Nvidia Introduces GeForce3

Nvidia, in a move supporting the Macintosh as a viable 3D graphics platform, has introduced the GeForce3 GPU specifically for Mac. Powered by the new Nvidia nfiniteFX engine, the new GeForce3 GPU adds ambiance to 3D scenes with improved photo realistic rendering and new custom lighting. Nvidia says that GeForce3 is the first fully programmable GPU. The nfiniteFX Pixel Shader processor and Vertex Shader processor give developers the ability to program a virtually infinite number of special effects and custom looks. Vertex Shaders allow developers to inject personality into characters and environments by placing motion throughout a whole scene, not just the focal points. The vertex processing capabilities allow characters to move and show facial emotion, materials to stretch, and the scene to come alive. By customizing the skinning and motion, developers can create an appropriate personality, intensifying the impact of the visualization or animation. Pixel Shaders create ambiance with materials and surfaces that mimic reality. Realistic material effects replace the artificial, computerized look with high-impact organic surfaces. Characters now have facial hair and blemishes, golf balls have dimples, a red chair gains a subtle leather look, and wood exhibits texture and grain. By altering the lighting and surface effects, artists are able to manipulate colors, textures, or shapes and generate complex, realistic scenes. For speed consideration, Nvidia says it incorporated its Lightspeed Memory Architecture, which uses the new Quincunx antialiasing (AA) mode, generates high performance samples at nearly four-times the rate of the GeForce2 Ultra. The GeForce3 has more than 57 million transistors and the ability to perform more than 800 billion operations per second and 76 billion floating point operations per second (FLOPS). The GeForce3 GPU achieves 3.2 billion antialiased samples per second fill rate. GeForce3 supports resolutions and color depths of up to 2048x1536x32. GeForce3 has a high-definition video processor (HDVP), and is available in 64MB DDR SDRAM configuration that supports both the Apple Display Connector and the industry standard VGA connection. Geforce3 graphics on the Power Mac G4 will be available next month. hello every one!