Mediamatics.............................
Monday March 10 2:08 PM EDT
Diamond Multimedia Announces New Stealth 3D 2000 Pro Series of Media Accelerators
Powerful DRAM Performance for 2D, 3D and Video Desktop Applications
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1997-- Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc , a leader in Internet multimedia, has announced the latest offering in its critically acclaimed line of Stealth 3D media accelerators, the Stealth 3D 2000 Pro.
Populated with 4MB of EDO DRAM, the new Stealth 3D delivers advanced 3D rendering, smooth, full-screen digital video playback and fast 2D graphics acceleration to meet the needs of today's general business, computer entertainment and Internet multimedia audiences. The Stealth 3D Pro is available this month through select retailers and distributors and to OEM system manufacturers. The retail version, the Stealth 3D 2000XL Pro, features a robust software bundle, including business and game applications, and offers "TV out" for viewing PC graphics on a television set. The estimated retail price is $199.95.
The Stealth 3D Pro is Diamond's fastest DRAM accelerator and is about 20 percent faster in 2D graphics than its closest competitor, scoring more than 70 million WinMarks (see Attachment 1). The Stealth 3D Pro includes Diamond-enhanced drivers for Microsoft Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0/3.51 and DOS operating systems with plans for Windows 3.1x support. And the product includes hardware acceleration for industry-leading 3D APIs, such as Direct3D and OpenGL.
By combining Diamond's driver technology with S3 Incorporated's 64-bit ViRGE/DX engine, the Stealth 3D Pro delivers state-of-the-art 2D performance, enhanced 3D acceleration with Z-buffer support and provides high-quality, full-screen digital video at 30 frames-per-second using X and Y interpolation. Its integrated 170MHz RAMDAC and clock synthesizer significantly improve overall system performance and visual quality to meet the diverse needs of Windows power users. The new accelerator provides flicker-free refresh rates up to 120Hz, resolutions up to 1600x1200 (non-interlaced) for large monitors and True Color support at up to 1024x768 resolution.
The retail version of the Stealth 3D Pro features TV output, allowing consumers to connect their PCs to television sets for playing their favorite games or surfing the Internet. This feature also allows business users to playback multimedia presentations and enables trainers and teachers to deliver instructional programs using the TV set as an additional monitor.
The retail version also comes bundled with an array of popular software titles for business users, gamers and Internet enthusiasts, including MGI's PhotoSuite SE, a suite of photo software for the Internet home and office that allows users to edit and manipulate photos on their PCs; Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia 96 (MPEG version); Microsoft's Game Sampler; an OEM version of Sega Entertainment's Sega Rally Championship; and Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3.0 World Wide Web browser. Diamond's InControl Tools 95 desktop utility software provides such features as resolution and color depth switching on the fly.
"We are very excited about adding the Stealth 3D 2000 Pro, our highest performance DRAM solution, to our award-winning Stealth lineup," said David Watkins, vice president and general manager of Diamond Multimedia's Visual Systems Division. "With S3's leading-edge ViRGE/DX chipset and Diamond Multimedia's software expertise, we believe the Stealth 3D Pro will extend Diamond's performance leadership and be a popular choice for a wide range of end-users this year."
Advanced 2D, 3D and Video Performance at DRAM Prices
The Stealth 3D Pro greatly improves graphics and overall system performance by delivering higher resolution, photo-realistic colors and speed for running business applications, intense 3D games and TV-quality digital video on the PC.
Diamond Multimedia's new Stealth 3D Pro with its ViRGE/DX engine delivers significant 3D performance improvements over other DRAM-based multi-purpose accelerators on the market. Key 3D architectural innovations, including S3's SmartFilter technology for higher performing, higher quality texture mapping and an advanced parallel processing perspective engine for increased throughput, make the Stealth 3D 2000 Pro the most robust solution in Diamond's line of DRAM-based Stealth 3D 2000 products. Other 3D innovations include Z-buffer memory; MIP mapping and trilinear filtering; transparency; and atmospheric effects. Additionally, Windows NT/OpenGL support makes the Stealth 3D Pro an affordable solution for entry-level CAD applications.
Stealth 3D Pro users can view and scale full-screen digital video via Mediamatic's software MPEG. Video playback is hardware accelerated featuring X and Y interpolation and color space conversion, which provides realistic image playback at up to 20 frames-per-second. Traditionally, this high quality video playback has been associated only with more expensive VRAM solutions.
"Providing up to a three-fold increase in performance over first generation 3D accelerators, S3's ViRGE/DX delivers the high-performance multimedia acceleration required for entertainment, business and Internet applications," said G. "Ven" Venkatesh, executive vice president, S3 Incorporated. "Leveraging the capabilities of the ViRGE/DX, the Stealth 3D 2000 Pro is a powerful addition to the award-winning Diamond Stealth 3D product line."
Diamond Multimedia's Stealth 3D Line
From the premier worldwide supplier of graphics accelerators, Diamond's Stealth 3D product line is recognized for its price/performance leadership within the mainstream graphics category. The Stealth 3D 2000XL recently received PC Magazine's "Editors' Choice" and "Best of 96" awards and the Stealth 3D 3000 VRAM-based version offers some the highest 2D graphics benchmark scores available in the industry today.
