counsellor
BenchMark Porter Novelli
(416) 422-7158
dbaker@bmporternovelli.com
John B. Challinor II APR
Director
Public Relations
ATI Technologies Inc.
(905) 882-2600, Ext. 8815
jchallin@ati.com
Anne Ferguson
Senior Counsellor
BenchMark Porter Novelli
(416) 422-7154
aferguson@bmporternovelli.com
For investor relations support, please contact:
Janet Craig
Director
Investor Relations
ATI Technologies Inc.
(905) 882-2600, Ext. 2631
jcraig@ati.com
