For the past 2 generations of NVIDIA cards we have done manufacturer comparisons. For both the GeForce 256 as well as the GeForce 2 GTS. Today we bring you coverage of the next graphics chipset lineup from NVIDIA, the GeForce 3.
The GeForce 3 will most likely boast the same performance with current games as the GeForce 2, but it is the technology behind it that will make upcoming games be awesome. It may take a while, but the upcoming games will make full use of DirectX 8 as well as the new technologies that are featured in the GeForce 3. Interested in finding out more about these new technologies, and what really makes the GeForce 3 what it is? Here's a list of a few articles that were posted and explain the new card:
So if you aren't a regular reader of our infamous manufacturer comparisons, then let me explain how this article works. When NVIDIA announces a new chip, there is usually a ton of hype behind it. We all want to know what the new features will be, how fast it is, what the specs are, and who's making them.
So let's start off with the most important company, why NVIDIA of course. Here's the specs from NVIDIA themselves, as well as the official press release which was announced from the IDF (Intel Developers Forum) conference in San Jose
NVIDIA's stock GeForce3 card.
NVIDIA GeForce 3 Press Release & Specs
Press Release:
NVIDIA Introduces GeForce3 for the PC
Industry's Most Advanced Processor Ever is the Core of Both DirectX 8.0 and Xbox Game Console
INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM - SAN JOSE, CA - February 27, 2001 - Just 5 days after the original announcement for the Macintosh platform, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) announced today the GeForce3TM GPU (graphics processing unit) for the PC. The GeForce3 GPU is based on a radical new graphics architecture that will offer breakthrough graphics to multiple markets, including the desktop PC and the Macintosh® platforms. This groundbreaking GPU includes the same core technology as NVIDIA's highly anticipated Xbox GPU (XGPU) for Microsoft's XboxTM game console.
"Over the next several years we will create dramatic advances in 3D technology," stated Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of NVIDIA. "Rich 3D graphics are the essence of a variety of digital appliances, from workstations to PCs to game consoles, like Microsoft's Xbox. The GeForce3 GPU represents a quantum leap forward in computer graphics and will redefine these platforms."
GeForce3's nfiniteFX™ engine includes hardware support for the vertex and pixel shading technology recently licensed to Microsoft for DirectX® 8. This breakthrough technology will dramatically change the visual quality and performance of Microsoft-based PC and console platforms.
"The short answer is that the GeForce3 is fantastic," said John Carmack, founder and chief programmer at id Software, Inc. "I haven't had such an impression of raising the performance bar since the Voodoo 2 came out, and there are a ton of new features for programmers to play with. Graphics programmers should run out and get one at the earliest possible time."
"Electronic Arts continues to be impressed by NVIDIA's leadership in the computer graphics industry," said Don Mattrick, president of EA Worldwide Studio Operations. "With the GeForce3 and NVIDIA's software development kit to unlock it, EA will continue to set the standard for stunning graphics in games."
NVIDIA's nfiniteFX Engine:
The GeForce3 GPU's nfiniteFX engine gives developers the ability to program a virtually infinite number of special effects and custom looks. Instead of every developer choosing from the same hard-coded palette of capabilities and ending up with a generic look and feel, application developers can specify personalized combinations of graphics operations and create an unlimited list of their own effects. Two architectural advancements enable the nfiniteFX engine's programmability and its multitude of effects: Vertex Shaders and Pixel Shaders.
Vertex Shaders inject personality into characters and environments. The vertex processing capabilities allow characters to move and show facial emotion, materials to stretch, and the scene to come alive. By customizing the skinning and motion, developers can create an appropriate personality, intensifying the impact of the visualization or animation.
Pixel Shaders create ambiance with materials and surfaces that mimic reality. Amazingly realistic material effects replace the artificial, computerized look with high-impact organic surfaces. Characters now have facial hair and blemishes, golf balls have dimples, a red chair gains a subtle leather look, and wood exhibits texture and grain. By altering the lighting and surface effects, artists are able to manipulate colors, textures, or shapes and generate complex, realistic scenes.
Exciting new PCs equipped with GeForce3 will be available next month.
