ATI, Nvidia PCI-Express Differences

Nvidia and ATI are taking very different approaches as they roll out graphics processors and modules aimed at the first crop of PCs supporting the serial PCI Express interconnect.

Nvidia will initially ship bridge chips for its existing graphics processors, while ATI  is announcing this week a new line of graphics controllers with native Express support. Riding the sametrain of the first Express-based PCs, Agere Systems separately announced a new Gbit Ethernet controller.

Ultimately, the move to putting graphics in digital consumer gear will be a more significant factor for the head-to-head competition between Nvidia and ATI than the PC’s move to Express, analysts said. However, the shift from parallel buses such as PCI and the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) to the 2.5-Gbit/s Express interconnect is a major change for the PC industry, they added.

Read more at EETimes