THG Graphics Card Buyer's Guide

ATI's Current Product Family

Radeon 9250

The Radeon 9350 is based on the Radeon 9200 series but operates at much lower clock speeds.

Versions:

• Radeon 9250 - 128/256 MB - 128 bit - 240/250 MHz

Radeon 9550

From a technological viewpoint, the Radeon 9550 is nearly identical to the Radeon 9600.

Versions:

• Radeon 9550 SE- 128 MB - 64 bit - ??/?? MHz
• Radeon 9550 - 128/256 MB - 64-/128 bit - 250/400 MHz

Radeon X300

The Radeon X300 is the PCI Express version of the Radeon 9550.

Versions:

• Radeon X300 SE - 64/128/256 MB - 64 bit - 325/400 MHz
• Radeon X300 - 128/256 MB - 128 bit - 325/400 MHz

Radeon X600

The Radeon X600 line traces its technological roots back to the Radeon 9600XT. This card is only available as a PCI Express version.

Versions:

• Radeon X600 Pro - 128 MB - 128 bit - 400/600 MHz
• Radeon X600 XT - 128 MB - 128 bit - 500/740 MHz
• Radeon X600 XT - 256 MB - 128 bit - 500/600 MHz

Radeon X700

The Radeon X700 series carries the internal part name RV410 and replaces the seemingly short-lived X600 line. Technologically, the chip is based on the X800 (R420) design. As is the standard procedure for the mainstream chips, ATI has halved the number of pixel pipelines to eight and limited the memory interface to 128 bits. The number of vertex shader units remains unchanged at six.

Versions:

• Radeon X700 - 128 MB GDDR3 - 128 bit - 400/700 MHz
• Radeon X700 Pro - 128/256 MB GDDR3 - 128 bit - 425/860 MHz
• Radeon X700 XT - 128 MB GDDR3 - 128 bit - 475/1050 MHz

Article:

• ATi Hits Back (Again) with Mid-Range X700 line, Driver Tweak

Radeon X800

The Radeon X800 cards, codenamed R420, constitute ATI's current high-end offering. While the X800 XT Platinum Edition (PE) and the X800 XT both feature 16 pixel pipelines and differ only in clock speed, the smaller X800 Pro features only 12 pixel pipes. Basically, the architecture is an evolution of the Radeon 9600 XT, but with a great number of improvements added as well as extra features. These cards are available as AGP products, and, in some cases, PCI Express parts as well.

Versions:

• Radeon X800 Pro - 12PP - 256 MB - 256 bit - 475/900 MHz
• Radeon X800 XT - 16PP - 256 MB - 256 bit - 500/1000 MHz
• Radeon X800 XT PE - 16PP - 256 MB - 256 bit - 520/1120 MHz

Article:

• ATi's X800 Pulls Off Another Coup in the Graphics Performance War