3DLabs Inc has upgraded its high-end Glint processor, begun shipments of its low-end Permedia three-dimensional graphics chips, and introduced a combination chip set aimed specifically at Windows NT systems. The Glint 500TX, pin-compatible with the current 300SX Glint, which will still be sold, boosts three-dimensional performance up to 1m Gouraud shaded, Z-buffered, 32-bit color, 25 pixel polygons-per-second, according to the company. It makes the chip capable of full OpenGL-based texture-mapping and geometry acceleration without the need for any additional hardware – Silicon Graphics territory, says 3DLabs. By using the Glint Delta geometry pipeline processor, which diverts load away from the host CPU and PCI bus, multiple chips can be glued together to deliver performance of up to 100m shaded, Z-buffered pixels per second. At the low end, the Permedia chip, announced last year, supports two-dimensional and OpenGL three-dimensional graphics, and Microsoft’s Direct3D graphics app lications programming interface, with a price tag under $200 – it is shipping now. Texas Instruments signed up as a second source for Permedia back in May, and promises its own variants on the technology in the fourth quarter. And Permedia NT is a n ew chip set consisting of the Permedia chip and the Glint Delta pipeline processor in a single package, aimed specifically at authoring and computer-aided design, three-dimensional Web browsers and games on Pentium Pro systems running Windows NT 4.0 . It uses the same drivers as high-end Glint boards, but for cost of under $300. It is available immediately. 3DLabs is based in San Jose, California, and Egham, Surrey.