True Reflective Bump Mapping (Z-correct Bump Mapping, Phong-style Lighting effects on Bump Maps with Reflections )
Surface Engine For High-oder surfaces and patches
Programable Vertex Shader
Programable Pixel Shader
HRAA(High Resolution Antialiasing)
Integrated Hardware Transform Engine
Integrated Hardware Lighting Engine
DirectX and S3TC Texture Compression
Dual Cube Environment Mapping Capability
Hardware Accelerated real-time shadows
Flash file ripped from NVIDIA.com announcing the GeForce3 for a Mac:
Hercules 3D Prophet III
Fast Stats:
Product Name: Hercules 3D Prophet III Availability: Available Now Price: $529.99 USD New Price: $429.99 USD
Press Release:
BEHOLD THE POWER!
3D Prophet III - A state of the art fragging device and an ultra-realistic interactive 3D animation generator
MONTREAL, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2001 - Hercules is proud to unveil today a major milestone for hardcore gamers - the release of 3D Prophet III. This latest graphic card from Hercules offers the most powerful and most fully featured graphics processor - NVIDIA's GeForce3™. Hercules uses its expertise to push the new chipset architecture to its highest level. This new performance monster gives the most demanding gamers the opportunity to take advantage of professional graphics rendering.
A reference for new API and game enhancements
"3D Prophet III illustrates Hercules' strategy of always offering the best technology to match gamers expectations. By choosing NVIDIA's new generation GeForce3 for our high-end card, we want to offer hardcore gamers the reference processor for new API and game enhancements," says Claude Guillemot, President of Hercules. "Our 3D Prophet III is a state of the art fragging device with the first fully programmable GPU providing full hardware optimization for new interactive environments and highly complex 3D animations."
Optimal fluidity of photo-realistic 3D characters and graphics-heavy scenes
3D Prophet III's tremendous performance levels result from combining the most advanced GPU architecture with the strongest chipset and Lightspeed Memory Architecture™, based on 64MB DDR RAM operating at 460MHz. 800 Billion operations/sec generate blazingly fast frame rates during game play, particularly in the highest resolutions. 3D Prophet III's highly innovative programmable nFinite-FX™ Vertex and Pixel Shading engine support DirectX 8's new generation of real-time animated texturing and geometric effects hardware. GeForce3's new features enable special effects to be processed in hardware by the GPU, offering an unprecedented boost in rendering quality and 3D frame rate, fully accelerating OpenGL 1.2 and DirectX8. 3D models and 3D environments have never been more crisp, vibrant and highly detailed in real-time gaming, allowing such highly complex geometry as reflective bump mapped objects, natural character skinning and new advanced transform and lighting features to truly come to life.
Hercules superior design
Hercules optimized the board design to push its performance ahead of existing solutions, and improved the stability of its product by incorporating a customized cooling solution. Through Hercules 3D Tweaker 2.0 application, gamers can tweak the graphic card's settings according to their needs for frenzied gaming sessions. 3D Prophet III also offers users the opportunity to experience DVD movies on their PC and TV with PowerDVD™3.0, providing them with silky smooth DVD playback on NTSC and Pal TV sets from 640X480 to 1024x768 (HDTV-like) resolutions, enhanced by the GPU's motion compensation engine. 3D Prophet III's DVI is able to output to digital flat panel monitors up to resolutions of 1600x1200.
Price and availability
3D Prophet III will be available in March for $ 529.99 (USD).
Specs:
System Requirements
Pentium® II / AMD K6® and higher or compatible
Available AGP slot
64MB RAM
10MB hard disk space (More to install games)
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
Microsoft Windows® 95 OSR2, Windows 98 and higher
Main
Product Name
3D Prophet 3
Chipset
Nvidia GeForce3
RAMDAC (MHz)
350
Speed of core (MHz) [ Guillemot ]
200
Flavours Available
AGP
Supported API(s)
Open GL 1.2 + DirectX 8
DVC Support
Yes
TwinView Support
No
Memory
Amount of RAM (MB)
64
Type of RAM
DDR SDRAM
Speed of RAM (Mhz)
460
Speed of RAM (GB/sec)
4.0
Bandwidth
7.36
Video Out
CRT Resolutions/Maximum Refresh Rates
yes
640x480
240
800x600
240
1024x768
200
1152x864
170
1280x1024
150
1600x1200
100
1920x1440
75
2048x1536
60
TV-Out (Svideo)
yes
TV-Out (Composite)
yes
TV-Out Max Res. (NTSC)
640X480
TV-Out Max Res. (PAL)
800X600
DVI
yes
DVI Max Res.
