Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2004/03/18/s3_preps_native_pci_express/

S3 preps native PCI Express graphics chips

No AGP for GammaChrome

By Tony Smith

Posted in Channel, 18th March 2004 09:29 GMT

S3 Graphics, VIA's imaging accelerator division, today unveiled its pitch for the hearts and minds of PCI Express-equipped PCs: the GammaChrome chip family.

The chips feature native PCI Express support, negating the need for bridge chips to convert AGP 8x signals to the new interface standard. There's a clear cost benefit there, and S3 said it also ensures superior performance.

S3 gave away few details of the product line - presumably more information will be made public closer to the GammaChrome chips' introduction some time in the third quarter.

However, the company did say that the series of GPUs will feature its Chromotion 2.0 programmable video engine, along with native HDTV output. S3 will pitch GammaChrome parts at the high end, the mid-range and the value market, it said. The chips will be fabbed using the "latest fabrication technology". ®

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