Hercules Terminator 3D
The Hercules Terminator 3D (also known as the Terminator 64/3D) was their first graphics, multimedia and 3D accelerator card. It was first announced in November 1995 and launched in May 1996.
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Released | May 1996 |
| Bus | PCI | |
| Chipset | S3 ViRGE (86C325) | |
| Standards | VGA | |
| Memory | 2 MB or 4 MB single-cycle EDO DRAM | |
| RAMDAC | (Embedded) | |
| Ports | 15-pin DSUB (analogue RGB video out) | |
| Part # | T2312EDO, T2132MEDO, T2314EDO, T2314MEDO | |
| FCC IDs | ||
| Price | At launch: ? |
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| See Also | Terminator, Terminator 3D/DX |
The Terminator 3D was released in late 1995, based on the 64-bit S3 ViRGE graphics and multimedia chipset, offering graphics acceleration and software MPEG capabilities.
There was also an optional hardware MPEG-1 decompression module (part # TMPEG2000) you could buy that supported the VideoCD format. Terminator 3D fully supported Direct3D and DirectDraw in Windows.
The maximum supported resolution was 1600 x 1200 in 256 colours (96 Hz interlaced). To get 24-bit colour, maximum resolution was 1024 x 768. To achieve the fastest refresh rate of 120 Hz, resolution needed to be reduced to 800 x 600 in 256 colours or 640 x 480 in 16.7 million colours.
The Terminator 3D came in four versions:
- T2312EDO (2 MB, no hardware MPEG)
- T2312MEDO (2 MB with hardware MPEG)
- T2314EDO (4 MB, no hardware MPEG)
- T2314MEDO (4 MB with hardware MPEG)
For the non-hardware MPEG models, this was an optional extra you could buy later, via an MPEG decompression daughtercard, model TMPEG2000.
At the time of its launch, Direct3D was still being developed and the Direct3D programming kit had not yet been released by Microsoft. Hercules added Direct3D support to its drivers once this was available.
Here is Hercules' own sales information for the Terminator 3D:
| Product Highlights
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2D/3D S3 ViRGE graphics & multimedia engine.4MB High Performance at Affordable Cost
The Terminator 3D is a breakthrough in high performance 2D/3D graphics and multimedia technology. Compared with more expensive VRAM boards, the Terminator 3D offers powerful 2D graphics performance for Windows 95, dramatically improved video playback quality, plus 3D acceleration. The base configuration has 2MB of fast, single-cycle EDO DRAM upgradeable to 4MB. The higher performance version comes with 4MB.
2D/3D and Video Acceleration plus Optional Hardware MPEG
The Terminator 3D enhances a wide variety of demanding applications by integrating 2D and 3D acceleration plus accelerated, full screen/full motion video with software MPEG-1 onto a single, Microsoft plug-and-play compatible board. Software ranging from Windows 95 office applications to professional graphics, CAD, rendering and 2D/3D world wide web surfing are enhanced and accelerated. In addition, the Terminator 3D is upgradeable with a hardware MPEG-1 module that supports VideoCD.
Outperforms many VRAM and 128-Bit Accelerators
The Terminator 3D is based on the S3 ViRGE 2D/3D graphics processor. With Hercules’ high performance hardware design, and Power Drive drivers for Windows 95, your system will see great performance advantages especially when running Microsoft DirectDraw, DirectVideo and Direct3D. Hercules’ innovative implementation of the latest hardware and software technologies provides top scores in both Winbench and Winstone, outperforming more expensive VRAM solutions and popular 128-bit accelerator cards.
Complete 3D Support
In addition to being among the fastest 2D accelerators, the Terminator 3D is fully Microsoft Direct3D compatible and supports a complete set of accelerated 3D functions and 3D special effects in hardware, such as video texture mapping, MIP mapping with trilinear filtering, cueing depth and fogging, alpha blending, Z-buffering, flat shading and Gouraud shading. See our quick course in 3D terminology for more information!
Specifications
- 64-bit S3 ViRGE 3D, graphics and multimedia engine
- Full SuperVGA support - a one-card solution. VESA BIOS extensions in ROM.
- Refresh rates of up to 120Hz
- 2MB single-cycle EDO DRAM display memory and Z-buffer storage
- PCI Bus
- Multimedia expansion port for connecting optional TMPEG2000 MPEG-1 decompression daughtercard
- VESA DPMS, DDC 1, DDC 2B for Plug-and-Play support
- Five year warranty
Bundled Software
- Game CD "Descent II: Destination Quartzon 3D"
- Xing Technology Corporation's XingMPEG Player for accelerated, full-screen MPEG, Video CD and CD-i playback.
- Hercules Touch 95™
- A fully integrated utility suite that seamlessly integrates into Windows 95.
- Features a flexible, customizable virtual desktop and sophisticated monitor adjustment tools.
- Independently select resolutions, refresh rates, and adjust image size or position.
- Zoom your screen to work in 8x magnification.