1600X1200
HDTV-Out
no
HDTV-Out: Max Res.
no
Video In
Svideo
no
Composite
no
Driver (On Installation CD)
Windows 95/98
Yes
Windows NT
Yes
Windows 2000
Yes
Linux
No
Beos
No
Multimedia:
Flash file ripped from Hercules.com announcing their Prophet III card:
Hercules was the first company to actually announce their GeForce3 card officially, in fact they sooped up the release quite a bit using flash animations about a week before the card was ready to be announced. The animation said that there was something new coming that will blow everybody away, and it was replaced by the above flash animation.
Looking at the picture of the card, it seems like there may be heatsinks for the memory. We'll have to make sure of this when there are higher resolution shots. As for other features, the card will have a DVI connection, finally we are starting to see this become a standard. The card also has TV-Out which is a nice addition. I was a little upset to see it clocked at the same speed as the stock NVIDIA card, especially from Hercules, who is usually known as having the faster of the cards.
Update: 3/1/01 We got a chance to look at some high res shots of the board, and they do feature heatsinks for the memory. So this is now a confirmed feature.
Update: 5/18/01 The new pricing makes the card $429.99 which still makes it an expensive card, but much better!
MSI announces its StarForce 822 graphics accelerator card en par with nVIDIA's launch of its GeForce 3graphics processor. As the latest member of our award-winning StarForce family, StarForce 822 is based on the GeForce 3 graphics processor, the new breakthrough GPU from nVIDIA. Combining with the latest nFiniteFX Engine / Lightspeed Memory Architecture technology, the StarForce 822 will sure to bring you the latest features available in 3D graphics technology.
Featuring the new GeForce3 processor, StarForce 822 provides all the best technical characteristics including:
Graphic Architecture - 256-bit engine
Processor speed - 200MHz
Memory Bus - 64-MB DDR SDRAM, the fastest in the world; 460 MHz effective memory cycle
Bus-System - AGP 4X
Texel Rate - 7.4 GB/Second
Triangle Rate - 57M/Second
Operating Systems - Supports Windows 9X, 2000, Me, and NT.
On top of its pure performance and breathtaking speed, MSI's StarForce 822 graphics card also includes the MSI 3D TooL software, adding more features to the already powerful card. The software includes:
MSI DVD: MSI provides this unique and customized DVD playback software, ensuring easy DVD application as well as allowing the users to enjoy DVD movie playbacks.
MSI 3D!Turbo 2000:
- Screen: This function provides a powerful and user-friendly interface, and automatically detects DDC2B supported video mode. Its protection feature allows the current setting to return to the previous one if not functioning in 10 seconds.
- Overclocking: The "Control" function allows users to adjust memory frequency, meeting the demand for higher working frequency environment.
- Multi-desktop: The eight desktop selections allow users to group icons of similar function workgroups together, simplifying desktop management.
Specs
Specs
Supports 64MB DDR SDRAM
Specification
256-bit Graphics Architecture
AGP 4X
200 MHz Core Clock
460 MHz Core Clock
57 Million Transistors
800 Billion Operations per Second
3.2 Billion Samples per Second FSAA Fill Rate
76 GFLOPS
7.4 GB/sec memory bandwidth
TV-Out, TV-In & DVI Support (Optional)
Supports Windows 9x, 2000, ME, NT, etc.
General Features
Breakthrough nFinite-FX Engine V Fully Programmable for Jaw-dropping Realism
First to Off High Resolution, High Frame Rate, Full-scene Anti-aliasing (FSAA)
Xbox Architecture
nFinite FX Engine V Creates an Infinite Number of Special Effects that Bring 3D Characters and Environments to Life
Lightspeed Memory Architecture - Generates the Power Behind the Ge-Force 3 GPU, Delivering Earthshaking Performance at all Resolutions
Minimum System Requirements
Intel Pentium II, III, 4, Celeron, AMD-K6, K6-2, K6-III, Athlon or Other Compatible CPUs with AGP Slots
This looks like pretty much a stock GeForce3 card, doesn't look to have a DVI connection, lets hope it at least lowers the price. As with older MSI cards, it comes with the 3D!Turbo 2000 software, which we liked, and allows you to do some cool modifications.
