CompuServe Messages

Hello everybody, Yes, it is always me spreading rumors and news arround but I just have catched this info and couldn't resist to post it: —- 3Dlabs Graphics Processors to Bring Workstation Class 3D Graphics to the PC GLiNT 300SX and GLiNT 300TX conform to industry standard OpenGL 3D API SAN JOSE, CALIF. – APRIL 18, 1994. 3Dlabs Inc Ltd (3Dlabs) today announced details of its forthcoming GLiNT(tm) family of graphics processors. The GLiNT 300SX and GLiNT 300TX are the first 3D processor chips to implement the complete pixel processing layers of a 3D software standard – OpenGL(tm). OpenGL was originally developed by Silicon Graphics and is an open API supported by industry leaders such as IBM, Digital Equipment, Intel and Intergraph. The next release of Windows NT and future versions of Windows from Microsoft will include OpenGL as the standard 3D API. The first GLiNT chips pack the equivalent of a high-end Silicon Graphics Indigo graphics board-set onto a single chip – for less than the cost of the VRAM framebuffer memory. The GLiNT chips provide complete 24-bit 2D and 3D acceleration, on-chip PCI interface, and LUT-DAC control, making a complete graphics subsystem possible with minimal chip count. "Both the GLiNT 300SX and 300TX are extremely advanced in design. They use 1 million transistors and run at the equivalent of 2.5 Giga Operations per second" said Osman Kent, President and CEO at 3Dlabs. "In comparison a typical VGA chip uses 50K transistors, and GLiNT will render 3D graphics orders of magnitude faster than the latest RISC chips." 3Dlabs' single chip solutions enable board and system manufacturers to lower the cost, and dramatically increase the performance of their 3D products for applications such as CAD, Multimedia, Simulation, Virtual Reality, Interactive TV and Games. 3Dlabs also provides manufacturers with reference board designs, manufacturing kits, and optimized drivers for Win32, X11 and OpenGL, as well as application drivers such as AutoCAD and Microstation. "Because the GLiNT processors can drive varying amounts of framebuffer and off-screen memory, board and system manufacturers can rapidly develop products with different ratios of price, performance and functionality" said Kent. The GLiNT family of 3D processors implements all the OpenGL rendering operations in silicon, including Gouraud shading, depth buffering, texture-mapping, anti-aliasing and alpha blending. As OpenGL defines almost every possible manipulation and function for 3D pixels, GLiNT also provides excellent performance for 3D APIs such as PEXlib, XGL and HOOPS. "Other 3D chips have suffered from a lack of software" said Neil Trevett, Vice President of Marketing at 3Dlabs. "The GLiNT chips however will benefit from the momentum of OpenGL as we provide software to board manufacturers, enabling them to provide high value acceleration for the growing number of OpenGL applications". The pin-compatible GLiNT 300SX and GLiNT 300TX provide 300K shaded, Z-buffered, anti-aliased, translucent polygons per second. Both chips also have texture mapping acceleration, with the 300TX providing the highest texturing performance. A single board design can accommodate either GLiNT chip. 3Dlabs is an worldwide OEM supplier of chips, software and technology for 3D graphics. The company's products enable board and system manufacturers to integrate 3D capabilities into their products. The company was originally formed in 1984, and as Du Pont Pixel established a reputation as a leading centre of excellence for 3D graphics by bringing Silicon Graphics levels of performance and functionality to Sun workstations. 3Dlabs was founded in April 1994 and is privately owned. 3Dlabs Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. Contacts Neil Trevett Jonathan Hirshon Vice President of Marketing Business Unit Director 3Dlabs Inc. The Benjamin Group Inc. Phone: (408) 436-3456 Phone: (408) 559-6090 Email: neil.trevett@3dlabs.com Email: jonathanh@eworld.com Note to editors: the use of upper and lower case in 3Dlabs and GLiNT is deliberate and consistent. Your use of these styles is appreciated. 3Dlabs and GLiNT are trademarks of 3Dlabs Inc Ltd. OpenGL is a trademark of Silicon Graphics Inc. All other trademarks are acknowledged. ——————— Are we going to see this soon? Anyone has more news about upcoming boards using this chipset? Here are my views about this topic: If this company really mantain the claims about cost and software development kits, I am seeing these boards in every box of everyone here in the forum 🙂 Sounds like heaven. Now to wait for the real thing and some good 3D software (read 3ds 🙂 to run on it. And, now that we are on it, could anyone in Adesk pass this suggestion to the big heads there (again?): why not make a public and simple quick fast document announcing Adesk _intentions_ of supporting platforms for upcoming versions of its products? I mean, you made it with the SGI 3DS renderer, why don't make a list of autodesk's "wishes" about future platform support, like position towards PowerPC, Alpha, etc…? Could this be dangerous for Autodesk economic future? I know that this subject have been touched a few times here, but note that it is just a petition, a wish, a dream cloud in a clear sunny spanish afternoon <g> Thaaanks. ana /krazy images