New ATI FirePro promises four displays, one card

AMD signaled a new direction for its workstation-class cards today by unveiling the ATI FirePro 2460 Multi-View. The card is unique in the pro world in carrying four Mini DisplayPort connectors and can use all four at once depending on the configuration, including merged into one or two displays using Eyefinity. It only has 512MB of display memory but can still drive up to three 30-inch displays at once.

In addition to working natively with Apple LED Cinema Displays, the outputs can use adapters to connect to full-size DisplayPort and dual-link DVI screens.

The card is pitched as an option for day traders and other power users that may need multiple screens but who don't need raw 3D performance at the same time, as with the FirePro V8800. Its budget card still supports the full DirectX 11 (and soon OpenGL 4) feature set, however, and uses just 13W of power in a single-slot design much friendlier to smaller desktops.

Like with most of its pro cards, AMD is targeting the 2460 initially at the Windows market and hasn't said whether it plans expansion to other operating systems. The board should be available now for $299.

By Electronista Staff