DOS Days

Old PC Computing Resource

" DIAMOND SHIPS RETAIL VERSION OF STEALTH 3D 2000XL MULTIMEDIA ACCELERATOR Ultra-Fast 2D Graphics, 3D Animation and MPEG-1 Video Playback for $199 LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 16, 1996 - Today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in the Los Angeles Convention Center, Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: DIMD) announced that it has commenced shipping a retail version of the Stealth 3D 2000XL multimedia accelerator. Designed for business and entertainment multimedia applications, the Stealth 3D 2000XL is a single 2MB PCI add-on subsystem that delivers ultra high-performance 2D graphics as well as 3D animation and MPEG-1 digital video playback acceleration for PCs running Microsoft's Windows®95, Windows 3.1x, Windows NT 3.51 or DOS operating systems. For an estimated retail price of $199, the Stealth 3D 2000XL is bundled with two games that have been optimized for 3D hardware acceleration: Interplay's Descent II: Destination Quartzon andSony Psygnosis' popular PlayStation and PC title Destruction Derby. Comptons Interactive Encyclopedia 1996 from Comptons New Media is also included, showcasing the product's graphics quality and video playback capabilities. The retail version of the Stealth 3D 2000XL can be purchased through major national distributors and from specific retail chains including Fry's Electronics, CompUSA and Computer City. Last month, Diamond also began shipping an OEM version of the product to leading system manufacturers, including Micron Electronics, Inc. "We are pleased to be able to offer our customers extremely fast 2D graphics and powerful 3D for a great price," said David Watkins, vice president and general manager of Diamond's Visual Systems Division. "There is tremendous momentum building around the promise of 3D graphics for games, Internet VRML browsing, presentations, and other applications. This product delivers on the excitement of 3D while providing performance and value." Configured with 2MB of high-performance, single-cycle Silicon Magic RAM for the PCI-bus, the Stealth 3D 2000XL is powered by the S3 ViRGE 64-bit graphics and video accelerator chip. With an integrated RAMDAC and clock synthesizer, the ViRGE engine is an advanced single-chip solution for interactive 2D graphics and video acceleration as well as 3D rendering.

Ultra-Fast 2D Graphics By combining the power of the ViRGE engine, fast Silicon Magic memory technology and highly efficient driver design, the Stealth 3D 2000XL features ultra-fast 2D graphics performance. It consistently performs at the same or better levels as higher priced WRAM accelerators. When tested with industry-standard benchmarks, the Stealth 3D 2000XL scored 29.0 in Winbench 96 and 65.3 in Winstone 96.* The Stealth 3D 2000XL provides 256 colors at resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 as well as 16.7 million colors at resolutions as high as 800 x 600. The maximum supported refresh rate is 120Hz. The high resolutions, color depths and overall graphics speed improve the performance and visual quality of business applications and entertainment software.

Powerful 3D Animation Using triangle-based polygon rendering, the Stealth 3D 2000XL brings realistic game play to the PC. The 3D engine provides a variety of special effects: perspective corrected texture mapping that adds realism and image quality to 3D objects; bi-linear filtering, MIP-mapping, and tri-linear MIP-mapping that eliminate the "blockiness" and visual artifacts such as "sparkle" and "jaggies" commonly seen in software-only 3D games, providing for a smoother look-and-feel of objects; and alpha blending, depth-cueing and fogging that deliver transparency effects for realistic smoke, steam, fog, glass, water, plastic, and other objects. Z-buffer memory is also utilized to speed up the removal of hidden surfaces so that objects appear life-like without compromising 3D performance. The combination of the above 3D elements when used in virtual reality applications, on-line 3D worlds, business presentations, and games offers a captivating computer experience that can help make people feel as though they are immersed in a real-world environment.

Software Development Support The Stealth 3D 2000XL supports a wealth of today's existing DOS and Windows games and software applications. Additionally, Diamond is partnering with S3 to provide software companies with the tools needed to develop interactive 3D applications designed to take advantage of the special 3D features of the ViRGE technology on the Stealth 3D 2000XL. More than fifty developers are currently evaluating the technology and many have committed their support, including Argonaut, Activision, Asymetrix, Caligari Corporation, Delphine/Adeline, Gremlin, GTE Interactive, Interplay Productions, Looking Glass, Micrografx/Visual Software, Mindscape, New World Computing, Papyrus (Sierra On-line), Psygnosis, Reality Bytes, Terminal Reality and Virgin Interactive. For the latest list of software titles that take advantage of the 3D hardware on the Stealth 3D 2000XL, check the Diamond web site at http://www.diamondmm.com. Once Microsoft Direct3D APIs are completed for the Windows 95 operating system, the market can expect to see even more games and applications that take advantage of 3D acceleration features. Diamond plans to provide Direct3D drivers to Stealth 3D 2000XL customers following the final release of Direct3D from Microsoft. Support for all other relevant Microsoft DirectX APIs is also planned soon.

Digital Video Playback For playback of digital video clips and entertainment titles, the Stealth 3D 2000XL features smooth, full-motion digital video playback at up to 30 frames per second. Video functions include image scaling and color space conversion. Images can be scaled up to full-screen without compromising quality or playback speed. Drivers for Indeo, Cinepak and software MPEG-1 are provided.

