ATI Technologies Inc., the Markham, Ont.-based maker of video chipsets, has spent a good chunk of the year dealing with allegations of insider trading by its chief executive and founder. But while that's been going on, the boys in the lab have been churning out top-notch products. But don't take my word for it. The uber-geek's site Tom's Hardware Guide just released its year-end reader poll of the best of 2003 and ATI scored big. ATI's All In Wonder Radeon 9800 Pro was selected by the 20,000 hardcore hardware nuts who read Tom's for Best Innovation in Graphics. The ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 was selected for Best Innovation in Mobile Technology. And ATI also walked away with the honour as Best Graphics Card Manufacturer. This kind of broad acceptance by geek community could be one reason why ATI's stock has been one of the best performers on the Toronto Stock Exchange this year. ATI arch-rival Nvidia scored once: The Nforce 2 Ultra won Best Innovation in Chipsets.