ATI’s Graphics Drivers Deliver Superior Support for Microsoft’s Next-Generation Operating System
ATI’s Catalyst™ Drivers Included in Beta 1 Release of Microsoft Windows Vista™
MARKHAM – July 28, 2003 – ATI Technologies Inc., (TSX: ATY, NASDAQ:ATYT), today announced broad Catalyst™ graphics driver support for the beta 1 release of the Microsoft Windows Vista™ operating system. With its latest Catalyst driver releases, ATI is one of the first graphics providers to make a 64-bit driver that supports the Longhorn Driver Display Model (LDDM)—the Microsoft Vista revolutionary graphics driver standard—as well as the first to provide LDDM drivers for integrated graphics processors.
Microsoft Windows Vista will make extensive use of 3D graphics for the desktop. ATI’s support of beta 1 enables the developer community to write a new class of visually stunning applications for the new operating system.
By making LDDM drivers available more than a full year prior to Windows Vista release, ATI provides developers with a stable, feature-enabled and performance-optimized platform for application development.
“We are happy to see ATI's commitment to developing a Windows Vista graphics driver,” said Chris Donahue, Group Manager, Windows Graphics & Gaming Technology team at Microsoft Corp. “Users of Windows Vista advanced 3D capabilities will enjoy the premium experience of a high quality, high performance and stable GPU driver. ATI’s substantial investment in Windows Vista has resulted in tremendous progress on driver development, including the delivery of broad device support, full 64-bit compatibility and excellent performance.”
Included with Microsoft’s Windows Vista beta 1 release are ATI’s Catalyst drivers for its desktop and mobile DirectX 9 class discrete graphics processors as well as support for the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows Vista. Additionally, ATI also is making available today on its website a further Catalyst LDDM driver which includes all of the functionality mentioned above plus support for integrated graphics processors in Windows Vista.
“ATI is providing broad graphics driver support to Microsoft and the MSDN community for all ATI DirectX 9 hardware in Microsoft Windows Vista beta 1,” said Ben Bar-Haim, Vice President of Software Engineering, ATI Technologies. “ATI is proud to point out we have more Windows Vista in-the-box driver support than any other independent hardware vendor”.
A long-time supporter of Microsoft’s DirectX 9 application programming interface, ATI is working closely with Microsoft to ensure ATI graphics processors offer the best feature support and greatest compatibility with Microsoft Windows Vista. ATI’s complete line of DirectX 9 Radeon discrete graphics for desktop computers, Mobility Radeon graphics for notebook PCs and Radeon Xpress 200 chipsets with integrated graphics for motherboards offer fully featured driver support for the beta 1 release.
ATI’s latest beta 1 driver release for Microsoft Windows Vista is available for download at http://www.ati.com.
About ATI Technologies
ATI Technologies Inc. is the world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative 3D graphics and digital media silicon solutions. An industry pioneer since 1985, ATI is the world's foremost graphics processing unit
(GPU) provider and is dedicated to delivering leading-edge performance solutions for the full range of PC and Mac desktop and notebook platforms, workstation, set-top and digital television, game console and handheld device markets. With 2004 revenues of approximately US $2 billion, ATI has more than 3,000 employees in the Americas, Europe and Asia. ATI common shares trade on NASDAQ (ATYT) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (ATY).
