NVIDIA Delivers Custom Performance-Enhanced Quadro GPU for New SGI Workstations; First High-Performance Solutions Resulting From Strategic Relationship

Business Wire, May 18, 2000

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 2000

NVIDIA(TM) Corporation (Nasdaq:NVDA) today announced that SGI (NYSE:SGI) will feature a custom performance enhanced Quadro GPU for it's new line of Intel(R) processor based visual workstations. Designed from the ground-up to accelerate OpenGL 3D graphics in hardware on the Linux(R) operating system, the solution leverages SGI's extensive 3D graphics and OpenGL(R) expertise, and NVIDIA's proven 3D graphics hardware and software architectures. The Silicon Graphics(R) 230, Silicon Graphics(R) 330 and Silicon Graphics(R) 550 visual workstations feature SGI's new family of graphics subsystems for Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R), and Linux environments. The custom Quadro-based graphics accelerators in these new SGI platforms will be available in both 32MB and 64MB AGP 4X solutions and deliver increased performance and accuracy in professional workstation environments.

"These graphics subsystems continue SGI's long tradition of high quality, high performance solutions for the workstation market. We are proud that NVIDIA technology is at the core," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO at NVIDIA. "SGI is a key partner in our strategy to become the standard graphics for the workstation market. With this custom performance-enhanced Quadro GPU, NVIDIA now has design wins in five of the top six workstation manufacturers."

The Silicon Graphics 230, visual workstation for Windows NT and Linux environments will be available immediately, and the Silicon Graphics 330 and 550 will ship later this quarter.

"Through NVIDIA and SGI's collaborative engineering efforts, developers now have access to native OpenGL graphics on the Linux platform," stated Greg Goelz, vice president of workstations and Intel processor-based servers for SGI. "By combining a custom NVIDIA high-performance GPU with our OpenGL driver expertise, we are now able to leverage the economies of volume leaders while preserving our unique value and differentiation for continued leadership in workstation graphics performance."

NVIDIA Products

The first 3D graphics semiconductor company to deliver a complete top-to-bottom family of 3D solutions, NVIDIA gives developers the advantage of one unified driver and one architecture across all implementations. The proven graphics architecture and massive gate counts translate into stunningly realistic, high-performance results. NVIDIA single-chip processors enable high-frame-rate 3D graphics, benchmark-winning 2D graphics, and VGA and video acceleration for unequaled visual realism and real-time interactivity. Optimized for both Direct3D(TM) and OpenGL(R) APIs, the NVIDIA products currently include:

    -   NVIDIA GeForce2 GTS(TM) and GeForce 256(TM) for the PC
        enthusiast market. The world's first graphics processing unit,
        GeForce 256 delivers an order-of-magnitude increase in
        geometry processing power and enables unmatched access to
        interactive content.

    -   NVIDIA Quadro(TM) for professional workstations, digital
        content creation, and MCAD markets. The Quadro processor
        integrates the revolutionary QuadEngine(TM) architecture for
        optimized transform and lighting functions.

    -   NVIDIA TNT2(TM) Pro for the performance PC market. The RIVA
        TNT2 and TNT2 Pro feature NVIDIA's award-winning,
        fourth-generation, 128-bit 3D architecture that has garnered
        more than 400 industry awards.

    -   NVIDIA Vanta(TM), Vanta LT and TNT2 M64(TM) for the mainstream
        and value PC markets. Also based on the award-winning RIVA
        TNT2 architecture, these processors offer low-cost, highly
        integrated choices for entry-level add-in card and motherboard
        applications.

    -   NVIDIA Aladdin TNT2(TM) for the sub-$1000 PC market. The first
        truly integrated, graphics chipset, Aladdin TNT2 redefines the
        possibilities for the lowest-cost platforms.

About NVIDIA

The computing industry recognizes NVIDIA as the global leader in advanced graphics processing technology for mainstream platforms, awarding the company the most awards in the history of the PC industry. The unmatched breadth of the NVIDIA product family enables gripping multimedia experiences for the entire desktop computer market from workstations to internet-enabled appliances. In use by large corporations, small- to medium-sized businesses, and home-based consumers, NVIDIA products are the solutions of choice for the top PC OEMs, add-in card designers, and system builders worldwide. NVIDIA graphics processors deliver superior performance and crisp visual quality for PC based applications such as manufacturing, science, e-business, entertainment, and education. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.nvidia.com.

Certain statements in this press release, including the statements relating to the Company's performance expectations for NVIDIA's family of products and expectations of continued revenue growth, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, manufacturing and other delays relating to new products, difficulties in the fabrication process and dependence of the Company on third-party manufacturers, general industry trends including cyclical trends in the PC and semiconductor industries, the impact of competitive products and pricing alternatives, market acceptance of the Company's new products, and the Company's dependence on third-party developers and publishers. Investors are advised to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled "Factors Affecting Operating Results," for a fuller discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.