AMD, Nvidia play dueling graphics chip launches

AMD and Nvidia each launched graphics chips Tuesday, but the big question is whether consumers will buy them. Both announcements were timed with the CeBit confab in Hanover, Germany.

First, AMD rolled out its ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 and 4830. These chips are billed as the "world’s first graphics processors to harness 40nm process technology." ATI's latest Radeons are designed for gaming and high-def multimedia with longer battery life (statement).

The 4860 will be featured in the Asus K notebook. AMD says its 40nm manufacturing process packs more processing power in a smaller die size.

Nvidia also rolled out four GeForce graphics processors designed for high performance (statement). Nvidia said that its GeForce GTX 280M is the fastest notebook graphics processor on the market.

Nvidia's lineup includes:

• GeForce GTX 280M and 260M GPUs for enthusiast notebooks.
• GeForce GTS 160M and 150M GPUs for high-performance, thin notebooks.

Like AMD, Nvidia is pitching its graphics processors as a way to deliver high-def multimedia and better games while saving on battery power. ASUS, Clevo and MSI are showing notebooks based on the new chips.

The big elephant in the room is whether there's much of a market for enthusiast notebooks, which tend to be pricey. With overall PC demand down, it's unclear whether these graphics chips will be big sellers in the early going.