ATI is faced with a challenge, although all of its products (X800 range and 9xxx range) are selling extremely well, the Canadian company will have to respond to nVidias SLI patent. In that light ATI has pushed forward the release of its RV480 chip, a pumped up R423.
The real challenge for ATI is to figure out how much change can be carried out on the new boards in while still remaining within the set Q4 2004 launch window. Pixel shader 3.0 is definitely being considered but if the new chip is based on R423 architecture, the changes needed seem to big an obstacle to overcome in just a few months. ATI also has to consider its image as it has repeatedly stated that pixel shader 3.0 will not be necessary until 2005.
So what can the company do to compete with SLI?
Another idea flying about at ATI is to use a 0.11 micron architecture which may allow a faster core speed, faster than the 600 MHz ceiling of the 0.13 micron design. The difference however, may not be enough as the fastest X800XT Platinum already works at 525MHz.
Unfortunately for ATI it seems that fighting two graphics cards with one is a lost cause and until we see a board carrying two X800s, expect nVidia to begin praising Futuremark for its excellent benchmarking suite.
It will be very interesting to see what Alienware will do with its Video Array dual GPU architecture and if that will be able to host two ATI boards. If so, ATI will have to do its best to secure some form of partnership, especially if it plans to create SLIs Nemesis.
