Nvidia plays a trump with GeForce2 MX card

Graphics card vendor Nvidia continued its assault on the video market last week by launching the GeForce2 MX.

Graphics card vendor Nvidia continued its assault on the video market last week by launching the GeForce2 MX. Originally codenamed the NV11, the card follows hot on the heels of the NV15, known as the GeForce2 GTS, which the company released in May.

Nvidia is targeting multiple platforms and broad-base users with its latest offering as it looks to challenge industry leader ATI.

Jen-Hsun Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, said: "This is the first graphics card with multi-market, high-volume appeal. The GeForce2 MX will set the stage for our entry into the commercial workstation, Mac and mobile markets."

The card features digital vibrance control and TwinView, which allows the GeForce2 MX to support multiple monitors, flatpanels and TVs connected to a single card. This option would especially benefit mobile users who could use the card to connect a large screen while still using the laptop's LCD.

The GeForce2 MX also consumes less power - under 5 watts - because the product was made on a die-shrink from 0.22 to 0.18 micron and no longer requires a fan to keep the device cool.

Nvidia will face stiff competition if it concentrates on the laptop market because ATI is working on a mobile version of its latest desktop release, the Radeon 256. GeForce2 MX, to retail at $100 (£67), will bring the curtain down on Nvidia's older TNT 2 and Vanta lines.

Graphics vendor ELSA has announced immediate availability of its new 64Mb Gladiac 3D graphics accelerator, based on Nvidia's GeForce2 GTS, and the Gladiac MX, to be built around the new GeForce2 MX.