With the addition of the Stealth 3D 2000 Pro, Diamond Multimedia provides gamers, Windows power users and entry-level CAD designers a variety of choices to meet their individual needs. In addition to the new Stealth 3D 2000XL Pro, Diamond Multimedia offers the Stealth 3D 2000 with 2MB DRAM fixed for $99.95, the Stealth 3D 2000XL with 2MB DRAM (upgradeable) for $129.95; the Stealth 3D 2000XL with 4MB DRAM for $149.95; the Stealth 3D 3000XL with 2MB VRAM for $199.95; and the Stealth 3D 3000XL 4MB VRAM version for $249.95. Retail Stealth 3D accelerators with the XL designation are packaged with high value software bundles.
Stealth 3D accelerators also can be found in leading original equipment multimedia PCs.
Diamond Multimedia
Diamond Multimedia is driving the Internet multimedia market by providing interactivity and connectivity solutions for home, business and professional desktop computer users, enabling them to create, access and experience compelling new media content from their desktops and through the Internet. Diamond accelerates multimedia from the Internet to the hard drive with products that include the Stealth series of media accelerators, the Monster series of entertainment 3D and sound accelerators, the Fire series of professional 3D and SCSI accelerators and the Supra series of modems and ISDN adapters. Diamond also markets multimedia and video phone upgrade kits.
Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Diamond has sales, marketing and technical support facilities in Vancouver (Wash.), Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Paris, Starnberg (Germany) and Winnersh (U.K.). Diamond's products are sold through local and international distributors as well as directly to major retailers, VARs and OEMs worldwide. Diamond's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol DIMD.
How to Contact Diamond Multimedia
There are many ways to reach Diamond for sales support, technical assistance, driver updates and general information:
Internet Web Site: diamondmm.com
Diamond Multimedia's Headquarters and Visual Systems Division: 408/325-7000; Fax: 408/325-7070
Communications Division (Supra brand modems) Main Phone Number: 360/604-1400; Fax: 360/604-1401
European Division (Germany): +49-8151-266-0; (UK): +44-1189-444400; (France) +33-1-47561157
Korean Office (Seoul): +82-2-551-2700; Fax: +82-2-551-2710
Japanese Office (Tokyo): +81-3-5695-8401; Fax: +81-3-5695-8403
ASEAN Office (Singapore): +65-353-9511; Fax: +65-353-9510
Hong Kong Office: +852-2375-9023; Fax: +852-2375-9021
Support Information Line for Communications: 1-800/774-4965
Product Support (Voice), Visual Systems: 408/325-7100; Communications: 541-967/2450; Europe (Germany) +49-8151-266-330; Europe (UK) +44-1189-444444; ISDN Support Center 408/325-7110; Fire GL Support Center 408/325-7120; TDD/TTY Support 541/967-2451
Product Support (Fax), Visual Systems: 408-325-7171; Communications: 541/967-2401; Europe (Germany) +49-8151-266-331; Europe (UK): +44-1189-444445; (France) +33-1-47561139
Pre-sales Information, Visual Systems: 1-800/468-5846; Communications: 1-800/727-8772
Investor Relations: 408/325-7476
24-Hour Fax-On-Demand Service, Visual Systems: 1-800/380-0030; Communications: 541/967-0072
FTP sites: ftp.diamondmm.com; or Supra: ftp.supra.com
BBS for Visual Systems 408/325-7080 (to 14.4 Kbps) or 408/325-7175 (to 28.8 Kbps) or 408/383-0551 (ISDN);
Communications BBS: 541/967-2444; Europe (Germany) BBS at +49-8151-266333 (to 28.8 Kbps) or +49-8151-266334 (ISDN); Europe (UK) at +44-1189-444415 (to 33.6 Kbps)
Stealth 3D 2000 Pro, Monster 3D and Supra are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark of their respective manufacturers. This announcement relates to products whose launch are in the United States of America. The product names contents, prices and availability may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements.
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, such as statements relating to the Company's ability to successfully exploit technological and market developments, the timing and success of new product introductions by the Company and its competitors and the Company's ability to invest in new technologies and to enhance its existing systems are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing and alternative technological advances, the timely and successful development and market acceptance of new products and upgrades to existing products and other risks as detailed from time to time in Diamond Multimedia's SEC filings, including its most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q.
Attachment 1
Windows 95 Performance Comparison
Winbench 97
ZD Business Graphics WinMark 97
Product Diamond Multimedia Matrox MGA No. 9 Imagine 128
Stealth 3D 2000 Pro Millennium Series 2
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Video Memory 4MB DRAM 4MB WRAM 4MB VRAM
BIOS 1.00 1.90 3.01.03
Driver Version 4.03.00.3200 3.22 4.03.9041
WinMark Score 70.1 59.0 58.6
Product Matrox ATI Creative Labs
Mystique Expression(1) 3D Blaster
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Video Memory 4MB SGRAM 4MB SGRAM 4MB DRAM
BIOS 0.09 9/24/96 1.00
Driver Version 3.22 3.03 1.00
WinMark Score 55.6 47.5 44.6
Above products tested at 1024x768x16@75Hz small fonts. Scores based on in-house testing using the Ziff-Davis Benchmark Operation's Winbench 97 on a Micron Millennia Plus with Intel P5 200MHz CPU, 512K cache, 32MB EDO DRAM, and 1.6GB hard
CONTACT: Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc.
Kim Stowe, 408/325-7204
Email: kims@diamondmm.com
or
Faiola Davis Public Relations
Andrea Sausedo/Heidi Davis, 213/933-4959
fdpr1@aol.com |