- Hercules Entertainment Center™
- This all new multimedia application gives you a familiar consumer electronics component-style control center.
- Fully customize all your multimedia applications.
- Instantly catalog and play MIDI, WAV, and Video files.
- Play audio CD's, Video CD and CD-i features.
- Build track catalogs and perform sophisticated playback programming.
Driver Support
- Windows 95 Power Drive proprietary drivers with accelerated DirectDraw support
- Windows 3.1, Windows NT 3.5, 3.51
- OS/2 Warp
- Autodesk ADI 4.2 for AutoCAD, 3D Studio
Board Revisions
No information is known on board revisions for the Terminator 3D.
Competition
Given that the Hercules Terminator 3D used the original S3 ViRGE chipset, it directly competed with ATI's 3DRage, ATI Mach64 cards, and Matrox MGA Millennium (MGA2064W).
In the Media
"HERCULES DEBUTS TERMINATOR 64/3D
Next Generation Terminator Incorporates S3 ViRGE to deliver 3D with High Performance Graphics and Hardware MPEG for Demanding Windows 95 Multimedia Needs.
The Hercules Terminator 64/3D, model T2312, is expected to reach market in the first quarter of 1995 through Hercules' worldwide network of distributors and resellers. The Terminator 64/3D provides excellent GUI and multimedia acceleration in a single-slot solution. Hardware MPEG support on the Terminator 64/3D is achieved through a daughtercard connected to the accelerator via the board's digital multimedia port. The optional MPEG daughtercard, model TMPEG2000, will retail for $139.
3D For Users Not Wanting To Compromise DOS and GUI Performance
With its complete suite of 3D functionality including flat and Gouraud shading and high quality/high performance texture mapping with perspective correction, bilinear and trilinear texture filtering and MIP-mapping support plus depth cueing and fogging, alpha blending, and Z-buffering, the 3D performance is ideally suited to the coming generation of 3D games. With support for Direct3D, Reality Lab, and other 3D development environments, the Terminator 64/3D will accelerate a wide range of 3D Windows 95 applications and games, plus support Windows NT and OS/2 Warp. Additionally, this accelerator delivers great DOS and GUI performance so the user does not have to make the compromises associated with other solutions.
Hardware-based MPEG Ideal For Demanding Multimedia Needs
With hardware MPEG decompression, the Hercules Terminator 64/3D can deliver smooth, full-screen 30 frames-per-second playback of high resolution MPEG-1, CD-i and VideoCD titles. As more multimedia games and applications are released with video stored in MPEG format, numerous performance demands are placed on the PC's CPU. While video stored in MPEG format provides superior image and sound quality, decompressing MPEG files for playback can drain up to 90% of CPU power, resulting in audio synchronization problems or overall system sluggishness. The Terminator 64/3D frees the CPU to run other applications while delivering 30fps MPEG playback with superior audio synchronization.
Video Playback uses Microsoft DirectDraw and DirectVideo
Hercules has further improved video playback through its Power Playback(tm) for Video capability providing the user with true-color, full-screen video playback without performance or image degradation, eliminating jerky, "postage stamp" sized video images. Power Playback works in tandem with Microsoft's DirectDraw and DirectVideo software to give DirectDraw-compliant codecs, such as Intel's Indeo or SuperMac's Cinepak, access to the scaling, filtering, and color space conversion capabilities of the new S3 ViRGE chipset.
Multimedia Engine Dramatically Improves Video Performance
The Terminator 64/3D is the first product to use the new ViRGE chipset. The ViRGE combines advanced acceleration and specialized multimedia functions. It can accept native YUV video data, eliminating the color format conversion process that accounts for a large percentage of CPU time during video playback. Support for video overlays allows for fast video performance by multimedia applications that use the color key "blue screen" functions of Microsoft's DirectDraw API. For superior quality and full-screen playback, the ViRGE performs filtering and linear interpolation.
Onboard EDO DRAM Enhances Multimedia Performance
One key to the Terminator 64/3D's high refresh rates and crisp multimedia performance is the accelerator's memory bandwidth, or ability to move data in and out of the card's memory. For a multimedia accelerator to produce images rapidly, the onboard memory must maintain pace with the graphics commands passed from the personal computer. The higher the refresh rate and the faster the garphical elements are to be reproduced on screen, the faster the accelerator's memory must be addressed. Hercules' elegant and efficient hardware design has incorporated Extended Data Out (EDO) DRAM into the Terminator 64/3D to enable data to be retrieved from memory faster to improve overall true color performance.
Hercules' Power Drive(tm) Drivers Redesigned for Windows 95
Hercules' exclusive Power Drive Windows drivers, offered for Windows 3.1 for the past two years, have been completely redesigned for Windows 95. The new Power Drive drivers for Windows 95 feature accelerated support for every resolution and color depth offered by the hardware, as well as integrated refresh rate selection and complete DirectDraw, DirectVideo and Direct3D support. Hercules expects that this proprietary software will be key to differentiating the Terminator 64/3D from other similar products based on the same chipset.
