ATI takes All-in-Wonder to PCI Express, announces X700

Markham (ON) - ATI today announced its first PCI Express-based All-in-Wonder video card for TV fine-tuned for TV and video editing applications. The company also formally introduced the X700 visual processor family targeted at the mainstream graphic card market.

The new X600 Pro represents the eighth generation of the All-in-Wonder product line and again aims to appeal to users who want a solution for home theater, video editing, and gaming.

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The X600 Pro package includes an updated version of the firm's multimedia center software, which now includes TV and FM on-demand for saving radio music to MP3 files as well as integrated capability for burning DVDs. The TV tuner design allows users to view up to 125 channels of cable or antenna broadcasts. The company also revised the design of the remote control, which now is enabled to control all functions of the computer, ATI said.

Unique to North American versions of All-in-Wonder boxes will be the production software Serious Magic Visual Communicator, an ATI-customized version of Pinnacle's video editing software Studio 9, as well as Gemstar's GuidePlus+ software.

In a first review at the test lab of 3DTested Guide, it is clear that ATI continues to make life difficult for its Californian rival Nvidia. The first punch, the launch of the X700 line of mid-range graphics cards set to compete against NVIDIA's recently introduced GeForce 6600, is followed by ATi's "Catalyst A.I." Driver performance optimization that purportedly boosts performance in Xx00 cards.

Wolfgang Gruener
Contributor