[from a web site]

Sunnyvale, Calif. -- AMD has pulled the wraps off the ATI Radeon HDTM 2000 series graphics processors, starting with 10 discrete GPUs for both desktop and mobile platforms.

The new line delivers what the company claims is best-in-class immersive high-definition gaming and high-definition multimedia playback.

The HD 2000 series, which takes advantage of games using Microsoft DirectX 10, offers a powerful second-generation Unified Shader Architecture (USA), a 512-bit memory bus designed for full performance high dynamic range (HDR) rendering, and new Unified Video Decoder (UVD) technology for high-fidelity HD multimedia playback.

The mid-range and entry-level GPUs are said to be the first graphics products in the industry to use an energy-efficient 65 nm process technology to achieve silent, passive cooling, high performance and lower power consumption.

For gamers wanting even more horsepower, HD 2000-based cards also features native ATI CrossFire technology, opening the door for a wide variety of multi-GPU configurations and eliminating the need for any master cards.

For multimedia applications, HD 2000-series cards are said to deliver improved visual fidelity, and can handle HD DVD and Blu-ray discs.

Available immediately, the ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT is expected to be priced at US$399, including Team Fortress 2, Portal, and Half-Life 2: Episode Two from Valve.5 The HD 2600 and 2400 cards will ship late next month.

Numerous add-in-board partners including Asus, Diamond Multimedia, GeCube, Gigabyte, HIS, MSI, Sapphire and VisionTek will offer ATI Radeon HD 2000 series graphics cards.

Notebooks from OEM partners including Acer, ASUS, Fujitsu, Fujitsu-Siemens Computers, Gateway, HP, LG, Packard Bell, Samsung and Toshiba will carry the Mobility Radeon HD 2600 graphics chips starting this month.