ATI Technologies continues to innovate for the large AGP market with the new FireGL X3-256 workstation graphics accelerator, which gives users an impressive list of professional features for $1,099. This new Visual Processing Unit (VPU) enables users to create complex visual effects and designs for customers working in Digital Content Creation (DCC), Computer-Assisted-Design (CAD), previs and Geographic-Information-Systems (GIS), while delivering a 30% increase in performance over the previous generation of FireGL products.
The FireGL X3-256 will be publicly demonstrated for the first time at ATI's booth (#1101) at SIGGRAPH, Aug. 10-12, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Expanding on the FireGL family of workstation graphics accelerators, the FireGL X3-256 gives users high-end features such as dual DVI connectors for multi-display applications, dual link support for nine megapixel displays, stereo 3D capabilities with quad-buffered support, 12 pixel pipelines, six geometry engines, increased sub-pixel precision and 256MB of GDDR3 memory. The FireGL X3-256 also enables users to work effectively with all the leading 3D applications, such as 3ds max, Catia, Maya, Softimage|XSI and SolidWorks, while taking full advantage of the software's capabilities.
"SOFTIMAGE/XSI users welcome the FireGL X3-256's powerful graphics flexibility for developing complex 3D models and animations while maintaining superior image quality with a wide variety of visual configurations," said Alan Waxenberg, business development manager, Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology Inc. "ATI's workstation team works closely with SOFTIMAGE to ensure that the level of integration between hardware and software continues to meet the needs of today's advanced 3D users."
"With ATI's FireGL Workstation graphics accelerators, SolidWorks users are able to visualize fully shaded rendered models in realtime thanks to the RealView feature," said Antony Hervo, hardware partner manager, SolidWorks Corp. "The new FireGL X3-256 continues to deliver on this commitment to enhancing the production pipeline for SolidWorks users with an abundance of new features of great benefit in CAD and visualization work."
The FireGL X3-256 will be available late August through Workstation OEMs, Workstation System Integrators and Value Added Resellers. The FireGL X3-256 joins the existing AGP products in the FireGL family, including the FireGL X2-256t, the entry-level FireGLT2-128 and the MOBILITY FireGL T2 processor for mobile workstations. Complementing the AGP line-up, the FireGL Visualization series includes the FireGL V3100, FireGL V3200, FireGL V5100 and FireGL V7100 for PCI Express, which have been selected by more than a dozen industry leading OEMs and Workstation System Integrators for their new PCI Express based systems.
ATI's FireGL products are supported by a unified driver, which is tested and certified by professional 3D ISV partners, making system administration and upgrades cost effective and simple. All FireGL products come with a three-year warranty and unlimited direct access to a dedicated workstation technical support team.
ATI Technologies (www.ati.com) designs and manufactures innovative 3D graphics and digital media silicon solutions. An industry pioneer from Ontario, Canada, since 1985, ATI is a foremost visual processor unit (VPU) provider.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
