MicroStar International (MSI), one of the world’s largest makers of graphics cards, mainboards and other computer components, has quietly started to ship its first graphics card with high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connector. The board is also the first widely available Nvidia GeForce-based product with the new interface.

MSI NX76000GT Diamond Plus graphics card is currently sold for ¥29 780 ($260) at least at one of the computer component stores in Tokyo, Japan, reports Akiba PC Hotline web-site. The board features dual-link DVI, HDMI as well as TV-Out connectors and uses a special chip to combine video and audio signals. The product carries 256MB of GDDR3 memory clocked at 1400MHz, while the graphics chip, according to Nvidia Corp.’s recommendations, operates at 560MHz.

It is interesting to note that the new product from MSI uses normal size print-circuit board (PCB), as usually graphics cards with HDMI are required for home theater personal computers (HTPCs), which come in small cases and require low-profile graphics cards.

The NX7600 GT Diamond Plus board is the first Nvidia GeForce-powered graphics card with HDMI available commercially. Previously Sony offered a GeForce 6200-based graphics card with HDMI along with its proprietary HTPC systems. Ironically, while the product is already available, MSI’s web-site contains no information about it.

High definition multimedia interface (HDMI) is an interface in consumer electronics that can carry both uncompressed high-definition (HD) video (up to 1920x1080 progressive scan, 24-bit) and uncompressed 8-channel audio in all HD formats. While initially HDMI was only available on consumer electronics, recently a number of graphics cards makers, including GeCube, PowerColor, Sapphire Technology and some others, introduced add-in graphics boards for personal computers, which have HDMI connector.