ATI express delivery is on the cards

ATI next month brings to the UK a 3D accelerator card for PCs which leapfrogs 32bit consoles in graphics handling and will be compatible with all software written for Windows 95.

At retail the 3D Xpression card will be bundled with four games: Actua Soccer, Wipeout, Assault Rigs and Mech Warrior 2, with an RRP from u249, depending on configuration.

The card also plays back Mpeg-1 video in full screen full-motion from Video CDs or CD-i disks and gives accelerated 2D graphics.

ATI helped Microsoft write the 3D and video hooks for Windows 95 and then built them into its hardware, so games written for Win95 will run with the board.

The 3D Rage chip, which gives the board its graphics processing power, will be built in to all new IBM Aptiva PCs and Apricot will use it on about 70% of its new machines. The 64bit graphics chip provides texture mapping and lighting, fog effect and transparency.

The 3D Xpression card will go out through Gem, Micro P, Frontline and Ingram to independent retailers and hardware superstores like PC World.