AMD is working on its new RV870 graphics circuit and it is expected to become the first DirectX 11 GPU from the company. Exactly when AMD will launch RV870 remains to be seen, but the 40nm chip is said to appear in 2009. According to the latest rumors it will not be alone but followed by another two DX11 graphics circuits. AMD is said to go with an extreme performance solution with R800, simply a dual-chip solution and thus the next ‘X2’. Earlier rumors has suggested the name Radeon HD 5870 X2.
At the same time AMD is preparing the mid-range RV840 for launch in 2009. As usual you should consider it with a pinch of salt, but the fact remains that AMD is going with a dual -GPU solution very early with the next generation, which should put further pressure on NVIDIA to get its rumored GT300 GPU out as soon as possible.
