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nVidia readies for battle
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August 31, 1999: 5:59 p.m. ET
Computer graphics company unveils new chip to attract PC game players
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - Less than a year after redefining "state of the art" graphics for home computers, the computer gaming industry is doing it again.
3-D graphics systems maker nVidia (NVDA) Tuesday unveiled its next generation graphics accelerator, which it hopes will deflect some of the attention from new console gaming machines. The GeForce 256, which nVidia calls the world's first graphics processing unit, will be the successor to its TNT 2 line of graphics chips.
"The GPU … will fundamentally transform the 3D medium," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of nVidia. "The richness of this new 3D medium will have a profound impact on the future of storytelling and will broaden the appeal of 3D far beyond the game enthusiasts."
What makes the GeForce different than its predecessors is the chip's ability to take over all processing functions for creating three-dimensional graphics. Previously, the computer's main processor would have to share in that responsibility, which could result in slower load times and "stuttering" on the part of the software.
nVidia claims the graphics created by this card will be the smoothest and most photorealistic the industry has seen. PC users will not have to buy new versions of their software with the GeForce. Existing titles will be compatible with the new accelerator.
Several major graphics card manufacturers, including Creative Labs and Guillemot, already have aligned themselves with the GeForce. The first products using the accelerator are expected on store shelves by the end of September, a remarkably fast turnaround time.
Speed is important in the gaming industry, however. nVidia's chief rival 3dfx is readying its next generation graphics card as well. Currently known as the Voodoo4 (though its official designation has not yet been announced), the card, which claims to bring real time cinematic effects to the PC, is scheduled to ship in late 1999.
And starting next month, console gaming systems will once again be a significant threat to computer graphics companies. Current console systems, such as the PlayStation and Nintendo 64, are several generations behind advances in PC graphics. However, the Sega Dreamcast, set to launch in the U.S. on Sept. 9, offers arcade-quality graphics to couch potato gamers. Sony and Nintendo also are developing next-generation generation machines, which are expected to be released next year. Both boast incredibly smooth graphics as well.
Shares of nVidia climbed 2-7/32 in trading Tuesday to close at 28-1/8.
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