ATI is unlikely to release its next-generation R420 chip until May and not 26 April, as previously thought, The Register has learned.

But to lighten the burden of waiting a week or so, pictures of the part have already begun to surface on the Web.

Earlier this month, sources said to be familiar with ATI's roadmap claimed that the graphics chip maker had pegged next Monday as the day the part would make its official debut.

The deadline now seems likely to pass by without a word from ATI, and we estimate that the R420 won't be launched until 10 May - given the number of places around the world for which 3 May is a public holiday - but a launch in the first week of May can't yet be ruled out, we understand from hints dropped by sources close to the company.

The R420 is, of course, expected to debut as the Radeon X800 Pro, followed a month or so later by the higher-clocked Radeon X800 XT and the low-end X800 SE.

Pictures of the part can apparently be glimpsed over at Taiwanese site OC.com.tw. The shots were taken from a recent ATI technology presentation. ®

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