***Story of the Issue Intel 740 3D Accelerator
Intel Announces Intel740 3D Graphics Accelerator Chip
(February 12)
After endless speculation and leaks, the Intel740 has
been announced. It is optimized for the Pentium II
processor and platforms, which use the Intel's
AGPsets. The Intel740 uses what is described as a
HyperPipelined 3-D architecture, which includes
Parallel Data Processing (PDP), and Precise-Pixel
Interpolation (PPI) for improved image quality; and
Direct Memory Execution (DME).
The Intel740 will be available in volume production
for third party graphics vendors and OEM
manufacturers in February 1998, and is priced at
$34.75 in 10,000 unit quantities.
www.intel.com
Real3D Announces Role on Intel740
In spite of the fact that Real 3D played a key role
in the development of the chip not a word was said
about them in the press release. Real 3D released its
own spin on the role they played as summarized below.
Real 3D, a company jointly owned by Lockheed Martin
(80 percent) and Intel (20 percent), co-developed the
Intel740 and provided much of the hardware design,
software engineering, and validation testing for the
new chip.
Real 3D and Intel began co-developing the Intel740 in
mid-1996. Intel selected Real 3D for a variety of
reasons. Real 3D is one of the innovators of 3-D
computer graphics technology, holding almost 40 key
patents in computer image generation and 3-D
graphics.
Real 3D's technology foundation comes from GE
Aerospace, Martin Marietta and Lockheed and is based
on more than 30 years experience developing advanced
combat and space flight simulators. Real 3D is also
the company who has provided Sega with advanced 3-D
graphics boards and chips for Sega arcade games since
1994.
Real 3D's experience, patent portfolio, and knowledge
of the requirements for high-performance graphics led
Intel to partner with Real 3D to develop the
Intel740. In December 1997, Intel purchased a 20
percent minority stake in Real 3D.
Real 3D was responsible for system level definition,
hardware design, and 3-D pipeline simulation. Real 3D
assisted Intel with validation of the Intel740, which
included system design of the 3-D pipeline and
development of the test suites. Real 3D also led the
development of all the driver software for the chip.
Throughout the development process, Intel relied
heavily on Real 3D's knowledge base and intellectual
property related to high-performance graphics
systems.
www.real3d.com
Three companies announced their intentions to supply
cards based on the Intel740.
Real 3D Introduces StarFighter Graphics Accelerator
Board
Real 3D today a new family of 3-D/2-D/video graphics
accelerator boards, the StarFighter, is available in
both accelerated graphics port (AGP) and peripheral
component interface (PCI) configurations. The board
offers integrated 3-D, 2-D, video support, TV, and
DVD features.
APIs supported Direct3D and OpenGL. Other features
include:
-- Perspective-correct texture mapping;
-- BI-linear MIP mapping;
-- Gouraud and specular shading;
-- Alpha blending and fog;
-- Anti-aliasing and dithering;
-- Video scaling;
-- Z-buffering; and
-- Stipple
Real 3D has designed an AGP-to-PCI bridge chip that
interfaces to the Intel740 and converts any existing
PCI system to AGP graphics performance.
StarFighter AGP is available in configurations
ranging from entry-level boards with 4MB local memory
to fully featured performance boards with 8MB memory,
full video, TV in/out and hardware DVD. Pricing for
the StarFighter AGP board starts at $189.00
(suggested retail).
StarFighter PCI is available in configurations
ranging from mid-range boards with 4MB frame buffer
and 8MB local texture to performance boards with 8MB
frame buffer, 16MB local texture, full video, TV
in/out and hardware DVD. Pricing for the StarFighter
PCI board starts at $229.00.
Both the StarFighter AGP and StarFighter PCI will be
available at the end of the first quarter.
To date, Real 3D has signed distribution agreements
with Pioneer Standard Electronics (Cleveland, Ohio),
Forefront Graphics (Toronto, Canada), Parallax
Solutions (Plano, Texas), Performance Graphics Ltd.
(United Kingdom) and The 3D Shop (Norcross, Georgia).
www.real3d.com
STB Announces LIGHTSPEED 740
Based on Intel's new Intel740 graphics chip, the
LIGHTSPEED 740 is designed to provide 3-D, 2-D and
live-action video acceleration to Intel Pentium II
processor-based machines.
Precise Pixel Interpolation means the Intel740
performs interpolation on each individual pixel, with
up to 32 bits of floating points accuracy. The result
is a high level of mip-mapping quality. Parallel Data
Processing executes multiple graphics-enhancing
functions simultaneously instead of the traditional
multipass approach. With Direct Memory Execution,
instead of storing data in the memory on the graphics
card, the Intel740 uses the system's memory to store
and upload large texture map files.
