Newsgroup: it.comp.hardware
Titolo: a tutti i curiosi: leggete sulla matrox g200... (promette bene...)

  New Mystique G200
By:  Jeremy AllfordDate:  01-05-98 10:23 E3710:23:37 Category:  Hardware
NewsSource:  e-mail
  Well it looks like the search for the ultimate 2D card for your system is
over. With a price as low as $169.99 the Mystique G200 should be in every
voodoo2 owners system. Although not as good as the Voodoo2 in 3D
performance, it has blown the benchmarks off in 2D.
Matrox revolutionizes 2D, 3D and video in the home
New Mystique G200 offers a high-quality no-compromise solution
Montreal, Canada, May 1, 1998 - Matrox Graphics Inc. today introduced a new
standard in quality and performance with the Matrox Mystique G200 - its next
generation graphics accelerator targeted at the 3D game and home market. The
Matrox Mystique G200 is the first accelerator that offers equally high
performance for 3D games, 2D, video and 'out to TV' applications. Fitted
with 8 or 16MB of SDRAM, the Matrox Mystique G200 will sell at $169 for 8MB.
The Matrox Mystique G200's significant advances in quality and performance
are attributed to the new MGA-G200 graphics chip, which integrates a
high-speed 230 MHz RAMDAC, a unique 128-bit DualBus architecture, a
full-featured 3D rendering and setup engine including a new Symmetric
Rendering Architecture (SRA) which fully utilizes the capabilities of the
AGP 2x bus.
Results from the Ziff-Davis WinBench 98 show that at resolutions up to 1280
x 1024 at 24-bpp, the Matrox Mystique G200 achieved a score of 159 million
WinMarks. Supporting all 19 tests under 3D WinBench98, the Matrox Mystique
G200 achieves a score of over 700, and accelerates real-time 3D rendering of
today's Direct 3D and Quake-based 3D games with superior 3D image effects.
Game developer's will particularly benefit from the Matrox Mystique G200's
16MB of SDRAM which provides enough memory to process 32-bit Z-buffering for
precision true color rendering at 1280 x 1024 resolution.
Home users will also be able to take advantage of exciting, multimedia
applications like hardware video capturing and editing, hardware DVD video,
and 'TV on the PC', by adding any number of low-cost upgrades for the Matrox
Mystique G200. In addition, the Matrox Mystique G200 provides maximum
support for Intel's next generation of processors and chipsets, as well as
new features that will be introduced with the upcoming releases of Windows
98 and NT 5.0.
The industry's top 2D performer
The Matrox Mystique G200 delivers the industry's top 2D acceleration with a
newly developed 128-bit DualBus design. This design employs two independent
64-bit buses that operate in parallel inside the graphics chip to
effectively double the raw performance of most 2D operations. The 64-bit
granularity of the 128-bit DualBus means that for frequent copying of small
bitmaps and fonts, performance is much higher than with a traditional
128-bit architecture. Additionally, the 128-bit DualBus architecture uses
Dual Command Pipelining, which permits read and write phases of consecutive
commands to be overlapped and executed simultaneously. Coupled with today's
fast SDRAM, the 128-bit DualBus clearly positions the Matrox Mystique G200
as a world leader in home PC acceleration. With an emphasis on quality, the
Matrox Mystique G200 integrates a high-speed 230 MHz RAMDAC to deliver the
highest refresh rates, including over 85 Hz at 1600x1200 resolution for
flicker free monitor refresh.
Ziff-Davis WinBench Business 98:
1024 x 768 @ 16 bpp: 163 million WinMarks
1024 x 768 @ 24 bpp: 160 million WinMarks
1280 x 1024 @ 24 bpp: 159 million WinMarks
1600 x 1200 @ 24 bpp: 149 million WinMarks
In addition, the Matrox Mystique G200's 16MB of SDRAM and integrated 230 MHz
RAMDAC introduces a new standard in display quality. Home users will be able
to take advantage of true, photo-realistic displays at resolutions as high
as 1920 x 1200, while maintaining high system performance and a high screen
refresh rate. Entire Web pages, multiple documents and windows can be viewed
on screen at once without requiring the user to scroll or zoom into their
documents.
Advanced 3D gaming features: Performance and Image Quality
The Matrox Mystique G200's advanced 3D feature set brings arcade 3D realism
and real-time responsiveness to PC games. Achieving a 3D WinBench score of
over 700 at 640 x 480, the Matrox Mystique G200 accelerates Direct3D and
Quake-based applications with full 3D image effects, including advanced
alpha-blending, bi-linear filtering, tri-linear mipmapping, fogging,
anti-aliasing and specular highlights. The Matrox Mystique G200's advanced
3D setup engine processes over 1.5 million triangles per second and is
capable of processing full-featured Direct 3D and OpenGL triangles, strips,
fans, and vectors. The Matrox Mystique G200's 3D setup engine also contains
large amounts of dedicated on-chip cache to support parallel instruction
execution, as well as to minimize the amount of information travelling on
the AGP bus.
To further maximize 3D game performance, the Matrox Mystique G200 employs a
new Symmetric Rendering Architecture (SRA) that supports read and write
operations from system memory. The benefit of this feature is that bus
mastering is maintained and the MGA-G200 can continue to work in parallel
with the CPU and help maintain high performance. The AGP writes are used
within the context of the SRA to minimize the amount of texture memory
utilized in applications and increase performance.
"Through the use of advanced 3D features like tri-linear filtering, 32-bit
