S3 Graphics today announced the S3 Graphics 4300E graphics processor for embedded markets, bringing the latest in HD video playback, graphics rendering, display connectivity, and power management to developers of gaming, digital signage and other multimedia intensive embedded applications.

This makes a refreshing change from the recent avalanche of NVIDIA beta drivers - S3 has just released its new 7.15.12.0129 driver for anyone running a Chrome 400 series graphics processor on Windows Vista. The driver features full Microsoft WHQL certification, and supports DirectX 10.1. As this is the first non-beta driver for the Chrome 400 series on Vista there are no changes to list, and the only known limitation is that MultiChrome is not supported in this release (S3's version of SLI/CrossFire). You can download the drivers for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the operating system from this page.

S3 Graphics today informed that the S3 Graphics Chrome 430 GT desktop cards, are now available at online retail affiliate GStore. Engineered to be the first S3 graphics solution to deliver full DirectX 10.1 support, the 65nm-built Chrome 430 GT GPU is clocked at 625MHz while the 256MB of GDDR2 memory is set to work at 500MHz. Moreover the card supports the PCI Express 2.0 graphics card specification, plus D-SUB and DVI (with HDCP) connectivity. "S3 Graphics has once again delivered an outstanding product, leveraging our graphics, video, and power savings core competencies," said Dr. Ken Weng, GM for S3 Graphics. "The feature-rich Chrome 430 GT challenges the current discrete graphics landscape, bringing new functionalities previously seen only on high end desktops, bringing new meaning to the terms 'affordable gaming' and 'home entertainment'."

S3 Graphics today announced the S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series discrete graphics processors, designed to provide the latest gaming experience for energy-efficient desktop systems and portable notebook PCs coupled with outstanding HD content playback at the highest performance-per-watt ratio ever.

Unfortunately there aren't many technical specifications, but a couple of pictures of S3 Graphics' new Destination 2 (D2) and Destination 3 (D3) graphics processors have been leaked onto the internet. All that is really known about them at present is that they will support DirectX 10, with D2 (shown on the left of the first image below) being manufactured using a 90nm process and D3 (right of the first image and shown in the second image) manufactured using a 65nm process. Both chips will be manufactured by Fujitsu, with graphics cards using D2 being called Chrome 450 and 460 and cards equipped with D3 called Chrome 430 and 440. Apparently HP has already ordered some of the D2 chips, which are essentially ready to be launched, whilst the D3 chips are still in the process of driver testing.

Taiwan-based graphics chip maker S3 Graphics is planning to launch two new graphics chips, Chrome 460 and 430, by the end of 2007. The Chrome 460 will support DirectX 10 and adopts a 90nm process, while the Chrome 430 will support DirectX 10.1 and adopts a 65nm process. Both chips will be manufactured by Fujitsu and have already entered the design verification test stage. Volume production is expected to start before the end of the year. Chrome 460 and 430 will have maximum core frequencies of 1GHz, support PCI Express 1.0 and have built-in HDMI and HDCP compatibility. The two chips will mainly focus on the mid-range (460) and entry-level (430) markets.