Updated ATI - well, maybe AMD, we suppose - is about to launch its latest X1900-class GPUs, including a chip capable of using GDDR 4 graphics memory.

The Radeon X1950 - as the new part is apparently dubbed - will ship in CrossFire and XTX versions, various websites claim. Both boards will support up to 512MB of GDDR 4 and contain 48 pixel shader engines and eight vertex shaders, as per past X1900-series GPUs. Core and memory clock speeds have yet to be set, it seems, but expect 650MHz and 1GHz (2GHz effective).

A lower-spec version, the X1950 Pro, may also be in the works. It is said to run at 600MHz, with 700MHz (1.4GHz effective) memory. It has 36 pixel shaders, and is said to be scheduled to ship in October.

DailyTech also claims ATI has told its customers it's preparing a version of its Radeon X1900 XT-based reference card that ships with only 256MB of GDDR 3. The current design contains 512MB. Core and memory clock speeds will remain the same: 625MHz and 725MHz (1.45GHz effective), respectively.

Both products are due to ship to customers in sample quantities early next month, the report states, with a late August ship window. ®