Intergraph Computer Systems takes on SGI's market; Intergraph previews P6-based TDZ 3D workstation technology demos at Siggraph '95.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 1995--Intergraph Computer Systems will be previewing technology demos of systems based on Intel's next generation of processors.

These systems provide the kind of high-end graphics technology -- through system design, graphics accelerators and monitors -- to support Irix-only applications that are to be ported to Windows NT. Intergraph is showcasing its current Pentium-based 3D workstation -- the TDZ -- as well as previewing its next-generation Intel-based P6 workstations at the Siggraph '95 industry trade show here today.

Intergraph's present line of workstations, the TDZ 3D graphics systems, feature Intel's fastest production processors, Windows NT operating system and Intergraph's 3D graphics accelerators. Intergraph's systems take full advantage of OpenGL 3D hardware graphics and customers have a choice of six different graphics options to accelerate compute-intensive 3D graphics operations such as geometry calculations and texture mapping for real-time, high-resolution rendering of complex 3D designs and animations. These add-on graphics cards allow the TDZs to run 3D graphics hundreds of times faster than other Intel-based systems.

The systems incorporate Intergraph's latest advancements including multimedia and Plug-n-Play capabilities -- a quad-speed CD-ROM, MIDI and waveform sound, 64-bit graphics and video scaling for full-screen video. High quality speakers and an integrated omni-directional microphone are also integrated on a new, multimedia keyboard. Add-on devices can be installed and configured on the workstations by simply plugging them into one of up to five PCI or ISA expansion slots (up to 10 on deskside configurations) or PCMIA slots provided to further ease peripheral expansion.

The TDZ 3D workstations consist of desktop and deskside models with an impressive lineup of features including one to six Pentium processors (up to 133 MHz); 512 KB, zero-wait-state secondary cache; 8 to 256 MB of RAM; 2D and 3D graphics accelerator options with up to 34 MB of VRAM; and 64-bit graphics accelerator embedded on motherboard with up 8 MB of Window RAM, which is significantly faster than VRAM.

Intergraph's workstations will be shown in many venues throughout the Siggraph '95 show including the Intergraph booth No. 1405 and the Microsoft booth No. 2341. Other ICS display areas are in the following vendors' booths: HSC No. 1244, Visual Software No. 1261, Macromedia No. 1045, Sense8 No. 2331, Fractal Design No. 2077, Caligari No. 1051, General Reality No. 2625, Lightscape Technology No. 1965, Viewpoint Datalabs No. 1421, Template Graphics No. 1527, Portable Graphics No. 2151, and Crisis in Perspective No. 1715.

Intergraph Computer Systems takes on SGI's market

The next generation of Intergraph workstations, with their new high levels of performance, will enable users to realize tremendous performance and productivity gains compared to comparably priced offerings from Silicon Graphics Inc.

Intergraph's P6 Technology Demonstration will be the feature of Intergraph's press conference on Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m., in the Holiday Inn Convention Center, with Jim Meadlock, CEO/chairman, Intergraph as the main speaker, Carl Everett, senior vice president, Desktop Products Group, Intel Corp., and Craig Mundie, senior vice president, Consumer Systems Division, Microsoft Corp., as guest speakers.

Demonstrations of such well-known application as Microsoft's Softimage 3D, HSC's Kai's Power Tools, and the recently announced Extreme 3D from Macromedia will also be shown during Intergraph's press conference.

Intergraph's TDZ P6 workstations can also be seen at other events such as Macromedia's press conference on Aug. 9 at 9:00 a.m. in the Omni Hotel and at the Digital Media Players Party sponsored by HSC Software in the famous House of Blues on Aug. 8 at 10:00 p.m.

Jim Meadlock, chairman and CEO of Intergraph Corp., says, "Support of 3D graphics with these kinds of texture mapping and high performance capabilities by an Intel processor was unheard of in this industry until P6 and NT using our graphics accelerators ... In many cases, Intergraph Computer Systems provides you the ability to obtain the performance of a comparable SGI machine at half the cost."

"Intergraph Computer Systems has raised the bar on both compute and graphics performance at all workstation price points. ICS's TDZ 3D systems provide fully scaleable and robust solutions for 3D graphics applications ... their machines should be especially appealing to workstation users," said Carl Everett, Senior Vice President, Desktop Products Group, Intel Corporation.

"The new workstation from Intergraph will be the platform for professional Windows imaging and multimedia developers," said John Wilczak, chairman and CEO at HSC. "Our Windows NT imaging software -- Kai's Power Tools and KPT Convolver -- is built to take advantage of Intergraph's blazing performance. Our customers will find astonishing productivity gains and new degrees of creative freedom with these incredible machines."

Sense8 Corporation, the leading supplier of virtual reality software, is currently the only company offering Intergraph's newest line of graphics accelerators. Tom Coull, president of Sense8 says, "Intergraph's workstation partnered with Sense8's WorldToolKit VR software provides the fastest, highest-quality, texture-mapped, real-time simulation and virtual reality system available in the Windows NT environment. In addition, price performance advantages of the Intergraph workstation and Sense8's software enable virtual reality developers the highest quality computer graphics at under $10,000."

"Intergraph's new TDZ workstations provide a super platform for developing exciting 3D graphics, animations, and multimedia," said Miles Walsh, vice president of worldwide marketing. "Extreme 3D, our new tool for 3D graphics and animation, screams on a Pentium and P6 powered TDZ workstation."

Another example of the TDZ's excellent graphics capabilities will be represented in the LASCAUX Cave Project sponsored by the University of Ohio. Intergraph's technology demonstration will include walkthroughs of the LASCAUX Cave Project. Benjamin Britton, Assistant Professor of Electronic Art at University of Ohio at Cincinnati and Project Director, says "...Intergraph's TDZ GLI workstation is a fantastic machine because of its texture mapping capabilities. It's going to do a better job for us than any other machine in the world could do and that includes SGI's Onyx Reality Engine with 16 MB of texture memory."

"Intergraph's workstation is one of the first systems designed to address the growing market need for completely tested, completely integrated turnkey solutions for multimedia and desktop video authoring. Smart and Friendly is now working very closely with Intergraph Computer Systems to distribute integrated systems through our channels and to develop the first `all-in-one-box' systems for creative professionals," said Perry Soloman, CEO, Smart and Friendly.

Intergraph Computer Systems Background Information

Intergraph Computer Systems develops, manufactures, sells and supports computer systems for the Technical Desktop -- the combination of compatible technical applications and personal productivity tools in a single desktop computer. Hardware products include personal workstations and servers. A member of the Fortune 1000, Intergraph is the world's largest company dedicated to supplying interactive computer graphics systems.

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Intergraph(R) is a registered trademark of Intergraph Corporation. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

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CONTACT: Integraph Computer Systems, Huntsville

Kristene Renteria, 205/730-4566