Diamond's Multi-Purpose Viper X1300 Line To Ship In Six Configurations, Each With HD Video And 3D

January 9, 2006

Diamond Multimedia announced it will be releasing the Viper X1300, the most affordable graphics card to combine high-end features like multi-GPU capability and high-definition (HD) display, using ATI's heralded Avivo display technology. The Viper X1300 offers gamers, business presenters and videophiles alike true-to-life image reproduction (including realistic high-definition playback of television through PVR devices) and unprecedented high-performance 3D imaging in a video card retailing for less than $150. The X1300 card features an ATI Radeon chip, bringing a tremendous reduction in power consumption, and a 450 MHz core clock, enabling a whole new level of performance and functionality for PC graphics. The superior quality of the X1300 lets gamers worry less about memory usage and effortlessly enjoy better gameplay. The board also utilizes the PC system's Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) to maximum effect. The first two models to ship will be the X1300PCIE256, which comes standard with 256 MB of video RAM for $139 and its upgraded cousin, the X1300PCIE512, which doubles the amount of video RAM to 512 MB for just $30 more, with an SRP of $169. Four other models, including two featuring AGP, will be available in early 2006, but no pricing or availability has yet been announced. The X1300 is also equipped with ATI's Avivo video and display platform, which enables a high-definition visual experience, and allows for universal connectivity to various digital devices, including home theater systems, LCD monitors, HDTVs, projectors and notebooks. Digital videos, photos and PC games are enhanced by sharpened images and smoother video playback. Avivo offers sharper display for video and photos compared with conventional cards, as well as "universal display connectivity" - which eliminates the long-standing barrier of being able to display PC graphics on a variety of consumer electronics devices, including big-screen televisions. -more- Diamond X1300: High Performance, High-Def, Low Price Page Two of Two The X1300 also boasts CrossFire platform support, in which gamers can combine multiple graphics cards on one motherboard that supports dual PCI-Express x16 slots to speed up gaming with "supertiling," wherein the processing and graphics rendering becomes shared between the two graphics cards. The Viper X1300 uses the Radeon X1300 GPU, with a memory of 256 MB, in either AGP or PCI Express/PCIE HyperMemory. The outputs included are DVI, VGA, TV-Out/HDTV. Minimum system requirements for the card are an Intel Pentium 4 of AMD Athlon 64 FX CPU running at a minimum of 2.4 GHz, a PCIE or AGP slot, 64 MB system RAM, 200 MB available hard disk space, a CD- or DVD-ROM drive, and a 420 Watt power supply or higher. Also needed is a Super VGA or DVI-I compatible monitor. The X1300 will run under Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows XP Media Center environments. The Viper X1300 also comes with extensive software, including the Catalyst Control Center, the award-winning feature-rich 3D software application. Catalyst automatically configures optimal settings for your system, and is packed with features that go far beyond traditional driver configuration software. All Diamond video cards also carry the Diamond guarantee of quality assurance. Unlike many cards that are simply first to market, Diamond carefully tests and retests every new model for its ratio of performance to reliability. Diamond is legendary in the PC video card business for its low return rates - less than 1 percent versus an industry average of approximately 10 percent - and attributes this to its intensive testing, detailed product knowledge down to the component level, superior relationships with suppliers and unwielding commitment to quality. Diamond cards use superior connectors, cables and components, as well as undergo more thorough testing for heat susceptibility and durability, and this is directly reflected in its superior track record of longevity at the highest levels of performance. The X1300 line can be found through most North American distributors, such as Ingram Micro, Tech Data and D&H along with most leading computer retailers and e-commerce sites.

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