color and wicked alpha blending, the rendering quality of the Matrox
Mystique G200 is unrivaled," says Jason Della Rocca, Developer Relations
Manager, Matrox Graphics. "And with its full set-up engine it just screams
on all of today and tomorrow's hot 3D games!"
One of the cornerstones of the new 3D architecture of the MGA-G200 is
Vibrant Color Quality rendering (VCQ). VCQ rendering uses 32-bpp color
accuracy throughout the rendering pipeline and is capable of rendering
displayed images in 32-bpp color from source texture maps of up to 32-bpp
color. Even when the display is set to 16-bpp rendering, all internal
calculations are executed with 32-bit accuracy and the end result is
dithered down to 16-bpp from a true color palette. Finally, the VCQ
architecture provides high quality analog color output to deliver sharp
contrast and vibrant colors to avoid bland or washed out images.
The Matrox Mystique G200's support for up to 16MB of SDRAM ensures superior
image quality and rendering precision for today's Direct 3D and Quake-based
3D games, as well as tomorrow's next generation of games which will use more
complex 3D geometry. Capable of rendering target frames in true 32-bit ARGB,
the Matrox Mystique G200 provides true 24-bit color rendering without color
banding or color quantization, and support for 32-bit Z-buffering for
exceptional rendering precision. The Matrox Mystique G200 represents the
most evenly balanced 3D game product on the market today with 3D performance
levels that satisfy even the most demanding user.
Video engine
The Matrox Mystique G200 incorporates a high performance video engine for
high quality video playback and superior software MPEG-2 playback
acceleration. Fitted with both a front-end and a back-end scaler, as well as
true overlay capabilities and color space converter, the Matrox Mystique
G200 ensures high image quality at high frame rates for seamless playback of
today's multimedia CD and DVD titles. In order to perform video texture
mapping, the video engine also capitalizes on the use of video streams as a
source for texture mapping. In addition, the Matrox Mystique G200 builds on
Matrox's reputation of providing maximum multimedia upgradeability. Its
MGA-G200 CODEC ports allow the Matrox Mystique G200 to support a wide
variety of peripheral devices including hardware DVD acceleration for
superior MPEG-2 video playback, hardware Motion-JPEG for video capture and
editing, and other video encoders/decoders.
'Out to TV'
The Matrox Mystique G200 also provides video output capability for
displaying PC applications on a TV with Matrox's new MGA-TVO video chip.
Users can take advantage of the larger size of their big screen TV for
viewing any number of different PC applications, including 3D games,
multimedia slide shows, and Web pages. The MGA-TVO video chip preserves
image quality by using an advanced, flicker-reduction and text enhancement
technique that provides flicker-free displays and crisp TV images for text
and graphics. The Matrox Mystique G200 effectively brings PC applications
out of the computer room and into the living room for the whole family to
enjoy.
Full AGP 2X support
The Matrox Mystique G200 AGP 2x device fully benefits from the 528 MB/sec
bandwidth offered by the AGP bus. The Matrox Mystique G200 supports all
advanced AGP 2x functions, including side band addressing, extremely deep
read and write pipelining and high speed texturing from AGP memory (Direct
Memory Execute). Unlike some other AGP 2x graphics chips available, the
MGA-G200 supports read operations from system memory and write operations to
system memory. In addition, the MGA-G200 employs a unique bus mastering
method called Intelligent Scatter Gather Bus Mastering. This method is
capable of bus mastering scattered data from the entire range of system
memory without requiring the host CPU or the AGP chipset to process graphics
data. These unique chip features ensure that the Matrox Mystique G200 will
maintain maximum performance in the areas of 2D, 3D and video.
Upgrades for Mystique G200
A number of low-cost upgrade products for the Matrox Mystique G200 will be
available later this year. These upgrades will keep home users at the
cutting edge of multimedia technology. These include the new Rainbow Runner
G-Series, Matrox's next generation video editing card which combines
hardware Motion JPEG video capture and TV tuning for watching and monitoring
TV on the PC, in addition to holding live video conferences over the
Internet. Then there is the exclusive Matrox DVD Video, a hardware DVD video
daughter card for hardware accelerated MPEG-2 video playback for image
quality on the television that is nearly three times better than
conventional VHS machines.
Software bundle
Included with the Matrox Mystique G200 will be an assortment of popular
software titles for the home. Featured will be a hot 3D game, more than 20
3D game demos, and home productivity software; each one adding incredible
value for the end-user.
Pricing and availability
Mystique G200 with 8MB will be available for $169 ESP starting Q2 1998.
Mystique G200 with 16MB will be available for $269 ESP starting Q2 1998.
Matrox DVD Video will be available for $79 ESP starting Q3 1998.
Matrox Rainbow Runner G-Series will be available in Q3 1998. Price to be
announced.
Matrox TV will be available in Q3 1998. Price to be announced.
--
  (Y)
_ 'o'_
   ^°^
----------
Gianfranco Silvestri, Antonio
Nickname: qu
"cosa mi dici mai" Topo Gigio"
"Se la vita è una trappola per topi, noi siamo il formaggio"
gisil@#Nospam#
labnet.it
qu@#Nospam#
freemail.it
eliminare #Nospam# per la risposta
codice ICQ
10164523

