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Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: PLX Technology Europe | Subject: PEX 8547
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 20 February 2008
PCI Express switch handles intense
graphics
AMD's innovative high-end ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 dual-GPU graphics cards for extreme-gaming enthusiasts use the PLX ExpressLane PEX 8547 PCIe switch.
The PEX 8547 PCIe switch from PLX Technology is being used for high-performance fanout in AMD's innovative high-end ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 dual-GPU graphics cards for extreme-gaming enthusiasts The PLX ExpressLane PEX 8547 PCIe switch was designed specifically for intense graphics applications like the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2, and offers 48 lanes, three ports, remarkably low latency (only 110ns), true peer-to-peer traffic, large packet memory (1Kbyte maximum payload size) and a nonblocking internal switch architecture that provides a full line rate on all ports for performance-hungry graphics applications
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 20 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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"AMD's ground-breaking ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics cards, supported by PLX PEX 8547 PCIe switches, have demonstrated terrific performance in chart-topping computer games", says Matt Skynner, Vice President of Marketing, Graphics Products Group, AMD.
"AMD chose the PLX chip for its industry-leading PCIe features, allowing high-bandwidth peer-to-peer communication between its two powerful next generation Radeon graphics processors leveraging ATI CrossFireX technology on a single board".
"PLX has provided AMD with enhanced flexibility and performance in our designs".
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"Their technical proficiency and top notch customer experience has been a great asset to help create the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics cards".
"PCI Express switches and multi-GPU implementations are complementary and logical for enabling the highest-end gaming and enthusiast PC market segments", says Shane Rau, Research Director, International Data Corp (IDC).
"It is in these segments where you'll find a counter-trend against relentless integration and instead find the most sophisticated discrete components".
"Being the perennial leader in PCI Express switch silicon, we have a deep understanding and commitment to the technology and its broad scope in growing market segments including this intense AMD graphics application", says David Raun, PLX Vice President of Marketing and Business Development.
"We enjoy the engaging relationship with AMD and look forward to participating in their exciting future designs".
PLX's PCI Express switches and bridges provide board and system designers with the industry's most extensive and proven lineup of products to address a wide and growing variety of market segments with well over one million chips shipped today.
The company's Gen 1 and Gen 2 PCIe switches range in density from three to 12 ports and from five to 48 lanes, and offer backward compatibility supporting legacy designs.
All PLX PCIe products are fully supported with a combination of hardware and a highly customised software development kit (SDK) containing powerful new tools to help customers design efficiently and quickly.
The PEX 8547 is in full production today and shipping in large volumes.
The ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 is industry's first TFLOP gaming card, and industry's first Microsoft DirectX 10.1 enthusiast solution.
With this new leading graphics solution gamers can advance to superior performance on the latest HD games and experience life-like realism thanks to Microsoft DirectX 10.1 capabilities and plug-and-play ATI CrossFireX multi-GPU upgradeability.
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