HEXUS.beans :: MSI set to drop ATi ?

[PD HEXUS]

Originally Posted by Willy Deeplung

We’re hearing that here in the UK, Taiwanese mainboard manufacturer MSI Microstar has just advised some of its trade distributors that ‘MSI is dropping ATi VGA cards’.

Speaking exclusively to HEXUS, MSI confirmed the following:

“MSI is not phasing out ATi, but for the present, because of two very high profile NVIDIA product launches, MSI is offering more focus on bringing these products to market.”

“This does not mean MSI is dropping ATi, or will not be offering its products for sale in the future.”

Perhaps there’s been some misinterpretation of communications between MSI UK sales representatives and its trade customers here?

However, as its true to say that ATi’s CrossFire and R520 has not yet come to market in the time frames that ATi Technologies would have liked, and that the perfectly executed release of the NVIDIA 7800 series was a relative milestone in a world where vapour launches were worryingly becoming the norm, could this be a case of no smoke without fire?...

That said, someone was recently Bcc’d into an email which contained a bean suggesting that MSI’s global commitment to ATi, is that 50% of the graphics products it ships will feature an ATi ASIC...

thoughts?

[unreal]

I think thats a good step financially for MSI, since at the moment, all the focus is on nVidia with the launch of their latest gen cards; and now the 7800GT, which has boosted publicity even more. And also the huge price cuts of the 6600, 6800GT and 6800 Ultra have got the attention of those without a skyhigh budget.

Perhaps once the R520 and Crossfire are released, then MSI will change back to whatever percentage of brands it was doing?

[Dougal]

I want to know information on the crossfire. E3 (iirc) had the massive push about it. But like the Revolution. It seems to be dead. No new information about scheduled release dates or anything.

/me is upset

[seanblee]

It'll be a shame if MSI do move away from ATi, I've built a couple of machines with their mobos now (old K7 Master2-UR and a S939 NF3 Neo2 Plat) and I'm really impressed with them. Was waiting on them releasing a new ATi Crossfire board for my next machine, at least so I can compare it to NF4 SLI before making a decision.

[kasavien]

I've recently moved across to an ATI gfx card and it would be a shame to see them lose out though a lack of having new products out, but like the first person said MSI will be looking to make money and i'm guessing that for the moment nVidia are the brand that sells the most. Hopefully it won't be too long till the new ATI gfx chip and the Crossfire motherboards are out.