egeneration: How was cebit? are there are any particular thoughts and would you describe them?
Danny: CeBIT was great. We were able to meet with worldwide Media and let them preview our new PCIe products and change of XGI?s Marketing Strategy. The change of marketing strategy goes from targeting the high end product marketing to focusing on mainstream and value markets. Furthermore, there is a change in business where XGI is elaborating on its graphics card business in setting up worldwide channels for XGI Volari distribution. In Europe, we have Eagletek and Club3D. In Japan, ASK has a good success selling XGI Volari V3XT. In US, we signed up ASI and D&H as our main distributors for different market segments. We will be announcing a partnership with FIC soon.
Regeneration: What can you tell us about the upcoming products
Danny: The second half of 2005, XGI is pushing for PCIe?s Value and Mainstream Segment products. XG47 is our value segment PCIE with Shader Model 2.0 which targets at 6200 with Turbo Cache-like architecture; we call it eXtreme Cache. XG45 is our mainstream segment PCIE with Shader Model 3.0 which targets at 6600 with flexible dram configuration such as 96/192bit. Both products should have a more visible appearance in Computex 2005.
Regeneration: Maybe you can tell us when to expect the new XG45 and the XG47?
Danny: Like I mentioned in the previous question, in Computex 2005 you will see more visibility of the products. In April/May, XGI will have Media review samples of XG47 ready, and a month delay for XG45 in review samples. Mass production should be 1-2 months after the Media sample reviews.
Regeneration: Are there any particular plans for the Reactor Driver? And when we should expect a driver for the new Windows x64bit?
Danny: We have a total makeover in our new Reactor Driver. Furthermore, we have many new features in our new Reactor Driver. The ?what?s new? of the new Reactor Driver will be released before official product launch. In support of new Windows x64bit, our server Z7 graphic chip supports it. In our next generation PCIe products XG45 and XG47 both support it as well.
Regeneration: Can you give us more details about ?eXtreme Cache??
Danny:
Danny: XGI has the technology to bring the Graphics Memory down to 0. However, the performance won?t be competitive to our competitors. So we don?t recommend that. But our potential clients might be interested in this option because this means they have more playing field in the graphics industry.
Danny: By the same token, we offer flexible dram configuration for the mainstream product XG45 because the potential clients will have better leverage and better competition.
Regeneration: What about upcoming products for the Longhorn WGF?
Danny: WGF2.0 will be in our XG60 series which is coming in H2 of 2006. We are working closely with Microsoft in software compatibility with them.
Regeneration: Will there be a chance to see an AGP version of the new products?
Danny: We do have an AGP bridge designed in case PCIe doesn?t pick up. But we anticipate the chances of using AGP bridge is not high. Furthermore, our competitors are phasing out current AGP products where we are still in production. So XGI has a chance in filling the gap of AGP market if there is a delay in the PCIe market.
Regeneration: Are there any plans for a 512mb card?
Danny: Not for this coming generation products.
Regeneration: What are the plans for the XGI Corporation?
Danny: We plan to target the value and mainstream segment first and make our product available to global consumers. That is why we are pushing distribution worldwide of XGI Volari products. Next, once we consolidated this fundamental market where most of quantity is at, we will move onto the higher end markets where the top performance products are compared. Because we have the Duo Technology know-how, we will be able to implement that onto PCIe where a broader bandwidth is allowed and more suitable.
Danny: Overall, we are trying to catch up to ATi and nVidia in the coming PCIe products, and marching head to head with them in our 60series product that are available in H2 of 2006.
Regeneration: Thank you! and good luck.
