ATI To Release New DirectX 11 Graphics Cards In Time For Windows 7 Launch

ATI is hoping that Windows 7 and DirectX 11 will help stimulate a flat market for graphics cards. In an attempt to get a head start on the competition, ATI will have their new DirectX 11 graphics chips launched before Windows 7 hits the shelves:

“We plan to lead the market with DirectX 11 solutions coincident with Microsoft Windows 7 release in the back half of the year,” Dirk Meyer, AMD CEO & President

DirectX 11 will offer a much better graphics experience than previous versions, and AMD’s first DirectX 11 capable GPU, the RV870, is expected to be launched at the back end of July.

“With Windows 7 being released in the back half of this year and all the benefits that come along with that in the form of DirectX 11 and improved graphics quality, compute offload and so on, we might see a spike in interest for a richer graphics experience. Certainly, that is one of the things that we are trying to drive as a company,” Robert Rivet,MD CFO.

It’ll be interesting to see if Windows 7 and DirectX 11 will give the PC gaming market a much needed boost to help counter the challenge from homogeneous consoles such as the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

(updated from www.windows7news.com)