Asus V8200
Fast Stats:
Product Name: Asus V8200 Availability: Beginning Of April Price: $549 & $598 for deluxe version
Press Release:
ASUS ANNOUNCES V8200 SERIES NVIDIA GeForce3TM Graphics Card
Taipei, Taiwan, March 5, 2001 - ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. (TSE:2357) today announced its next generation graphics card - ASUS V8200 series. The new graphics card is powered with the world's first programmable nFiniteFXTM graphics processor unit (GPU) - NVIDIA® GeForce3. Based on the successful experience of ASUS's award-winning V6600/6800, V7100 and V7700, ASUS's new V8200 series completely exhibits the power of NVIDIA's GeForce3 GPU and superior 460MHz Double Data Rate frame buffer. This card undisputedly stands at the forefront of graphics technologies and brings users unbelievable 3D visual experiences like never before!
Most Sophisticated Visual Realism
ASUS V8200 series is powered by the most advanced graphics processing unit on earth - the fully programmable nFiniteFXTM engine, which integrates a complete instruction set enabling dynamic reconfiguration, fully exposed registers for vertex and pixel shading, as well as custom lighting, transform and effects programs. With this breakthrough architecture, ASUS V8200 series easily surpasses all previous graphics cards by creating an infinite number of pixel-level special effects that bring jaw-dropping realism.
Breakthrough High-Speed Excitement
Featuring earth-shattering performance of 3.2 billion samples per second FSAA fill rate, 76 GigaFLOPS, 800 billion operations per second, and 7.4GB/sec effective memory bandwidth. The ASUS V8200 series leverages new powerful designs such as Lightspeed Memory ArchitectureTM and RenderScale Technology, and brings users supreme speed transitions and high refresh rates.
The Best 3D Performance and Safety
In order to guarantee the most protection and stability for your valuable system while enjoying this powerful graphics card, the ASUS V8200 series also features ASUS's innovative SmartDoctorTM technologies including Fan RPM Monitoring, AGP Power Level Monitoring, SmartCooling technology, OverHeat Protection, and Dynamic OverClocking.
Availability and Pricing
The ASUS V8200 Pure and V8200 Deluxe (with TV-out, video-input, video editing, and 3D VR glasses) will be shipping in the beginning of April, retailing for USD549 and USD598 respectively. Price and release date are subject to change.
Thanks to Digit-Life, we picked up quite a few pictures and information on the Asus flavor of the GeForce3 card. Note that the pictures were an engineering sample, and not retail. As you can see, Asus will have a normal version, as well as a deluxe version. The differences? We know that the regular version will sport 4 ns memory, and the deluxe 3.8 ns memory. The deluxe looks like a pretty full-featured card, we await the price differential. We would have liked to see some memory heatsinks and higher clock speed on at least the deluxe version.
Update: 3/22/01 According to the Asus press release, the card will be available in the beginning of April. This means it will be out soon. That also means that everything else should be in stores generally around the same time. We also find out it will $549 for the regular version and $598 for the deluxe. Is it worth the $50 upgrade? Hey, you're spending $550, might as well just get the better version :)
Update: 5/18/01 Asus has released information on their website on the deluxe version. It does bundle with their VR glasses. The Smart Doctor software also looks very good. Not only this, but it ALSO includes Ulead VideoStudio, as well as Drakan, Rollcage, and 12 other games. We're still not sure of the final price after NVIDIA made the cut backs.
ELSA Delivers ”GLADIAC 920”, the breakthrough of 3D Graphics Power with NVIDIA GeForce3
ELSA, one of the world’s leading vendors of solutions for Internet access and computer graphics, sets new standards for speed and quality among high-end 3D consumer graphics boards by delivering ELSA GLADIAC 920 based on NVIDIA GeForce 3 chip, the first programmable graphics processor in the world. The ELSA GLADIAC 920 goes beyond any imaginations and expectations you have about 3D graphics. Its revolutionary nFinite FX engine enables pixel-precise programming of realistic 3D effects such as volumetric and particle-based light, fog, smoke and explosion effects, textured material surfaces through reflective bump mapping and fantastically animated water surfaces. Hyper-fast Lightspeed Memory Architecture and 64 MB DDR SDRAM with 3.8ns access time and a 460-MHz effective memory clock provide never seen before 3D performance with 3.2 gigatexels per second. For complex scenes, the ELSA GLADIAC 920 provides up to 7 times more performance and power than GeForce2 Ultra graphics cards. Thanks to full-scene anti-aliasing (DSAA), pixel edges are finally a thing of the past. And the TV-out connection lets you experience this realistic world on your TV set as well. The ELSA GLADIAC 920 is the first and only choice for sophisticated 3D gamers who don’t accept any compromises.
