ATI's multi-gpu technology will be a standard feature for all of Radeon X1000-class graphics chips, the company has revealed.

The information came up yesterday by Edward Chou, ATI Asia-Pacific's marketing director.

The ATI spokesman also said that the CrossFire cards will continue to be supportef by ATI's Radeon Xpress 200 chipsets and Intel's 975X chipset. He also added that ATI has no plans to grant its dual-card graphics technology to other chipset makers. Currently, VIA's K8T900 chipset is reportedly capable of hosting CrossFire cards as well as the company's own RapidFire solution.

In response to rival Nvidia recently acquiring ULi Electronics, the maker of southbridges that run with ATI?s northbridge chips, Chou noted that ATI is ramping up production of its own southbridge chips. ULi?s southbridge supply accounts for less than 10% of ATI?s total southbridge shipments, said Chou, adding that losing ULi?s contribution will not affect overall shipment performance.