ATI today launched the mobile version of its top-of-the-range RADEON 9000 graphics accelerator. This incorporates better power management, improved streaming capabilities for all those DVDs you need to see on the hoof, and something called the world's "first mobile quad-pipe 3D architecture".
And it's the first graphics chip with Direct X 8 support.

Tom's Hardware points out that the technical spec is completely identical to the RADEON 9000 "desktop nephew". However, "the notebook versions are specially picked chips that ensure reliable operation at low voltage and power consumption".

ATI is pitching the Mobility RADEON 9000 at games, workstation and business multimedia markets. Notebooks featuring the wonder chip will start shipping sometime next month. ®

Reviews

Tom's Hardware

For now, Mobility Radeon 9000 is the best 3D solution for notebooks, but its lead in terms of 3D performance is, unfortunately, disappointingly small.

Extremetech

"The Radeon Mobility 9000 does represent the next step forward in mobile gaming, although this step is more evolutionary than revolutionary. But given the power and heat constraints that mobile presents, the RM9000 still looks to be the best game in town, but we'd like to do a rematch that puts GeForce 440 go on more even footing in wrestling match with RM9000."

Anandtech

However, with Carmack's words and our benchmarks you should feel confident that a Mobility Radeon 9000 powered mobile system will be able to handle the games of today (Jedi Knight 2/Serious Sam 2), the near future (Unreal Tournament 2003), and the far future (Doom 3) which marks the first time we have been able to make such a statement about a mobile chip.

HardOCP

HardOCP is happy to award the TOP PICK seal of approval to the Mobility Radeon 9000. Kudos to ATi for pushing forward in a hypercompetitive industry while keeping a level of dignity in their marketing and allowing their products to do the talking for them. ®