ATI to launch RV250 and R300 chips on July 17

[Steve]

DigiTimes also reports that ATI will launch the Radeon 9000, 9000 Pro, and 9700 on July 17th:
ATI Technologies is set to launch two RV250 core-based graphics chips, the Radeon 9000 and Radeon 9000 Pro, and one top-end, DirectX 9-supporting chip, the Radeon 9700 (codenamed R300), on July 17. With the earlier product rollout, ATI is expected to enjoy stronger sales during the summer vacation season than rival Nvidia.
Hampered by the progress of the 0.13-micron fabrication process at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Nvidia’s NV18 and NV30 chips, which were scheduled to hit the market in the third quarter, will not be able to appear on store shelves until the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter. ATI, on the other hand, has been producing chips on both 0.15 and 0.13-micron processes to secure an earlier product release time. According to the company’s schedule, it will shift its high-end chip production gradually to 0.13-micron fabrication by the end of 2002.

 

[Brent]

url

http://digitimes.com/NewsShow/Article.asp?datePublish=2002/07/15&pages=04&seq=24

 

[Gollum]

Hampered by the progress of the 0.13-micron fabrication process at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), Nvidia’s NV18 and NV30 chips, which were scheduled to hit the market in the third quarter, will not be able to appear on store shelves until the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter. ATI, on the other hand, has been producing chips on both 0.15 and 0.13-micron processes to secure an earlier product release time. According to the company’s schedule, it will shift its high-end chip production gradually to 0.13-micron fabrication by the end of 2002.

This should probably read like "ATI, on the other hand, has been producing chips on 0.15-micron processes to secure an earlier product release time and will switch to 0.13-micron parts later this or early next year". ATI relies on TSMC just as Nvidia does AFAIK, so claiming Nvidia can't release their .13 micron parts because they're "Hampered by the progress of the 0.13-micron fabrication process" but on the other hand saying ATI has already been producing chips in both .15 and .13 is a bit weird...