AMD Tunes Back In with All-In-Wonder HD

[PAGETITLE=Introduction] [Top Ad] In fall of 1996, ATI released a unique GPU called the All-In-Wonder. This PCI-based card was based on the 3D Rage II+ chipset and featured 4MB of EDO DRAM. What made the card special was the fact it had a TV tuner built in. Not a hybrid, but rather a combination of two different chipsets, resulting in one card for two very different purposes. It was an interesting idea, because it cut down on the amount of cards needed in the machine, and that has obvious benefits. After that launch, ATI regularly released updated models, just as they do with their GPU line-ups. Over the course of ten years, we saw the launch of the All-In-Wonder 128, which was the last to be based on the 3D Rage chipset, all the way up to the All-In-Wonder X1800 XL and X1900, based on the same chipsets as their GPU brothers. In the fall of the same year as the X1900 launch, it was announced that AMD (who then acquired ATI) would be discontinuing the All-In-Wonder line-up, at least on the GPUs. Since then, we've seen some consistent TV Wonder launches, including the HD 600 PCI and HD 650 Combo USB, both of which we took a look at this past February. Those of you who enjoyed the idea of having a GPU and TV Tuner on the same card can now relax, because AMD has just announced the AIW resurrection, in the form of the All-In-Wonder HD. Closer Look at the All-In-Wonder HD. During a briefing earlier this week, AMD noted that the excitement around this new launch is huge. So much so, that certain e-tailers, such as Best Buy, will be offering pre-orders almost immediately. How often do you see a pre-order for any type of peripheral? Not often. The idea behind the All-In-Wonder HD doesn't differ much from older models. The card still offers a fully-functional GPU core and has a tuner thrown in. This combination idea doesn't so much save on costs as it does space. Plus, having a tuner right on the GPU is just convenient. One downside that plagued the older AIW's was that most often, the GPUs would be clocked lower than their non-tuner-based counterparts, for two reasons. The main one was to cut down on costs. No one wanted to pay more than they needed to for such a card, and second, the cards would get too hot, with two very robust chipsets ramped up at the same time. The new card doesn't fix this problem, but it still features a GPU core capable of delivering reasonable PC gaming performance. The core itself is based off of RV635 PRO, the same one used in the HD 3650. So while it won't enable high-end gaming, it should suffice for lighter gaming or gaming at resolutions of 1600x1200 and lower. Specs-wise from a GPU standpoint, the card offers a 725MHz Core clock and 600MHz on the memory, which AMD claims will deliver better performance than a standard HD 3650. DX 10.1 is of course supported as well. As seen in the top photo, the new card appears identical in size to the Radeon HD 3650, but a few new features can be seen. Most obvious is the tuner in the corner near the bracket, but on the opposite side you can see a port connector. This is used to connect to the daughter card, as seen above. That card will be sold separately, as part of the 'ATI All-In-Wonder HD Accessory Kit'. The primary card on its own will support both HDMI and DVI, but adding the daughter card will open up support for S-Video, stereo input/output and component video. It will connect via a dongle, similar to connecting dual cards for CrossfireX. [PAGEBREAK] [PAGETITLE=Further Look, Final Thoughts] [Top Ad] From a technical perspective, the new card's features doesn't differ much from AMD's own TV Wonder products. The most important support for most people is support for 1080p, but that's a no-brainer nowadays. AMD is touting the HD as the key component to create an "ultimate digital entertainment center", so we can expect it would offer all we'd need it to. With this card, they claim the PC can be turned into the "ultimate high-definition PVR", and that right there tempts me, but of course this can be done today already, on separate tuners. So while certain features might not be new or ground-breaking, the benefit here is that the tuner is on the same piece of PCB as the GPU, and that in itself will be the draw for most consumers. Other notables offered is UVD, or Unified Video Decoder, which has the ability upscale standard-definition content to near-HD levels, while "ATI Avivo HD TV Enhancement Technologies" enriches the video quality and colors. Sounds delicious. During the press briefing, AMD concentrated on the upcoming digital transition which will occur next February. The idea behind this is that the tuner here will have no problem handling the transition, because it offers both support for analog and digital. But as you can probably guess, that doesn't matter much when someones viewing content from a television box. This is where AMD is pushing the AIW HD to succeed. There is no better time than now to build an HTPC, and I can't disagree, since even