Mio cugggino mi ha detto che infilando una Mystique220 nel forno a
microonde, il chip si overclocca da solo del 500% e diventa in pratica
una G200. Ha detto anche che domani mi posta i suoi benchmark...

ciro il camionista wrote:

Grande Ciro! Era da un po che non postavi più o sbaglio? Ben tornato!
Ciao!
Filippo
vfil...@tin.it

...


 non è per caso che il forno era analogico?
Scherzi a parte, io ho paura che la nuova Mystique G200 farà un po' la
fine della Mystique normale, cioé sarà una scheda quasi senza rivali al
momento della sua uscita, x poi venire completamente surclassata dalle
schede della concorrenza che usciranno qualche mese più tardi. Giudicare
la G200 paragonandola al Riva128 o al Permedia2 (che comunque non
sfigura affatto al confronto e può già da ora vantare driver
stabilissimi e ultracollaudati) sotto NT, non mi sembra che abbia molto
senso. Secondo me, prima di decidere se acquistare la nuova Matrox,
bisognerebbe vederla confrontarsi con le altre schede della sua
generazione tipo ,il Banshee di 3dfx, il riva ZX, il PermediaV, e il
nuovo ATI progettato in collaborazione con la Tseng Labs, che dovrebbero
uscire tutti questo autunno.
Altrimenti si rischia di spendere una barca di soldi convinti di aver
inviestito in una scheda imbattibile e poi accorgersi che, tornati dalle
ferie, il vicino di casa ha comprato per la stessa cifra una scheda
molto più performante. Tutto mentre tu sei lì a scaricare l'ennesima
release dei driver Matrox, che risolvono un bug, ma ne aggiungono 3
nuovi.
Il mio nuovo provider ha una velocità massima di 28.8kbps, non posso più
permettermi di scaricare settimanalmente l'aggiornamento dei driver come
quando avevo il collegamento a 56k con la Tin. Oggi come oggi, una Viper
a 220k lire mi sembra la soluzione ideale per arrivare fino a Natale e
poi, quando si potranno giudicare tutte le schede, decidere quale vale
davvero la pena prendere.
P.S.
Parlando di cose presenti e tangibili, mi sembra che dalla prova di Tom
si possa vedere che il bistrattato Intel740 non é poi così da buttare
via, soprattutto se si considera che le schede da 8Mb basate su questo
chip costano 50-100k lire meno di quelle di pari memoria basate sul
Permedia2.

beh, che altro dire.. c'hai ragione...
il punto è, però, questo:
chi vuol cambiare scheda adesso, la g200 è un ottima soluzione.
Personalmente, credo, andrò alla pari semplicemente permutando la mia
attuale millenium2 pci con la g200 agp...
il che non è poco.
Tenendo conto che il 3d lo affiderò comunque al v2...
S'intende: la richiesta anche di sl
  (Y)
_ 'o'_
   ^°^
----------
Gianfranco Silvestri, Antonio
Nickname: qu
"cosa mi dici mai" Topo Gigio"
"Se la vita è una trappola per topi, noi siamo il formaggio"
gisil@#Nospam#
labnet.it
qu@#Nospam#
freemail.it
eliminare #Nospam# per la risposta
codice ICQ
10164523
e 50k per il cambio, mi farebbe cambiare idea.