The Intel740 has a 203 MHz RAMDAC to support
resolutions up to 1600 x 1200. The accelerator also
supports the VESA ergonomic standard for flicker-free
monitor performance.
The LIGHTSPEED 740 comes with four megabytes of 100
MHz SGRAM (synchronous graphics RAM) high-performance
memory technology for high-speed onboard processing,
and can be expanded to eight megabytes.
STB also made the following statements.
STB is a leading supplier of graphics accelerators
to the OEM.
STB has been working with Intel since the early
stages of the chip's development to develop a
graphics accelerator based on the Intel740.
STB is currently discussing the Intel740 graphics
chip with several OEM customers.
STB's customer list includes Compaq, Dell, Gateway
2000, IBM and others.
STB is a "silicon-independent" graphics card
manufacturer, utilizing graphic chips from a number
of different silicon suppliers. This approach gives
STB the ability to evaluate all available
technologies and assist its customers in choosing the
technology that best meets the customer's unique
needs. STB then brings that technology to market for
the customer.
STB is the only video card manufacturer with its own
manufacturing facility. This allows STB to adjust its
assembly line so product output coincides with any
unforeseen upswing in demand from its customers.
www.stb.com
Diamond to Support Intel740
Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. announced that it
has selected the Intel Corporation's new Intel740
graphics controller for inclusion in a forthcoming
graphics accelerator subsystem. Diamond's Intel740-
based AGP 2X graphics accelerator will be targeted to
mainstream PC users and is expected to be available
late in the first quarter of 1998.
www.diamondmm.com
MicroDesign Resources Releases an Assessment of the
Intel740
In the February 16 issue of Microprocessor Report,
which is available on the Web at www.MDRonline.com,
analyst Peter N. Glaskowsky discloses his findings of
the chip and the results of the 3D WinBench scores
performed on Intel740. "The new chip is no faster
than today's best 3D accelerator," said Glaskowsky.
"But the 740's superior visual quality earns it
higher overall test scores on 3D WinBench."
Glaskowsky further explained, "The 740 will face
stiff competition from even more advanced 3D engines
this spring, with higher performance and better
visual quality. But the 740 will have at least one
advantage over other chips. It's backed by Intel's
powerful marketing machine. Also disclosed was the
following:
-- The Intel740 sets a new record for a single-chip
2D/3D accelerator on 3D WinBench from Ziff-Davis,
scoring a 691 at 640x480 resolution on a 333-MHz
Pentium II processor. The previous high score was 576
by NVIDIA's RIVA 128. The higher score is due solely
to Intel740's support for a single 3D-quality feature
(MIP-map blending) that is not implemented on the
RIVA 128. Excluding that portion of 3D WinBench, the
RIVA 128 is about 2% faster.
-- Because of that feature and others, such as better
mathematical precision for 3D calculations, the
Intel740 has a significant quality advantage over the
RIVA 128 and most current 3D chips.
-- The Intel740 supports the full set of 3D features
required by today's software, but other 3D chips and
software scheduled to arrive in 2Q98 will produce
even faster, higher quality graphics.
-- The basic design of the Intel740 is relatively
sophisticated and provides a solid foundation for
much faster, more capable graphics chips that are
anticipated to be released 1H99.
www.MDRonline.com/
WAVE Comments
There are many implications of the Intel740 and these
announcements. Our assessment includes the following:
-- Intel will do much to raise the public awareness
of 3D on the PC. Its deep pockets in advertising and
brand name will increase buyer and public awareness
of 3D. This will benefit the 3D industry in hardware,
including its chip competitors, and software.
-- The initial cat fights over benchmarks and quality
will be largely meaningless until the 1998 model year
chips are released from the major players. Waiting in
the wings are Banshee from 3Dfx, new chips from
nVIDIA, more from ATI, an S3 roll out which they
expect will make them more competitive in 1998,
another chip generation from Rendition, a new chip
from Fujitsu and a family of products from NEC.
-- The quoted price of $34.75 is irrelevant. No OEM
will pay this price. All 3D-chip suppliers are under
enormous price pressure and the high end of the
market has slipped from $30 to $25. With the $1,000
PC, companies are being pushed for mass market parts
at the $15 price point.
-- The Intel740’s combination of quality improvements
and large texture availability using AGP will cause
the industry to respond and raise quality levels.
This will only speed the movement to game titles that
run only on accelerators.
The Intel740 announcement is but the first of many
which begins the jockeying to win OEM accounts for Q4
shipments.
Wave Issue 9737 3/16/98 Article 1-01