for me, an HTPC is looking incredibly tempting. I recently looked to see what it would cost me for an HD PVR from my local cable provider, and it was over $500. I am hoping prices are cheaper in the US, but at prices like that, building an HTPC makes a lot of sense. Nowadays, most people connect their PCs to a high-definition monitor or TV, so adding digital cable is only a step away. Add in a tuner, and the ability to turn the PC into a robust PVR is all too easy. Not only is it a PVR, though, but AMD touts their new Catalyst Media Center as being the "do all" product for video conversion. There are profiles to recode TV shows you download into formats your mobile device can use. Not entirely new, but useful none-the-less. On top of the new card itself, AMD Live Software will be one of the focal points of the product. It's not so much a media center as it is an environment to store your videos. It allows you to categorize them, as well as stream them to other PCs in the house, or to the Internet. Similar to a Slingbox, you will be able to stream either TV or stored video to another PC, while away. I inquired as to whether high-definition video could be streamed, and I was told yes, as long as the bandwidth is there to support it. This is unlike the Slingbox which doesn't stream HD, but rather compresses to SD, then upscales it at the destination. From that perspective alone, this card and software combination is looking better than the competition. That all aside, other important features are support for analog NTSC, digital ATSC and unencrypted ClearQAM. For those who want to give their eyes a break, FM radio is also supported. As mentioned a moment ago, the software includes PVR functionality, along with the UVD and DVD up-scaling feature. Overall, the card is looking to be a relative winner, especially for those looking to save space in their HTPC. The name ATI All-In-Wonder HD might seem a little odd, since there is no name future-proofing. What will future cards be called? I think that's still up in the air, but it might always be the same. If cards are updated each year, then consumers could go by the box date alone. Or, card manufacturers can handle the naming themselves. Right now, there are no definitive plans as far as the naming convention goes. I also inquired about Linux support, and at launch, there is no support for the tuner. The graphics card itself should function without issue, but that's not going to sell anyone. It was noted that AMD are currently looking into Linux development and will carry out developing a driver if it's feasible and sensible to do so. There is no solid launch date for the new All-In-Wonder, but it will happen within a few weeks. Diamond Multimedia and VisionTek are the first companies to develop the new card, which is set to retail for $199. Considering the HD 3650 card itself retails for around $60 and the TV Wonder for around $130, there is surprisingly not much of a premium for the combination, making the choice even more tempting. For those looking for a card that offers both GPU functionality along with tuner capabilities, the new All-In-Wonder HD is worth looking out for. You can expect a review on these pages in the weeks to come, so stay tuned, as we'll see if the card lives up to the hype. For those looking for in-depth specifications, feel free to peruse the following page, where we lay them all out for you. Discuss in our forums! If you have a comment you wish to make on this article, feel free to head on into our forums! There is no need to register in order to reply to such threads. [PAGEBREAK] [PAGETITLE=All-In-Wonder HD Specs] Variety of Broadcast Signals - The ATI All-in-Wonder HD is a feature-rich tuner providing the ability to receive analog (NTSC), digital/HDTV (ATSC) and unencrypted digital cable (ClearQAM) signals with time shifting functionality. You can also listen to your favorite FM radio stations to listen to your favorite grooves, talk shows or the latest news. ClearQAM - With the advent of Windows Vista, digital cable reception of Clear-QAM channels (unencrypted Digital Cable TV) is now possible. Enrich your Digital Cable TV media experience with ATI Catalyst Media Center in Windows Vista with full Clear-QAM TV clarity. PVR Functionality - Watch, pause and record live TV with the ATI All-in-Wonder HD. Now you can watch your favorite TV programming when itâ€™s convenient for you. Windows Media Center - The ATI All-in-Wonder HD is designed for Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate. This is where it all begins. You can enjoy your media entertainment right in your living room. Watch live and recorded TV, DVDs, music, photos, and more all within the easy to use Windows Media Center that you know and love. Enhanced DVD Up-scaling - Watch standard definition video in near HD quality with DVD up-scaling. ATI All-in-Wonder HD uses post processing to enhance standard and low...

AMD Tunes Back In with All-In-Wonder HD

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Rob Williams