http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/d...426073605.html

ATI Technologies Gathers Developers for R600 VPU

Graphics Company Hires Additional Forces for R600 Product
by Anton Shilov
04/26/2004 | 07:39 AM

ATI Technologies is hiring some new engineers for its product code-named
R600 that is not even likely to appear on the horizon really soon. The move
indicates growing aggressiveness in the graphics processors market as well
as the belief of the Markham, Ontario-based company in the further growth of
the R&D budget that is indissolubly connected with the firm's sales.

On Sunday, the 25th of April, 2004, The Inquirer web-site reported about the
intention of ATI Technologies to hire a team leader to manage Direct 3D
driver component quality at its Marlboro plant in the USA. As part of her or
his responsibilities, the manager is expected to serve as the primary point
of contact within ATI for component quality problems for the Direct 3D
driver for the R600 product, according to the report that cited ATI's
official web-site.

However, on Monday, the 25th of April, 2004, ATI Technologies replaced the
"R600 code-name" with "next generation products" definition.

While the destiny as well as timeframes for the product code-named R600 are
not clear, the advertising indicates that the works on the R600 are
underway. Typically it takes graphics company ATI Technologies some 18-24
month to replace one micro-architecture for graphics processors with
another, ATI Technologies' COO indicated in the first half of 2004.

ATI Technologies' code-named R420 visual processing unit aka RADEON X800
expected to be unleashed shortly is something that rely on the architecture
used in the RADEON 9800/9700-series of graphics processors, according to the
preliminary information. The followers for the R420, such as the code-named
R500 product are expected to bring Shader Model 3.0 or Shader Model 4.0
functionality. It is not clear what new the R600 VPU is supposed to bring.



No doubt that R600 / NV60 development is well underway, while R500 / NV50
development continues, as R420 / NV40 are prepared for launch.