The package contains the optimized ELSA drivers, bonus game “Giants” as full version, optimized for the ELSA GLADIAC 920 to support the new GeForce3 processor effects. It also includes ELSAmovie 2000 top software DVD player. Certainly, GLADIAC 920 will support 3D shutter glasses with ELSA 6-year warranty to ensure graphics quality.
Background
ELSA is one of the leading providers of Internet access and computer graphics solutions for the PC. Its product range includes modems, ISDN adapters, ISDN and DSL routers, videoconferencing systems, graphics boards and monitors. ELSA was founded in 1980 and today has more than 700 employees. In addition to its headquarters in Aachen, Germany, it also maintains subsidiaries in San José (USA), Taipei (Taiwan) and Tokyo (Japan) as well as in London (UK), Paris (France), Milan (Italy) and Brussels (Belgium). Since June 1998, ELSA AG shares are traded on the "Neuer Markt" trading segment (WKN 507 360) of the Frankfurt stock exchange in Germany.
256 bit 2D acceleration, optimized
for 32, 24, 16, 15, and 8-bit color depth,
hardware cursor in TrueColor, multi buffering (double,
triple and quadruple for fluid movements and video playback)
3D features
256-bit engine with HyperTexel
architecture, optimized acceleration for Direct3D and
OpenGL API, complete DirectX8 support, 32-bit Z and
stencil buffer, single-pass multi texturing, full-scene
anti-aliasing, high-quality texture filtering, including
anisotropic; advanced per-pixel texturing for perspective
correction, fog and depth cueing, texture compression
nFinite FX™ engine
fully programmable effect processor
for realistic 3D representation, e.g. volumetric fog,
particle effects, reflective bump mapping and
animated water
HDTV- und DVD-Playback
Extended motion compensation
for full screen video playback in all DVD and HDTV resolutions,
video acceleration for MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and Indeo
TV-out (optional)
Connection for S video and Composite/FBAS
(with included adapter);
PAL (max. 800 x 600 pixels), NTSC (max. 640 x 480 pixels)
Standards
DPMS, DDC2B, plug&play
Connectors
Monitor: VGA-D-Shell (15 pin),
1 x video-out (S-video connection, FBAS via the included
adapter)
Dimensions
173 x 108 mm (ATX format, plus
mounting bracket)
Resolution
refresh
rates with
256 colors (8 bit)
65K colors (16 bit)
16,7 million colors (32 bit)
2048 x 1536
60– 75
60– 75
60– 75
1900 x 1440
60– 85
60– 85
60– 85
1600 x 1200
60–120
60–120
60–100
1280 x 1024
60–170
60–170
60–150
1024 x 768
60–200
60–200
60–200
800 x 600
60–200
60–200
60–200
640 x 480
60–200
60–200
60–200
The values specified here are
maximum values which, under some operating conditions,
may not always be achieved. Other graphics modes are
easily configured in Windows®.
Not much to go with here, we'll be getting more information on this card at a later time. Looks like there will be memory heatsinks and TV-out, otherwise looks pretty much stock.
Update: 3/1/01 We found out that an enhanced version of Giants will be bundled with this card.
Update: 3/22/01 2 more nice features that are noted in the press release is that it will come with Elsa's DVD software and a whopping 6 year warrenty. We were unhappy to see that their 3D shutter glasses will not be bundled with the card.
Update: 5/18/01 We are still waiting for Elsa to release product prices for US. Somebody from our forums states that they got one for 300 pounds, while the Asus board costs 400 pounds and Hercules went for 440 pounds.
