AMD debuts first display port graphics card

CHIMPZILLA has launched what it claims is the first commercially available 3D workstation graphics card with Display Port support. The ATI FireGL V7700 is aimed at Computer Aided Design, Digital Content Creation and Medical Imaging.

Before being snaffled up by AMD, ATI had predicted the first display port cards would be available in early 2007.

"The ATI FireGL family of workstation graphics accelerators is designed to deliver visible advantages and performance leadership at every price point, from entry level to ultra-high end," says Janet Matsuda, senior director of Professional Graphics at AMD.

"The ATI FireGL product line has the accuracy and speed needed for medical imaging applications like mammography screening," adds Albert Xthona, product manager for Digital Mammography at Barco.

"Mammography viewing uses 10-bit precision to help deliver the most information to the eye of the radiologist, and increasingly other medical applications will rely on 10-bit gray and 30-bit colour rendering. With the additional speed offered by the PCI Express 2.0 interface, very large data sets are handled smoothly, saving time for busy medical staff."

The card features 512MB of memory and Dual Link DVI Output enabling a multi-monitor desktop over 5000 pixels wide to be driven from a single card. Each workstation can support two cards enabling up to four monitors to be connected.

Shipments are slated to start in April at a rather sobering $1,099 a pop. µ