The R200 is the second generation of GPUs used in Radeon graphics cards and developed by ATI Technologies. This GPU features 3D acceleration based upon Microsoft Direct3D 8.1 and OpenGL 1.3, a major improvement in features and performance compared to the preceding Radeon R100 design (Radeon 7000/7200/7500). The GPU also includes 2D GUI acceleration, video acceleration, and multiple display outputs. "R200" refers to the development codename of the initially released GPU of the generation, which was released as the Radeon 8500 and Radeon 8500LE/9100. It is the basis for a variety of other succeeding products, including the higher-performance refresh R250 (Radeon 8500XT) that was ending up cancelled, and the lower-cost derivatives RV250 (Radeon 9000) and RV280 (Radeon 9200/9250).
ATI had re-branded its products in 2001, intending the 7xxx series to indicate DirectX 7.0 capabilities, 8xxx for DirectX 8.1, and so on. However, in naming the Radeon 9000/9100/9200/9250, which only had DirectX 8.1 rendering features, ATI advertised them as "DirectX 9.0 compatible" while the truly DirectX 9.0-spec Radeon 9700 was "DirectX 9.0 compliant".