Leadtek WinFast GeForce3 TD
Fast Stats:
Product Name: Leadtek WinFast GeForce3 TD Availability: Available Now Price: $385
Press Release:
Leadtek Research Inc. Unveils NVIDIA GeForce3(tm) GPU - based Graphics Accelerator
WinFast GeForce3 TD
FREMONT, CA (March, 26th, 2001) - LEADTEK Research Inc., a worldwide & leading engineering company designing and manufacturing high-end 3D graphics accelerators for PCs, announced today its new WinFast GeForce3 Graphics Card. This latest graphics card released by Leadtek Research Inc. employs the new NVIDIA GeForce3 processing unit (GPU) with the latest nFiniteFX(tm) engine, High Resolution Anitaliasing (HRAA) and the Lightspeed Memory Architecture (tm). The WinFast GeForce3 TD gives the user unprecedented realism in display and rendering performance, moving into a class of its own in terms of graphics performance through hardware design.
"Combining the revolutionary design of the NVIDIA GeForce3 technology, and Leadtek's finest workmanship and graphics card design knowledge, the performance of the new WinFast GeForce3 TD is a true testament to the combined commitment to excellence of both companies." said K. S. Lu, CEO of Leadtek Research Inc.
Unrivaled Core Structure the WinFast GeForce3 TD, based on NVIDIA’s new GeForce3 GPU, the “Infinite Effects GPU”, is the ultimate hardware graphics solution for today’s hardcore gamer, and much more besides. The latest release from NVIDIA combined with 64MB DDR memory the GPU can generate 3.2 Billion Samples/sec HRAA fill rate. The WinFast GeForce3 TD will bring users to a new level of 3D graphics experience.
The NVIDIA GeForce3 GPU, with its nFiniteFX (tm) Engine and Lightspeed Memory Architecture (tm) design is able to produce one-trillion operations (TOPS) and 76 billion floating point operations per second (FLOPS). With this performance, users experience more photo-realistic 3D objects and real-time interaction during game play. The performance of the GeForce3 is more than double that of other GPUs currently in the market. In addition to its superior hardware technology, the optimized drivers of the WinFast GeForce3 provide full support for OpenGL ICD (Installable Client Driver), Microsoft DirectX 8, and optimized performance for AMD and Intel based platforms. Delivering the industry's fastest 3D acceleration, highest-quality display and video performance, the WinFast GeForce3 is the only graphics solution for home/office applications, advanced 3D entertainment, DVD playback, as well as many different types of business applications.
About Leadtek Research Inc.
Founded in 1986, Leadtek Research, Inc. is a research and development company that is specialized in the design and manufacture of a wide range of high performance graphics and video solutions.
Leadtek has always been focused on intensive R&D, and its ISO9001 manufacturing facility has been recognized as an industry quality leader. Leadtek is committed to a win-win strategy of identifying and meeting the needs of its users, thereby sharing a mutual success with its customers.
We see from the pictures the Leadtek card does have some nice modifications to it. The card sports a huge heatsink, and possibly memory heatsinks. You can see from the two different pictures that one has the heatsinks and one does not. We're still not sure whether or not it will be shipped with or without, or if there will be more than one version. The card also has TV-Out and a DVI-Interface. Digit-Life also let us know that the card does feature a TDMS transmitter which allows to output the image to the digital and analog interface.
Update: 5/18/01 There's quite a bit of reviews on the card that you should check out. The card retails fo $385, which is a great price, one of the cheaper ones, so that may also aid your purchasing decision.
Gigabyte's top of the range 3D card - GeForce3 is here
NV20 chipset is a renown chipset which has sparked debates recently. On February 26, it will be announced as GeForce3 and ends all the speculations. Gigabyte has been doing R&D and will launch the GV-GF3000DF (GeForce3) 3D Video card to satisfy the users.
Gigabyte GV-GF3000DF 3D card is based on new generation nVIDIA's GeForce3 3D chipset. It features the latest Nfitnite FX engine and Lightspeed Memory Architecture which easily accomplish complex textures at light speed. Conforms to T&L (Transform & Lighting), it can process up to 150 million polygons transformations in a second. Incorporating the state of the art high speed 64MB new generation DDR graphics memory, it could reach up to 500Mhz, display performance exceeds GeForce2. With the new AGP fast write function, it provides up to 350Mhz RAMDAC and supports up to a maximum resolution of 2048x1536. For 3D gamers of Need for Speed:High Stakes ™, Quake3 Arena™, and graphics designers that needs high speed graphics capabilities, Gigabyte GV-GF3000DF statisfies it all.
GV-GF3000DF also provides DVI output especially for users who requires LCD plat panel display. It is the best choice for users who require high graphics computing power. The package is bundled with DVD playback software & games, allowing you to enjoy your movies just like in the theatre and have the ultimate enjoyment in your games. Gigabyte GV-GF3000DF is currently available and we welcome enquiries from distributors, resellers and consumers.
