S3 Graphics today formally launched the Chrome S20, its fourth-generation DirectX 9.0 graphics chip, running at what it claimed is the "highest frequency of any GPU currently available".

That honour goes to the Chrome S27, which runs at 700MHz. It supports any memory configuration from single-channel DDR SDRAM up to quad-channel GDDR 3. It also features MultiChrome, S3's answer to Nvidia's SLi and ATI's CrossFire multi-GPU systems. Unlike the others, MultiChrome is "completely open [and] non-propriety", S3 claimed.

The chip contains eight parallel pixel processing pipelines fed by four vertex processors and can shade 5.6bn pixels per second.

The S27 joined by the Chrome S25, a lower end part limited to four-channel DDR 2 graphics memory but which retains the full eight pixel pipelines. The S25 features AcceleRAM, a technology S3 claims allows it to squeeze more performance out of smaller capacity, slower, single- or dual-channel memory.

Both chips support PCI Express natively. They also contain the third generation of S3's Chromotion video engine, delivering 1080p HDTV output with hardware accelerated motion compensation and support for Windows Media's HD video codecs.

The two chips also implement S3's PowerWise architecture, which the chip maker claims makes for "the most power efficient graphics in the industry". PowerWise incorporates multi-domain dynamic clock gating and, as S3 revealed earlier this week, Fujitsu's power-optimised 90nm fabrication process, for "completely silent" fanless operation.

S3 said both chips were RoHS-compliant, thanks to "lead-free wafer bumping, substrate construction, final packaging and assembly".

S3 didn't say when the S25 and S27 will ship, though past reports have suggested a Q4 appearance. Nor did the company indicate possible pricing. ®

Related stories

XGI turns away from desktop graphics - report (3 March 2006)
VIA ships 90nm Eden low-power processor (17 January 2006)
VIA preps C7-oriented 'mini PC' chipset (8 December 2005)
Hynix readies GDDR 4 samples (5 December 2005)
VIA unveils multi-GPU AMD chipset (22 November 2005)
Four-GPU SLi rig spied on web (10 November 2005)
Nvidia Q3 beats Street (10 November 2005)
Nvidia GeForce 7200, 7600 due 'Feb, March 2006' (9 November 2005)
Nvidia pitches GeForce 6800 GS at Xmas buyers (8 November 2005)
S3 turns to Transmeta tech for low-power graphics chips (2 November 2005)
Nvidia wrestles desktop graphics lead from ATI (1 November 2005)
S3's Chrome 20 chip to feature SLi-style tech (8 September 2005)