ATI announces dual x16 Crossfire 3200 chipset

Markham (ON) - ATI today introduced its Crossfire 3200 chipset, which was formerly code-named RD580. The dual-graphics chipset offers two x16 PCI Express slots and allows users to install two graphics cards without the need for a master/slave configuration, at least if they are not X1800 or X1900 versions.

The new Crossfire chipset pushes ATI deeper into the high-end of the gaming market, with the promise that the chipset enables a 60% overclocking capability while offering "maximum stability." The Northbridge, which is the first single-chip devices to include dual x16 PCI Express slots, integrates a total of 40 PCI Express lines. 32 of those are dedicated to graphics bandwidth; the remaining eight are kept for general availability.

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