ASRock, an Asustek Computer subsidiary focusing on entry-level motherboards, will significantly increase the adoption of integrated graphics processor (IGP) chipsets from VIA Technologies for Intel-based motherboards while lowering the proportion of motherboards with ATI chipsets, indicated sources who have seen the company"s latest roadmap.
According to the sources, IGP chipsets from ATI Technologies, the ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 and the Radeon Xpress 1250, which was launched on August 29, do not appear in ASRock"s upcoming products based on Intel CPUs. ASRock has previously used the ATI Radeon Xpress 200 chipsets, noted the sources. ASRock is looking to massively adopt the VIA P4M900 PCI Express (PCIe) chipset to replace ATI"s selection, indicated the sources, adding that the VIA K8M890 IGP series has also been chosen for the low-end portfolio. In response to the speculation, ASRock president Sterling Wu stated that the increasing adoption of VIA chipsets is aimed at minimizing the risk of any change in ATI"s chipset plan for the Intel platform. In October, when market demand climbs to a yearly peak, ASRock may again shift back to ATI chipsets to meet demand, according to Wu.