For more information, please refer to this website http://www.gigabyte.com.tw
This card will feature 3.8 ns memory, and will have TV-Out and a DVI interface which seems to be standard on almost all cards. We are told that the active cooling is pretty good, but from first looks, doesn't look any better than other cards, if not worse.
Graphics specialist, 3DPower Ltd has just announced the first GeForce3 based graphics accelerator to hit the market - the Outrageous GeForce3 graphic accelerator card.
The Outrageous 3D GeForce3 is the fastest ever - up to 100 times faster than GeForce2 solutions according to the latest benchmarks. The stunning new Lightspeed Memory Architecture from nVIDIA generates the blazing power behind the GeForce3 GPU, delivering earth-shattering performance at all resolutions enabling you to rip though graphical applications like never before. The Outrageous 3D GeForce 3 incorporates 64Mb of lightning fast 3.8ns DDR memory effectively operating at 460 MHz to generate 3D performance with up to 3.2gigatexels per second.
For the real speed freaks, the Outrageous GeForce3 includes a tested high performance gaming fan - the “ICE CUBE” - and RAM heatsinks! This new fan will keep your graphic chip cooler than conventional fans and together with the RAM heatsinks increases your Outrageous 3D GeForce3 overclockability.
Users will experience a virtually infinite number of special effects via the Vertex Shader and Pixel Shader in the nFiniteFX engine technology recently licensed by nVIDIA to Microsoft for DirectX 8. These new features offer an unprecedented boost in rendering quality. You’ll witness more realistic and detailed character movement. Characters can now show facial emotion, materials can stretch and scenes come alive! Characters can now have facial hair and blemishes, golf balls dimples, and wood exhibits texture and grain. Spectacular effects that are so realistic you’ll swear you were actually there!
And all this with no more pixel edges even at high resolutions! The high-resolution antialiasing feature (HRAA) in the Outrageous 3D GeForce3 produces the best visual quality and performance for all applications.
In addition to stunning performance with a PC monitor, the Outrageous 3D Geforce3 TV-out feature allows you to easily connect your graphics card to either composite or S-video connectors on your TV. Experience big-screen gaming on your TV! Or play DVD movies on your TV or monitor with the DVD player software included.
* All trademarks acknowledged.
Absolute continues its unique Software Choice programme with the Outrageous GeForce3. Choose one free title from a large number of the hottest full version gaming titles available today directly from the enclosed CD ROM disk. Simply enter the Absolute Multimedia website and choose the free selections of your choice.
The Outrageous 3D Geforce3 will be available online and at retail outlets in March 2001 at an estimated street price of US$549.00
Multimedia:
Comments:
We know nothing about this card as of yet, except for the picture we were able to post. We will update with more info when we get it, we do see that the card sports memory heatsinks though.
Update: 5/18/01 Looks like AbsoluteMM hasn't made a change in their price, hopefully they will do so. By purchasing their card VIA their website, you can also choose a free game between Drakan, Heretic II, Descent 3, Theif, Half Life, MDK 2, Soldier Of Fortune, WinDVD 2000, or Icewind Dale. It looks like Absolute is going for the overclockers with this one, as they state this on their website: "For the real speed freaks, the Outrageous GeForce3 includes a tested high performance gaming fan - the “ICE CUBE” - and RAM heatsinks! This new fan will keep your graphic chip cooler than conventional fans and together with the RAM heatsinks increases your Outrageous 3D GeForce3 overclockability."
Visiontek GeForce 3
Fast Stats:
Product Name: Visiontek GeForce3 Availability: Dependent on reseller Price: N/A
Press Release:
VisionTek First to PC Market With GeForce3-Based Graphics Accelerator:
First Card Powered By NVIDIA’s Groundbreaking Programmable GPU
GURNEE, Ill.--GURNEE, Ill. - March 1, 2001 - VisionTek, a leading provider of advanced graphics and memory solutions for PCs, today introduced the most advanced graphics accelerator available to consumers and businesses. Powered by the latest graphics processing unit (GPU) from NVIDIA Corp, VisionTek’s GeForce3 graphics accelerator is the fastest and most powerful card on the market, as well as the first to feature a programmable GPU and performance compatible with Microsoft’s DirectX® 8.0 application program interface.