New Touch 95(tm) and Hercules Entertainment Center(tm) Software
Hercules' new Touch 95 integrated suite of software tools builds on the industry-wide reputation of the company's original Hercules Touch utility package. Touch 95 seamlessly integrates into the Windows 95 environment to provide additional useful and enjoyable capabilities such as a "virtual desktop," on-screen monitor adjustment, and instant zoom. A revolutionary new multimedia control center, the Hercules Entertainment Center, makes multimedia easier to use and more fun. This customizable consumer electronics-style control center for multimedia provides useful tools for video and sound and a highly intuitive user interface never before seen in the multimedia accelerator marketplace.
To complement its new products, Hercules has also recently announced the addition of toll-free customer support. Hercules' North America toll free technical support number is (800) 323-0601 with hours from 6AM to 6PM Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. International customers may continue to dial the current technical support number, (510) 623-6050. In addition to toll-free technical support, Hercules has added a toll-free fax-back service which may be reached at (800) 711-4372.
Hercules Computer Technology, Inc., founded in 1982 and privately held, created the first high resolution PC graphics standard and is a leading developer of high performance, innovative graphics and multimedia solutions. The company's world headquarters are located in Fremont, Calif. with international facilities in Munich, Germany. Hercules may be reached at (800) 532-0600, or (510) 623-6030 from outside of North America. Hercules may be reached on the Internet at http://www.hercules.com/."
Hercules press release, November 1995
"Hercules Announces Support of Microsoft Direct3D
Leading Graphics Accelerator Manufacturer To Provide 3D Offering; Supports Windows 95 Applications
FREMONT, Calif. (2/29/96) --- Hercules® Computer Technology today announced its support of Microsoft® Corporation's Direct3D™ for its Terminator 64/3D 3D graphics and multimedia accelerator. Hercules Computer Technology has been working closely with Microsoft to ensure compatibility with the Direct3D application programming interface (API), which will bring mainstream 3D to consumers for use in games, business applications, educational titles, Internet tools and other software.
Direct3D is the name given for the API services that Microsoft is developing for the Windows® operating system to bring real-time 3D to mainstream PC users. The Terminator 64/3D will make adding 3D to PCs easy by using Plug and Play.
"Hercules has been a long standing supporter of Microsoft Windows and we are pleased that they are developing products that will showcase many of the best features of Windows 95, including support of Direct3D and DirectDraw technologies," said Brad Chase, general manager, Internet platform and tools division, Microsoft Corporation.
The Terminator 64/3D's powerful 3D acceleration hardware brings a new level of entertainment and productivity to the PC market. With high-performance multimedia acceleration using Microsoft's DirectDraw™ API, excellent two-dimensional graphics performance, and amenities including toll-free support and the exclusive Touch 95™ and Hercules Entertainment Center™ software, the Hercules Terminator 64/3D is an excellent choice for PC users who want to upgrade to accelerated 3D.
"We've enjoyed working with Microsoft to help bring an expected broad base of supported 3D applications and entertainment titles to our customers," said John Edeleanu, president of Hercules Computer Technology. "Our reputation has been built on providing leading edge products that are affordable, reliable, and easy to use. Our position in the market and our relationship with Microsoft will make it easy for consumers to move into the exciting world of accelerated 3D."
Hercules press release, February 1996
Setting it Up
I have no information on setting up the Terminator 3D.
Downloads
Operation Manual Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
Original Product Sheet The original Hercules product sheet for the Terminator 3D from 1995. |
Terminator Family Technical Info
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How to Setup Hardware MPEG Decompression The installation supplement that shipped with the Terminator 64/Video with Hardware MPEG (model T2212MEDO) and the Terminator 3D with Hardware MPEG (model T2312MEDO) |
Release 4.5x Installation Supplement The installation supplement that that shipped with most Terminator products. Covers the installation of Release 4.50 and later of the Windows 95 Driver and Utilities software. |
Windows 95 Drivers Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
Windows 95 Drivers
Terminator 3D Windows 95 Drivers and Tools including Power Drive driver, Touch 95 and Hercules Entertainment Center utilities. |
Windows NT 4.0 Drivers Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
OS/2 Warp 3.0 Driver Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
Windows 3.x, 95, NT 3.1/3.5/4.0 and OS/2 Warp 3.0 & 4.0 Drivers
Hercules Drivers & Utilities CD-ROM. Provides drivers for Terminator 32/64/Professional/3D and 3D/DX, Dynamite/Pro/Power/128, and Stingray 64/Pro and 128/3D. |
Windows 3.x, 95, NT 3.1/3.5/4.0 and
Hercules Drivers & Utilities CD-ROM. Provides drivers for Terminator 32/64/Professional/3D and 3D/DX, Dynamite/Pro/Power/128, and Stingray 64/Pro and 128/3D. |
More Pictures
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The original retail box for the Terminator 3D