Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/23/ati_x1900_xtx_japan/
Boards based on the as-yet-unannounced Radeon X1900 XTX graphics chip went on sale in Japan this weekend, confirming past claims (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/23/ati_schedules_r580_launch/) that ATI will launch its next-generation R580 GPU this week.
According to Japanese-language site PCWatch, the ATI-manufactured board contains 512MB of GDDR 3 memory and supports the company's CrossFire multi-GPU technology.
The box proclaims the part to be "the world's fastest consumer GPU". It costs ¥82,900 ($719).
A note inside the box says that CrossFire configurations require a 550W power supply "with 38A on [the] 12V rail" and two six-pin PCI Express power connectors. On its own, the 1900 XTX requires a 450W/30A PSU, the note states. The card itself is a two-slot part with a pair of DVI connectors and an S-video port. A sticker on the card says the board supports video-in and video-out.
The appearance of the card in at least one Japanese stores follows the leaking of a board last week allowing for the first benchmark tests (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/20/ati_r580_benchmarked/) to be run on the GPU. A report on website DailyTech claimed ATI will announce three Radeon X1900 configurations: the X1900 CrossFire Edition, the X1900 XT and the X1900 XTX, all based on the 90nm, 48-shader R580 chip. ®
[Story Source: http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/hotline/20060121/etc_radx19.html]
ATI ships Radeon X1900 XT, XTX and CrossFire Edn (24 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/24/ati_radeon_x1900/
ECS readies budget CrossFire Socket 939 mobo (24 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/24/ecs_unveils_rd480-a939/
ATI R580 GPU benchmarked (20 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/20/ati_r580_benchmarked/
Nvidia to launch GeForce 7900 GTX 'at CeBIT' (12 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/12/nvidia_g71_march_launch/
ATI Radeon Xpress to support HDMI (10 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/10/ati_radeon_xpress_hdmi/
ATI to launch Radeon X1900 'next month' (23 December 2005)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/12/23/ati_schedules_r580_launch/
ATI back in the black (22 December 2005)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/12/22/ati_results_q1_06/
ATI unwraps first X1000-class mobile graphics chip (6 December 2005)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2005/12/06/ati_unveils_mobility_radeon_x1600/