i740 launches Intel into active graphics market

Electronic News, Feb 16, 1998

San Jose, Calif.--Intel's new i740 graphics accelerator features Intel's proprietary HyperPipelined 3-D technology. It is specifically designed to work with Intel's Pentium II processor and Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) 2x controller. The HyperPipelined technology features direct memory execution (DME) that allows the accelerator--through the AGP bus--to store and execute textures in system memory instead of local graphics memory.

Based on a 0.35-micron manufacturing process, the architecture also includes parallel data processing (PDP) enabling the i740 to develop a method of running 3-D commands in parallel so that multiple commands can be executed at the same time in the graphics pipeline. The device features a sustained peak 3-D performance of 1.1 million triangles per second and 425,000 to 500,000 triangles per second full featured.

The i740 graphics accelerator completes Intel's visual computing platform that includes the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), Pentium II microprocessor, and MMX II, dubbed Katmai, announced last month (EN, Jan. 19).

"Anyone who uses this chip with AGP will show off well," said Jon Peddie, president of market analysis firm Jon Peddie Associates. "This will challenge all of the devices out on the market today. Intel is right on par with all market leaders in the performance graphics area. The problem is that Nvidia and NEC (Electronics) are planning on rolling out new parts in the next few months so we will have the whole leapfrog thing once again."

Mr. Peddie added that the Intel chip is a bit more expensive than most of its competition. However, no one has manufacturing capabilities like Intel and if it came down to lowering the price, the giant semiconductor company could do it easily. Mr. Peddie forecasts that by the end of 1999, Intel will have a 20 to 30 percent market share in the performance category of the 3-D chip market.

The i740 chip also features interfaces to hardware DVD chips from Zoran and C-Cube Microsystems. The chip will also enable more than 24 frames per second (fps) for host-based DVD with software decoders. The i740 is available in limited production quantities priced at $34.75. Full volume production on the chip is slated for later this quarter.

Intel's graphics engines supports all major 3-D APIs such as Direct3D and OpenGL and support for 3-D features such as bi-linear filtering, fogging, alpha-blending, mip-mapping, and pixel accuracy.

"I can see some of Intel's competitors criticizing them about using 0.35-micron technology and being a little hotter and a little bigger than some of the newer parts out there, but those are really 'don't care' aspects of the chip," said Mr. Peddie. "If Intel thought their market share was suffering because they needed a lower price or they need to move to 0.25, you can bet in a matter of days they would be there doing it."

Still smaller independent graphics vendors are not too worried about the device (EN, Feb. 9). Some said they are looking forward to viewing the chip and what they are up against; fighting the enemy on equal footing rather than anticipating an arrival.