***Chips
NVIDIA Sets 3D Performance level with RIVA 128ZX
Processor
(February 23)
NVIDIA Corporation announced the RIVA 128ZX
processor. The RIVA 128ZX processor offers a 3D
processing capability with a Ziff Davis 3D WinBench
98 score of 781, extended resolution and color depth,
AGP 2X support, as well as high-performance 2D, VGA
and digital video capabilities.
RIVA 128ZX
THE RIVA 128ZX is the second in the family of
integrated products targeting the performance segment
of the PC graphics market. The RIVA 128ZX 3D
processor features an 8MB frame buffer (8 or 16Mbit
SGRAM) and AGP 2X to support the storage of high-
quality 3D textures and a 250MHz RAMDAC, to drive
high resolutions, color depths and ergonomic refresh
rates, up to 1600x1200x32bpp @ 85Hz. The RIVA 128ZX
integrates advanced video processing technologies
necessary to accelerate multimedia applications.
Technologies such as scatter-gather DMA, color format
conversion, scaling and filtering, and TV flicker-
filtering enhance the playback of high-quality
digital video. The RIVA 128ZX processor is optimized
for both Direct3D and OpenGL. Like its predecessor,
the RIVA 128ZX utilizes a 128-bit graphics pipeline
to the frame buffer interface to support the
computational throughput required for today’s
graphically intense applications.
The RIVA 128ZX processor will be priced at $32.00 US,
in 10,000 unit quantities, and will be in production
in the second quarter of 1998.
www.nvidia.com
3Dlabs Samples GLINT GMX Graphics
(February 3)
3Dlabs, Inc. announced it is sampling the new GLINT
GMX workstation graphics processor family, with
volume shipment expected during the first quarter of
1998. The GLINT GMX 1000 and GLINT GMX 2000 chipsets
incorporate GLINT Gamma a single chip, off-the-shelf
OpenGL geometry and lighting processor. GLINT GMX is
the first merchant workstation graphics processor to
combine the bandwidth of AGP with hardwired geometry
and lighting acceleration to significantly boost
application performance under Microsoft Windows NT.
GLINT GMX integrates 3D geometry and lighting
acceleration, scaleable 2D and 3D rasterization
processing and SVGA functionality into a seamless,
workstation graphics solution. The GLINT GMX 1000
processes up to 3 million, 10 pixel, 3D vectors per
second, 3.3 million polygons per second (25 pixel,
50% backface removed) and renders up to 33 million
mip-mapped pixels per second. The GLINT GMX 2000
scales the rasterization performance to 66 million
mip-mapped pixels per second. GLINT GMX supports
high-resolution displays up to 2Kx2K at true color,
seamless HDTV display, large texture memories up to
96Mbytes, and deep 32-bit color and Z-buffers. Both
chipsets also accelerate 100% of OpenGL 1.1 geometry,
lighting and rasterization operations in silicon -
including support for 16 light sources, Gouraud
shading, per-pixel texture mip-mapping, tri-linear
texture filtering, anti-aliasing, multi-plane
stenciling and alpha blending with destination alpha
support. GLINT GMX-based boards are expected to
deliver class leading 3D performance with board
prices starting at around $2,000.
A number of major manufacturers, including
AccelGraphics, Diamond, ELSA, Leadtek, NeTpower,
Omnicomp and Symmetric, an STB company, have
announced plans to use GLINT GMX in future products.
An AGP GLINT GMX 2000 delivers a Viewperf CDRS-03
score of over 85 on a 300MHz Pentium II. GLINT GMX
1000 and GLINT GMX 2000 have list prices of $638 and
$764, respectively, for quantities of 10K per annum.
Competitive Benchmarks
According to 3Dlabs when running the Pro/ENGINEER
GBench graphics benchmark, GLINT GMX 2000 on AGP
delivers a time of 65 seconds, which is more than
twice as fast as the nearest competitors. For
example, the Mitsubishi 3Dpro chipset, the Intergraph
Intense 3D Pro 2200 and the Dynamic Pictures Oxygen
402 deliver times of 149, 156 and 162 seconds
respectively.
The AGP version of GLINT GMX 2000 delivers benchmark
figures that are among the fastest ever measured on
Windows NT, including Viewperf scores of 9.99 for the
DRV dataset, 15.21 for the DX dataset, 18.95 for the
AWadvs dataset and 1.74 for the Lightscape dataset.
GLINT GMX 2000's Viewperf CDRS-03 score of 85.9 also
compares favorably to leading UNIX platform scores,
including a score of 74 for the new Sun Ultra 10
Elite3D m3, and 47.31 for the Hewlett Packard HP
B180L VISUALIZE fx2.
A typical Pentium II-based system with an AGP GMX
2000-based board is estimated to deliver a price-
performance advantage of approximately two times and
four times compared to those two systems,
respectively.
All the above Windows NT benchmarks were measured on
a Pentium II running at 300MHz, with AGP and 64Mbytes
of memory. More details about these and other
benchmarks, and comparisons of GLINT GMX 2000 against
additional competitive processors can be found at
3Dlabs' web site.
www.3dlabs.com
ATI Announced Rage Chip for <$1,000 PCs
ATI announced a third RAGE graphics chip in with the
same pin-out; this one is designed for low-price
business systems. The new RAGE IIC AGP graphics
controller can bring 2D, 3D & video acceleration to
cost-sensitive (even sub-$1000) AGP corporate
systems. Pin compatibility means manufacturers can
design just one motherboard & populate it with the
RAGE IIC AGP, RAGE PRO AGP 1X or RAGE PRO AGP 2X - to
address a particular market & price segment.
www.atitech.com
3Dlabs Ships Over 1 Million Permedia 2 Chips
(February 10)
3Dlabs, Inc. announced that it has shipped over one
million PERMEDIA 2 graphics processors into the PC
market since volume shipments began in September
1997. PERMEDIA 2 is a integrated 2D/3D device with
AGP which is featured in leading computer systems,
including selected Pentium II models from Acer,
Compaq, Dell, Digital, Gateway, Hitachi, IBM, Micron
and NEC, as well as in add-in board products from
AccelGraphics, Creative Labs, Diamond, ELSA,
Hercules, Leadtek and STB.
www.3dlabs.com
3Dlabs and SGS-Thomson Enter Strategic Supply
Relationship
(February 10)
3Dlabs Inc., Ltd. announced that it has entered into
a strategic supply relationship with SGS-Thomson as
an alternative fab for PERMEDIA 2.Under the terms of
this relationship, SGS-Thomson will manufacture a pin
compatible version of PERMEDIA 2 to be sold by
3Dlabs. The SGS-Thomson manufactured PERMEDIA 2
started sampling to selected 3Dlabs' customers in
December 1997 and full production is expected during
early March 1998.
3Dlabs intends to supply PERMEDIA 2 parts
manufactured by both SGS-Thomson and Texas
Instruments in the marketplace according to customer
needs.
www.3dlabs.com
www.st.com
Wave Issue 9737 3/16/98 Article 4-01