According to Mark Polinsky, chief executive officer of VisionTek, the breakthrough graphics and memory architecture of the GeForce3, coupled with the flexibility to create customized special effects, has elevated 3D graphics to an unprecedented level of realism. “The GeForce3 card offers the highest degree of sophistication on the market - creative control combined with the most advanced performance, power, memory and bandwidth,” said Polinsky.
Ric Lewis, Executive Vice President, Business Development, reinforced the breakthrough features of the new card. “In the past, graphics accelerators grew more powerful, but games looked similar because programmers lacked the tools to create distinctive special effects. With the GeForce3, programmers have the ability to create customized, detailed environments and more realistic human figures, which translates into a more intense visual experience for end-users,” said Lewis.
VisionTek’s GeForce3 graphics accelerator features NVIDIA’s nfiniteFXTM engine, which gives game developers the ability to program a virtually infinite number of effects via the engine’s Vertex Shader and Pixel Shader components. The card’s 7.36 GB/second memory subsystem ensures peak performance and the smoothest frame rates in the industry. Featuring NVIDIA's high-resolution antialiasing technology, VisionTek’s GeForce3 graphics accelerator generates high-performance samples at nearly four times the rate of the nearest competitor, while offering the industry’s best visual quality. The GeForce3 graphics accelerator delivers more than 800 billion operations, which is more than twice the raw performance previously available. For more complex scenes and images, the GeForce3-based graphics accelerator can provide a seven-fold increase in delivered performance.
In addition to the GeForce3 card, VisionTek manufactures a complete line of NVIDIA processor-based video cards for the OEM, contract and distribution markets. VisionTek’s longstanding relationship with NVIDIA, combined with its stringent, ISO-registered quality processes, ensures the GeForce3 graphics accelerator and all other VisionTek graphics products are available immediately and meet the highest standards for quality and compatibility. VisionTek’s memory, graphics and peripheral products, including the new GeForce3 graphics accelerator, are available through authorized VisionTek resellers and distributors, which are listed on VisionTek’s Web site, http://www.visiontek.com/.
A three-year warranty and the support of the company’s expert technical support professionals back the company’s graphics accelerators.
For more information on VisionTek's new GeForce3 graphics accelerator and its graphics and memory products, call 800-726-9695, or visit http://www.visiontek.com/.
The card looks exactly like the reference card from NVIDIA. Visiontek states that they are first to the market, usually its Leadtek to get it to the shelves before everyone else.
We're going to try and contact Visiontek to get some more insider information for you guys on the card. Look for an update.
Update: 3/1/01 I was able to ask Visiontek a couple questions regarding their upcoming GeForce3 card. Here's my e-mail and their response:
Would you be able to tell me the release date and/or the price of this card? Also, can you tell me if there is anything on the card hardware/software wise which is different from the NVIDIA reference card?
Hi Dave,
While VisionTek is producing cards for its OEM customers, the company is not selling its GeForce3 card directly to end-users at this time. However, consumers can contact the authorized resellers, distributors and e-commerce sites listed on VisionTek's Web site to see when they will be able to ship the cards to consumers. http://www.visiontek.com/purchase/index.html
The price of the card will vary. The price of the GeForce3 card will be determined by the specific reseller, distributor or site an end-user or business chooses to purchase from.
VisionTek cards stay true to NVIDIA's reference design, unless an OEM customer requests a custom design modification to accommodate their needs.
John Malley - Visiontek Marketing Communications Manager
Update: 5/18/01 Looks like Visiontek has decided to sell the card retail as well now. We have one of the cards in our labs now, and it's just a straight up stock GeForce3, nothing really special about it.
OCZ GeForce3 GeForce 3
Fast Stats:
Product Name: OCZ Titan3 GeForce3 (Unofficial as of now) Availability: N/A Price: N/A
Comments:
I got a chance to talk to one of the guys over at OCZ about the card. He stated that it would come out after probably all of the other manufacturers have released their cards. We can be assured that there will be some modding to it. They are not looking to get it release as fast as possible, yet, they want to do a lot of testing and modifying to make it a better product.
Let's hope this hype turns out to be true, and that we really do see a great card from the guys over at Overclockerz.com!
I will update with more information as it comes in.
Update: 5/18/01 We still haven't heard anymore info on this card.