Software and Hardware Upgradeable The Stealth 3D 2000XL is software upgradeable to future technologies, including Direct3D support, Diamond GT Drivers and InControl Tools 95. Software upgrades for the Stealth 3D 2000XL will be available through Diamond's electronic services and its customer service support line. Hardware options, including Diamond's DTV 1100 TV tuner and MPEG Video Player 1100 hardware MPEG player, will be supported by Diamond GT Drivers and are available through distributors and retail chains, as well as through the Diamond customer service department. "     
Diamond Multimedia Press Room, 16th May 1996

" Stealth 3D 2000XL Cited for Fastest Performance and Solid Utilities

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – November 18, 1996 – Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: DIMD), a worldwide leader in visual systems products for the PC, today announced at the Comdex trade show (booth# L882) that its Stealth 3D 2000XL media accelerator has won PC Magazine’s coveted "Editors’ Choice" award for mainstream business graphics accelerators. In the December 3, 1996 issue of the magazine, the Stealth 3D 2000XL was noted for "delivering the best 2D acceleration," and for its InControl Tools 95 desktop utility software that is "outstanding and well-integrated into the Windows 95 environment." The article concluded that "Diamond’s Stealth 3D 2000XL is an excellent choice and a great value. It deserves to be at the top of your shopping list."

"Diamond Multimedia is pleased to win the "Editors’ Choice" award in the mainstream graphics board category for the second year in a row," stated David Watkins, vice president and general manager of Diamond’s Visual Systems Division. "We pride ourselves in offering performance and value."

Using ZD Labs’ new ZD Business Graphics WinMark 97 and Winstone 97 benchmark scores, the Diamond Stealth 3D 2000XL with 4MB EDO DRAM had the highest scores when tested in 800x600 resolution at 24-bit color, reaching 57.5 WinMarks and 39.3 Winstones. Diamond’s product was up to 69 percent faster than the competition’s WinMark scores. The review included competitors such as ATI’s 3D Xpression+PC2TV, Hercules’ Dynamite 128/Video, the Matrox Millenium and Mystique accelerators, Number Nine’s Imagine 128 Series 2e, Spider’s Lynx 64/V, STB’s Lightspeed 128, and VideoLogic’s GrafixStar 600.

"For the second straight year, Diamond Multimedia and S3 have teamed-up to win PC Magazine's yearly Editors’ Choice Award," said Ramesh Singh, general manager for S3's Home Products Group. "Combining S3's high-performance multimedia engines with Diamond's enhanced software and end-user expertise continues to produce winning results."

Designed for mainstream business and home PC users, the Stealth 3D 2000XL with S3 Incorporated’s ViRGE chip, combines 2D graphics acceleration with video playback and 3D animation. Available for the PCI bus in either 2MB upgradeable to 4MB EDO DRAM or with 4MB, it’s affordably priced at $169 and $199 ERP (estimated retail price), respectively. A VRAM version of the Stealth 3D, the Stealth 3D 3000XL, using the ViRGE VX chip, is available in either 2MB-upgradeable-to-4MB or 4MB-fixed configurations for $249 and $299 ERP. For more details on the Stealth 3D line, contact Diamond Multimedia’s Internet site: www.diamondmm.com. Of the boards we tested, the Stealth 3D 2000XL from Diamond Multimedia delivered the best 2-D acceleration; it is an Editor's Choice."     PC Magazine, 3 Dec 1996

"Diamond Multimedia Systems' Stealth 3D 2000XL ($129.95 list), Stealth 3D 2000XL Pro ($149.95 list), and Stealth 3D 3000XL ($199.95 list) are well suited for a range of 2-D business and home applications, but like boards based on S3's ViRGE chip, their 3-D performance falls short. While the Stealth boards are ideal for many corporate or SOHO applications, those seeking ultimate 3-D excitement should look elsewhere.

An Editors' Choice in our roundup seven months ago ("3-D for free," December 3, 1996), the Stealth 3D 2000XL is based on the first-generation ViRGE chip and is targeted at the cost-conscious home or business user. The board provides an 85-Hz refresh rate at 1,024-by-768 resolution in true-color mode (16.7 million colors), which should prove adequate for use on 15- or 17-inch monitors.

The Stealth 2000XL Pro uses the new S3 ViRGE DX chip. The board offers x and y video interpolation as well as TV output, enabling both game play and presentations on large-screen televisions. It's the best Diamond board for video-intensive tasks. Enhanced interpolation, built into the ViRGE DX chip, resulted in noticeabily smooth video playback.

At the high end is the Stealth 3D 3000XL, based on the ViRGE VX chip and designed for demanding, large-screen graphics applications such as image editing and desktop publishing. An 80-Hz maximum refresh rate at 1,600-by-1,200 resolution in high-color mode (65,000 colors) is more than adequate for 17- to 21-inch monitors.

All three boards ship with Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia. The home-oriented 2000XL includes two games, Descent II: Destination Quartzon and Destruction Derby. The 2000XL Pro includes MGI's PhotoSuite SE image editor, SEGA Rally Championship Racing, and Microsoft's Game Sampler 2. The 3000XL includes Descent II: Destination Quartzon, Asymetrix's 3D F/X, a 3D graphics creation program; and Digital Video Producer (DVP), a digital video editor."     
PC Magazine, 24 June 1997