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S3 Graphics, a subsidiary of VIA and a player in the low end graphics market, has launched its next generation Chrome 500 series. S3 claims its new add-in cards offer up to a 30 percent performance increase while supporting Blu-ray playback, streaming HD video, DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 3.0 on both Windows and Linux operating systems.
"S3 Graphics has built upon the success of the Chrome 400 Series with another GPU line that fulfills user demand of a superior visual experience and product that extends beyond just graphics," said Dr. Ken Weng, GM for S3 Graphics. "Our latest Chrome 500 supports features that surpass those found in higher end products, like high quality HD video support. This truly is a power-efficient multimedia / multi-application processor that delivers."
S3's Chrome 530 GT is the first videocad to market from the new Chrome 500 series. The upgraded GPU makes a strong bid for HTPC enthusiasts with support for PiP Blu-ray playback, HDCP capable DVI-I and HDMI ports, and a low power draw rated at just 25W.
The Chrome 530 GT is available now direct from S3 Graphics for $45 and comes bundled with InterVideo WinDVD 8.
Image Credit: S3 Graphics
Comments are closed on this article
MrNaPaLm32
November 21, 2008 at 2:44pm
gotta get me one of these. I mean, who can live without the cutting edge technology of DirectX 1.0.
Seriously, Sometimes I wonder if MaxPC's editors proofread what they say before posting it. Theres literally ALWAYS errors in these stories.
Keith E. Whisman
November 21, 2008 at 3:25pm
Hey that's Direct X 1.0 and OpenGL 3. It's better at OpenGL I guess. Nvidia has a history of being better at OpenGL than ATI.
Now I remember when DirectX 1 was first released. It was awsome. I toyed with it and played with it and called it George. That came out about Six months after Windows 95 was released.
Keith E. Whisman
November 21, 2008 at 1:36pm
I think if your building an HTPC you should buy this video card. If they are successfull perhaps one day we can expect competition on the high end from these guys with ATI and Nvidia and against Intel's Larabee. Let's help them succeed so they can compete and hopefully bring prices down on the high end.
cigar3tte
November 21, 2008 at 1:08pm
If you look at the website, S3 pits this card against nVidia 8600 and Radeon 4350. I doubt this card is any good if it's competiting against those models. I'm leaning towards a Radeon 4550 for my HTPC.
"Ass so fat that you can see it from the front" -- Mos Def
Caboose
November 21, 2008 at 12:45pm
Would MPC ever consider reviewing this card (or one like it) against an ATI or nVidia card for HTPC tasks ONLY? I wonder how it would perform, and if maybe it'd work well in the next HTPC that I build, instead of going with a Radeon
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
