STB PowerGraph 64 3D
The PowerGraph 64 3D used the S3 ViRGE 2D/3D graphics accelerator chipset, and was released in 1997.
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Released | 1996 |
| Bus | PCI | |
| Chipset | S3 ViRGE (86C325) | |
| Standards | Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA | |
| Memory | 1 MB or 2 MB DRAM | |
| RAMDAC | - | |
| Ports | 15-pin DSUB (analogue video out) | |
| Part # | 1X0-0417-509 | |
| FCC ID | EKSUSA765PCI | |
| Price | - | |
| See Also | PowerGraph 64, Velocity 3D |
STB Systems said at the time: "Get the absolute best in video playback and Windows 95 gaming. STB's new POWERGRAPH 64 3D represents a quantum leap in graphics acceleration technology. For the first time, Windows 95 games come alive in three-dimensional display. New Windows 95 Direct3D-based applications like 3D Web browsers, 3D presentation arts and modeling packages may also be transformed from the ordinary to the extraordinary by the Powergraph 64 3D's combination of shading, perspective-corrected texture mapping and double buffering features. The Powergraph 64 3D supports Microsoft's Game SDK software for 2D primitives (DirectDraw), 3D primitives (Direct3D), live video and MPEG scaling (DirectVideo)."
Its key features included:
- 64-bit graphics accelerator with accelerated 3D texture map and shading functions
- VESA DDC-2B support for Plug-and-Play monitors
- Supports non-interlaced resolutions up to 1280x1024 with 256 color and refresh rates up to 160Hz
- STB VISION 95 optimized for Windows 95 inclucing full DirectX and Games SDK support
- Works with any SVGA multiple-frequency monitor
- Plug-and-Play with Auto-Configuring Features for Easy Installation
- Based on S3's VIRGE graphics controller chip with integrated Digital Video Engine for true color video playback on any color depth desktop with "tear-free" stretching, filtering and color space conversion
- 3D hardware acceleration of texture maps with bilinear or trilinear MIPMAP, perspective correction, and Gouraud shading
- Double-buffer and Z-buffer support
- 2D hardware acceleration of Bit-Block transfers (BitBLTs), line drawing, cursor operations, dual address bus, and read and write bursting
- S3 Scenic Highway local peripheral bus and VESA standard VGA feature connector
- API support: Microsoft Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectVideo, Rendermorphics Reality Lab, Criterion RenderWare, Argonaut BRender, Intel 3DR, also supports S3 SDK
- Includes drivers for Windows 95 and Windows NT
Refresh Rates:
| Resolution/ Colours |
640x480 | 800x600 | 1024x768 | 1280x1024 | 1600x1200 |
| 256 | 60,72,75,85 100,120,140,160 |
60,72.75,85, 100,120,140 | 88i,60,70,75, 85,100,120 | 88i,60,72,75 | 96i |
| 65K | 60,72,75, 85,100 | 60,72,75, 85,100 | 88i,60,70, 75,85 | - | - |
| 16.7M | 60,72,75, 85,100 | 60,72,75,85 | - | - | - |
Board Revisions
I don't have any information on board revisions for the PowerGraph 64 3D card.
Competition
In the Media
"
STB Systems Now Supports Microsoft's Direct3D
POWERGRAPH 64 3D and LIGHTSPEED 128 Provide Direct3D Support For Games, Multimedia and Other Applications
Richardson, Texas (July 19, 1996) -- STB Systems, Inc.® (NASDAQ-STBI), a worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of graphics and multimedia adapters, has announced that its POWERGRAPH 64 3D and LIGHTSPEED 128 accelerators will provide full support for the Microsoft® Direct3D hardware abstraction layer (HAL) for the Windows® 95 operating system.
STB is a pioneering force in the development of 3D computer graphics, and by fully supporting Microsoft's Direct3D, STB enables POWERGRAPH 64 3D and LIGHTSPEED 128 users to enjoy today's most vivid and realistic three-dimensional graphic performance. Direct3D is designed to be the industry-standard HAL for the development of 3D software titles, opening the door to a new wave of 3D games, multimedia and business applications.
Built on the processing power of S3's new ViRGE chip, the POWERGRAPH 64 3D multimedia accelerator delivers breathtakingly realistic 3D graphics performance. The STB POWERGRAPH 64 3D utilizes the industry's most advanced shading, perspective-corrected texture mapping and double-buffering 3D technologies.
The LIGHTSPEED 128 accelerator delivers no-compromise graphics with sufficient bandwidth to support full-motion video playback for today's most challenging graphics applications. The LIGHTSPEED 128 delivers 128-bit graphics power with multiple accelerated video windows with as little as 2.25MB of memory.
"These two new STB accelerators represent the cutting edge in 3D and video performance," says Gary Kellar, STB's Director of Product Marketing. "By providing Direct3D support, we give our customers access to the full range of 3D games, Web browsers and other advanced graphics applications."
In addition to providing optimum display performance for Direct3D-based applications such as 3D Web browsers, presentation arts and modeling packages, the POWERGRAPH 64 3D and the LIGHTSPEED 128 fully support Microsoft's DirectX environment for 2D primitives (DirectDraw), 3D primitives (Direct3D), live video and MPEG video (DirectVideo) Active Movie.
The POWERGRAPH 64 3D is available with 1MB (expandable to 2MB) of EDO DRAM, and supports non-interlaced resolutions up to 1280x1024 with 256 colors (2 MB) and refresh rates to 160Hz. This accelerator works with any SVGA multiple-frequency monitor and provides VESA DDC-2B support for plug-and-play convenience. STB's POWERGRAPH 64 3D is shipped with STB VISION, a powerful suite of drivers and Windows 95 performance-enhancing utility tools.
STB's LIGHTSPEED 128 can be configured with up to 2.25MB of MOSYS Multibank DRAM video memory in support of multiple accelerated video windows in resolutions to 1280x1024x256 or 800x600x16.7M colors. The LIGHTSPEED 128 provides plug-and-play support for Windows 95 and other high-end graphics applications. The LIGHTSPEED 128 is also shipped with STB VISION."
STB Systems Press Office, 19th July 1996
Setting it Up
Downloads
Operation Manual Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
Original Utility Disk PowerGraph 3D Utilities Release 1.2 |
ROM BIOS Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
Windows 3.1 Drivers PowerGraph 3D Windows 3.11 Drivers Release 1.0 |
Windows 95 Drivers PowerGraph 3D Vision 95 Windows 95 Drivers Release 1.24E |
Windows NT 3.51 Drivers PowerGraph 3D Windows NT 3.51 Drivers release 1.2 |
Windows NT 4.0 Drivers Powergraph 3D Windows NT 4.0 Drivers release 1.2 |
More Pictures
An STB PowerGraph 64 3D (1996)