STB was an early manufacturer of multi I/O, graphics and sound cards for the IBM PC and its compatibles.
 Graphix Plus
Launched: 1984
Bus: 8-bit ISA
Price: ?
The Graphix Plus card was a CGA-compatible graphics card that also supported high resolution monochrome graphics. Also common to many graphics cards in 1984, this one provided a parallel printer port too.
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Graphix Plus II
Launched: 1985
Bus: 8-bit ISA
Price: ?
Expanding on the earlier Graphix Plus, the II provides the same CGA features but adds a 16-colour mode. It also got a parallel port, a lightpen port, 32K of onboard video RAM, and an optional clock/calendar with battery backup.
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EGA Plus
 Launched: 1986? advertised in 1987
Bus: 8-bit ISA
Price: $279 (Mar 1987)
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Chauffeur
Launched: 1987
Bus: 8-bit ISA
Price: $219 (Mar 1987)
(No info on this card)
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Chauffeur HT
Launched: 1986
Bus: 8-bit ISA
Price: $239 (Mar 1987)
, $135 (Jan 1989)
The Chauffeur HT was a Hercules-compatible card that supported for the first time a resolution of 1056 x 352, ideal for a 132-character wide display in text modes. It came with drivers for Microsoft Windows, AutoCAD, Lotus 1-2-3 and Lotus Symphony.
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EGA Multi Res
Launched: 1987
Bus: 8-bit ISA
Price: $169 (Jan 1989)
The EGA Multi Res extended the IBM standard EGA by offering [on a multisync monitor] 640 x 480 and even 752 x 410 resolution in Microsoft Windows. On standard EGA monitors, it could display up to 832 x 350.
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Powergraph / Powergraph 2.0
 Launched: 1991?
Bus: 16-bit ISA
Memory: 512 KB
Chipset: Tseng Labs ET4000AX
Price: $201 (512 KB)
"STB PowerGraph Ergo-VGA
PROS: Low price, fast AutoCAD performance
CONS: Menuless driver installation
At a street price of $201 with 512K of RAM, STB's PowerGraph Ergo-VGA is
one of the three least expensive boards reviewed. It's an attractive buy, offering both fast performance and nearly switchless installation.
The PowerGraph tied for first place in the AutoCAD tests. CAD performance hounds should note that this board lists for $200 less than Orchid's equally speedy ProDesigner II.
As with the SigmaVGA Legend, you may have to move a jumper or two: one for 72-Hz screen refresh at 800 by 600, and the other to avoid conflicts with your network card. When you install drivers, there are no menus; you must do so from the command line.
If you use AutoCAD and you're looking for a fast VGA board at a bargain price, the PowerGraph is an excellent choice." PC World, August 1991
I have done some benchmark testing with this card in my OPTi 386/486 Hybrid motherboard review (page 2).
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 Powergraph X-24
Launched: 1992
Bus: 16-bit ISA
Chipset: S3 86C801
Memory: 1 MB
FCC ID: EKSUSA801
Price: $
The Powergraph X-24 was a Super VGA card based around S3's 86C801 chipset.
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1280 Graphics System
Launched: 1992
Bus: 16-bit ISA
Memory: 1 MB or 2 MB
Chipset: Chips & Technologies 480
Price: $426/$551 (1 MB/2 MB, Feb '92)
"STB's 1280 Graphics System is a very capable performer, featuring easy installation, flicker-free operation, and good color support at a reasonable cost. Its moderate $426 street price makes it a worthwhile competitor to many of the S3 boards.
Speed improvements were respectable, with Excel and Word for Windows running more than 2 1/2 times faster. PowerPoint graphics poked along at half their super-VGA clip, but that's better than with most S3 boards. The board provides 15 drivers, although only Windows and AutoCAD are accelerated; the other applications run at super-VGA speeds.
The 1280 Graphics System is one of two boards that display 256 colors at 1280 by 1024, if you invest $125 in the extra 1MB of RAM. Installation is both switchless and menu driven, making this a good value for Windows and AutoCAD users. "
PC World, March 1992
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WIND/X
Launched: 1992
Bus: 16-bit ISA
Memory: 1 MB
Chipset: S3
Price: $355 (Mar '92)
"STB's S3-powered WIND/X board is cheaper than the 1280 Graphics System. For just $355 (estimated street price) you get 65,536 screen colors at 640 by 480,11 software drivers, and a mouse. If you don't mind fidgeting with tiny jumpers, this is a very good product.
The WIND/X showed no speed surprises, chugging right along with the rest of the S3 boards. Expect 2 to 2A times the speed for Excel and Word for Windows and one-third the speed for PowerPoint graphics compared to super VGA.
STB's WIND/X provides flicker-free operation at all resolutions except its interlaced 1280 by 1024 mode. It's a good performer that's loaded with nice extras. Were it not for the myriad tiny jumpers, it would merit a Best Buy. But the WIND/X is still a very good deal."
PC World, March 1992
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Horizon 64 Video
Launched: 199x
Chipset: Alliance ProMotion 6422
Bus: ?
Memory: 1 MB or 2 MB
Price: ?
The Horizon 64 Video was based on the Alliance ProMotion-6422 chip, which was a 64-bit integrated 2D Windows /VGA/motion video accelerator. It supported 1, 1.5 or 2 MB of EDO or FPM DRAM memory.
The core clock of the ProMotion-6422 ran at 135 MHz, and it supported a maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024. |
 Velocity Riva 128
Launched: 1997
DAC: ?
Bus: AGP 1x/2x
Memory: 4 MB
Price: ?
Basically a rebadged nVidia Riva 128. This STB card was OEM'd by Dell.
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 Velocity Riva 128ZX
Launched: 1998
DAC: ?
Bus: AGP 1x/2x
Memory: 8 MB
Price: ?
Basically a rebadged nVidia Riva 128ZX. This STB card was OEM'd by Dell.
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