AMD's RV635, to Feature the New DisplayPort Interface

There have been a lot of rumors and suppositions about AMD's RV635 XT board, the world's first graphics card to provide the new digital display interface, dubbed DisplayPort by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). The new interface is alleged to replace the old and not-so-efficient DVI and VGA connections in the near future.

Based on a micro-packet architecture, the DisplayPort is supposed to deliver higher bandwidth for multi-monitor implementations over a single data cable. Moreover, the DisplayPort will integrate the 8-channel 24-bit audio signal too, just like HDMI, while providing extra links for I/O panel and other microphone connections.

The new standard is the result of a joint effort of big names in the video industry and not only, such as AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, Samsung and Dell. Currently, the DisplayPort is fueled to compete with rival HDMI for desktop and notebook supremacy, but there are chances that both standards are more likely to co-exist, as HDMI is already integrated on a wide scale into consumer electronics products such as DVD players and set-top boxes. DisplayPort is more likely to take the lead in the computing sector than in consumer electronics, since it has been designed from ground up for such use.

Luckily for AMD, they have been the first to come with a DisplayPort enabled graphics card. Almost unbelievable, as the company has not come up first with real innovations for a long time. Moreover, rumor has it that rival Nvidia is pumping up harder to come up with their DisplayPort capable graphics cards to be ready early next year. The RV635 XT board is scheduled for launch around the same time, but AMD has not yet disclosed the exact date.