The Ferret first reported rumours about a new Matrox video graphics card on the 12th March and now it looks as though the launch is imminent – on the 14th in fact. Of course the Internet has got there ahead of time and already details have leaked out to enthusiast hardware sites. The best – if quite techy – report is here on Digit-Life.com where the company’s new Parhelia 512 video chip is dissected at length, along with a detailed look at some of new technologies that this card will be introducing to the high end gaming/graphics card world.

Judging by the specs, it certainly looks like a monster – 80 million transistors would you believe, and at 256 MB, more RAM onboard than in most PCs – although the article points out that it may not actually run as fast as it looks on paper. Any performance advantage is also almost certain to be eclipsed within a very short space of time by the new offerings from Nvidia. However one feature is sure to cause a stir everywhere – surround gaming.

Yep, the new card will feature the ability to support up to three monitors simultaneously, and as the graphic shows, this could make for some fun 180 degree game playing. Provided, of course, you have the money and space to keep up. The cards are expected to retail for the usual high end prices (i.e. don’t expect change out of $400.00 for the best) but no word on availability until the 14th. [Via slashdot.com]]

Update: the company apparently hopes to have boards on sale with the new chip by July at or around the $400.00 mark as suggested, but there is no definite confirmation yet.