ATI Unveils RADEON 8500LE

ATI continues to push its way into being supplier of graphics technology for those who want to build cards based on their chips and software. Until May 2001 , ATI only sold its graphics goodies under its own brand name, but now we’re starting to see more cards from other companies that have ATI blood pumping through their little silicon veins. ATI’s new RADEON 8500LE graphics processor, which provides a 250 MHz core clock speed (RADEON 8500 runs at 275 MHz) won’t be sold through retail under the ATI brand name but will only be distributed to OEMs, ODMs and AIBs, who will market it under their own monikers. Thirteen companies are announcing RADEON 8500LE designs, including CP Technology, DFI, Ennyah Technologies, Giga-Byte, Jetway Information, Joytech, Power Magic, Raising Rich, Sapphire Developments, Shuttle, Super Grace Electronics, Wistron, and Yuan Yuan High-Tech. The RADEON 8500LE includes all of the bells and whistles found in the RADEON 8500 (minus the clock speed), including TRUFORM and SMARTSHADER . The RADEON 8500LE supports Windows XP, including DirectX 8.1.