ATI Radeon HD 2600 and 2400 GPUs for Vista

SUNNYVALE: AMD has announced the availability of the ATI Radeon HD 2600 and ATI Radeon HD 2400 series, the mid-range and entry-level graphics processors in the ATI Radeon HD 2000 series.

These next-generation graphics processing units (GPU) provide premium support for Windows Vista with feature-rich DirectX 10 graphics and built-in multimedia functions for HD video experience on the PC.

“The ATI Radeon HD 2600 and ATI Radeon HD 2400 series drive high definition innovation to the mainstream with an incredible price and performance proposition,” said Rick Bergman, senior vice president, AMD Graphics Products Group. “With the launch of these new products, AMD is broadening the reach of the ultimate visual experience by putting next-generation, DirectX 10 discrete graphics technology within the reach of more users than ever before.”

The ATI Radeon HD 2600 and 2400 series deliver gaming performance and maximize the HD visual effects within Windows Vista and DirectX 10. Users wanting more horsepower would discover that both series feature native ATI CrossFire technology, allowing for a wider variety of multi-GPU configurations, AMD said in a statement.

Both series feature the Unified Video Decoder (UVD) for advanced hardware HD video processing and HDMI with built-in HD audio controller for stunning big-screen entertainment. Home theater aficionados will be captivated by ATI Avivo HD technology that delivers sharp images and vibrant color fidelity for Blu-ray and HD DVD content.

With support for Blu-ray discs and HD DVDs, CyberLink’s PowerDVD Ultra, now offers support for UVD technology from AMD, ensuring enhanced video quality with low CPU utilization.

Using an energy-efficient 65 nm process technology to reduce power consumption, certain ATI Radeon HD 2600 series and ATI Radeon HD 2400 series models are designed to be passively cooled for a quieter home theatre experience.

Both the products are expected in the market during early July.