 generazione tipo ,il Banshee di 3dfx, il riva ZX, il PermediaV, e il
Che č sto permediaV???? Hai letto qualcosa da qualche parte???  Fammi
sapere!
bye, Jena

uscire tutti questo autunno.
Il riva128 ZX è quasi già disponibile e comunque non lo paragonerei al G200.
In autunno sarà pronto il rivaTNT che sulla carta è decisamente il migliore
chip in assoluto (compreso il G200) e avrà già i driver OpenGL pronti (è
comunque una evoluzione del riva128)
Queste sono le specifiche:
RIVA TNT
128-BIT 3D
GRAPHICS PROCESSOR
RIVA TNT OVERVIEW
The RIVA TNT(tm) architecture is the first integrated, 128-bit 3D Processor
that processes 2 pixels-per-clock cycle which enables single-pass
multi-texturing and delivers a mind-blowing 250 million pixels-per-second
fill rate. RIVA TNT's (twin-texel) 32-bit color pipeline, 24-bit Z, 8-bit
stencil buffer and per-pixel precision delivers unsurpassed quality and
performance allowing developers to write standards based applications with
stunning visual effects and realism.
The RIVA TNT offers industry leading 2D and 3D performance, meeting all the
requirements of the mainstream PC graphics market and Microsoft's PC'98 and
DX6 initiatives. The TNT delivers the industry's best Direct3D(tm)
acceleration solution and also delivers leadership VGA, 2D and Video
performance, enabling a range of applications from 3D games through to DVD
and video conferencing. A complete high performance OpenGL ICD is included
in the standard SW driver package.
KEY FEATURES
Visually stunning interactive 3D
•Optimized Direct3D acceleration
•Complete DX5 and DX6 support
•Twin texel (TNT) 32-bit graphics pipeline
     -2 texture mapped, lit pixels per clock
     -Single pass multi-texturing support
       (DX6 and OpenGL)
     -Square and non-square texture support
     -TextureBlend support examples:
         -Multi-texture
         -Bump map
         -Texture modulation
         -Light maps
         -Reflection maps
         -Detail textures
         -Environmental maps
         -Procedural textures
     -Backend blend
        -DX5: 121 modes supported for source and destination and alpha
blending
        -32-bit ARGB rendering with destination alpha
        -Point sampled, Bilinear, Trilinear and 8 tap Anisotropic filtering
(better than Trilinear Mipmapping)
•Per pixel perspective correct texture mapping
         -Fog
         -Light
         -Mipmapping
•24-bit or 16-bit HW Z buffer (floating point or integer)
•8-bit stencil buffer
•Anti-aliasing: full scene, order independent
•100% HW Triangle setup
Mainstream feature support
•High performance 128-bit 2D Acceleration
    - Accelerated primitives include BLT, indexed DIB color translation,
transparent  BLT, stretch BLT, points, lines, polylines, polygons, fills,
patterns, arbitrary rectangular clipping and fast text rendering
    - HW font cache
    - Pipeline optimized for multiple color depths including 32, 24, 16, 15
and 8 bits per pixel.
    - Multi buffering for smooth animation and video playback
•Fast 32-bit VGA/SVGA support
•16, 8 and 4MB frame buffer configurations
    - SGRAM and SDRAM supported
Video Support
•Video Acceleration for DirectShow,
MPEG-1/2 and Indeo(r)
        - Planar 4:2:0 and packed 4:2:2 Color Space Conversion
        - X and Y smooth up/down scaling, filtering
        - DVD sub-picture alpha blend YUV
•NTSC and PAL TV output
•CCIR-656 video capture port
Interfaces
•Comprehensive AGP2X support (532MB/sec with side band addressing and
pipelining)
•Bus mastering DMA PCI interface
Designed to WHQL compatibility standards:
•Windows NT 3.5, 4.0 and 5.0 display drivers
•Windows 95 and 98 Display Driver, DirectDraw, Direct3D, DirectVideo,
ActiveX
•Windows 3.x display drivers
•OpenGL ICD for Windows 95 and NT (passes compliance tests)
PRELIMINARY PERFORMANCE
AND STATISTICS
•128-bit wide graphics engine and frame buffer
•Massive 3.2GB/sec frame buffer bandwidth architecture supporting up to
200MHz memory
•250Mpixel/sec fill rate
•8M million triangles/sec peak
•Large 12K on-chip cache
•10 GFLOPS floating point geometry processor
•40 Billion Operations/sec pixel processing pipeline
•7M transistors
•Integrated 250MHz Palette-DAC supporting up to 1600x1200x24 at 85 Hz
•452 PBGA
.