Intergraph announces new TDZ Workstation line with 50 percent performance boost, Pentium II processors and reduced prices.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 1997--Intergraph announced today that its new Windows NT(R)-based TDZ(TM) 3D Graphics Workstation models powered by Intel's 266 MHz Pentium II processors achieve a CDRS composite score of 34.68 with an overall performance increase of 25% to 50% over previous generation TDZs.

With entry-level pricing starting at $6,995, Intergraph sharpens the TDZ's price/performance ratio, again setting the standard for affordable high performance in the Windows NT-based workstation market. Intergraph continues to rachet up 3D graphics performance with enhancements to the graphics drivers that support the TDZ's award-winning RealiZm(TM) 3D graphics subsystem. With these new drivers, users not only see an increase in 3D performance, they also get the latest OpenGL(R) 1.1 feature set. Together, these enhancements give technical and creative professionals using high-end 3D applications -- such as 3D CAD, animation, simulation, and visualization -- the ultimate 3D graphics experience to date on Windows NT. Additionally, the TDZs are the first workstations to ship dual Pentium II processors for multitasking capability and multithreaded applications.

"We deliver the only 3D workstations with the features and graphics performance that go head to head with SGI's Indigo2 and Octane series," said Steve Pesto, director of Workstation Marketing for Intergraph Computer Systems. "In the high-end market, we are turning up the heat as Windows NT continues to gain momentum. Based on the CDRS and DRV-04 benchmark results, users can purchase a TDZ-320 with RealiZm graphics at one-fourth the price of an SGI Octane/SI system with nearly matching Viewperf performance."

While the new TDZs take a higher position on the performance charts, Intergraph sweetens them even more with new features, including the following:

-- Intergraph's DMI-compliant InterSite(TM) desktop management system -- a software and hardware combination with an exclusive version updating feature for new drivers -- enabling users to manage, monitor, and safeguard TDZs across the network, making them easier to manage and less expensive to own.

-- Advanced technologies, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), which bring plug-and-play, hot-pluggable connectivity outside the chassis, making it easy to attach a variety of low-cost peripheral devices; a 100-megabit Ethernet, which offers the highest performance for client/server applications, as well as compatibility with existing and future networks.

-- Ultra-wide SCSI, the highest performing industry-standard disk technology, that maximizes performance across several multi-gigabtye disk drives striped for exceptional performance.

-- Microsoft(R)'s new IntelliMouse(TM), which features a unique push-button navigation wheel that makes it easier for users to interact with 3D applications, browse the Web, and use office automation tools.

"We continually add to the quality of the 3D experience, expanding on our goal of delivering affordable, high performance to users of 3D graphics," said Wade Patterson, president of Intergraph Computer Systems. "And with the addition of the new Intel Pentium II processors, we deliver unsurpassed systems and graphics performance on the Windows NT platform, passing on exclusive performance advantages to our customers."

New TD Personal Workstation Family

Intergraph also announces its new line of affordable personal workstations -- TD-320 with a 200 MHz Pentium Pro processor, TD-325 with a 266 MHz Pentium II processor, TD-425 with dual 266 MHz Pentium II processor, and the TD-610 with quad 200 MHz Pentium Pro processors -- all with a choice of graphics -- starting at $3,895. The TDs are an excellent choice for those who need the power and quality of a workstation for demanding professional 2D applications with occasional 3D rendering, such as CAD, 2D imaging, or content creation, but do not require the additional high performance of RealiZm 3D graphics found in the TDZ workstations. These new personal workstations outperform a 500 MHz Digital Alphastation 500 with a Sysmark score of 872.

TDZ Flexible Configuration

Starting with either a desktop or deskside chassis (for more expandability), users can tailor the new TDZs with 32 to 512 MB memory (128 MB to 1 GB in TDZ-610); 2, 4, or 9 GB disk drives; and Z13, Z25, or V25 RealiZm 3D graphics accelerators to fit the price/performance/feature requirements of their applications. Users can select from the following processor configurations:

-- TDZ-320 features a single, 200 MHz Pentium Pro processor; upgradable to dual Pentium Pro processors and is Pentium II ready.

-- TDZ-325 features a single, 266 MHz Pentium II processor; upgradable to dual processors.

-- TDZ-425 features dual 266 MHz Pentium II processors.

-- TDZ-610 features quad 200 MHz Pentium Pro processors.

RealiZm 3D's Record Viewperf High

With graphics driver enhancements complementing the TDZ's new processing front end, RealiZm takes 3D graphics performance to a new all-time high for Intel/Windows NT-based systems -- the TDZ achieves a composite score of 34.68 on the Viewperf CDRS viewset and 6.61 on DRV-04. "Intergraph is taking their graphics to even greater heights," states Joe Oswald, vice president of Strategic Corporate Partnerships for Rand Technologies, one of the industry's largest mechanical CAD resellers. "More graphics power is always demanded by power hungry MCAD users. The extra speed the new TDZs deliver takes productivity a step further as users apply more sophisticated tools to larger data sets. With the TDZs, designers can routinely use things like assembly animation and simulation."

One-of-a-Kind 3D Technology

"RealiZm 3D graphics is an exclusive offering for Windows NT users," states Mark Imgrund of ANSYS, Inc., a leading engineering analysis software provider. "Everything is real-time on the TDZ, and true color is a given for every resolution. That's an excellent combo for analysis and something you don't expect on a system this affordable." Featured in Intergraph's TDZ workstations, the RealiZm 3D graphics engine sustains real-time, interactive performance with no sacrifice in texture quality, display resolution, or image color depth. No other competing 3D graphics systems, including the graphics systems featured in SGI's Octane workstations, have this capability. Contending low-end graphics systems, particularly those of the GLiNT chip integrators, require feature sacrifices such as color tradeoffs for display resolutions and performance tradeoffs for texture quality. Intergraph's RealiZm 3D graphics support double-buffered, true color at 2.5 million-pixel resolution, along with high-end rendering special effects such as fog, translucency, and stenciling. "Hats off to Intergraph. Using Intergraph's affordable, high-end TDZ graphics workstations to create an interactive virtual reality model of the prehistoric Cave of Lascaux in Montignac, France helped bring this cultural treasure to the public through museums and galleries worldwide," said Professor Benjamin Britton, digital artist and professor of Electronic Art at the University of Cincinnati.

The TDZ's RealiZm 3D graphics series consists of Models Z13, Z35, and V25, plus geometry and texturing acceleration as easy add-on options to all models.

-- RealiZm Z13 supports true color at resolutions up to 1,280 x 1,024 and sustains dynamic rendering and rotation for complex models.

-- RealiZm Z25 provides ultra-fast displays and supports true color at still higher resolutions -- up to 1,824 x 1,368 pixels -- ideal for Intergraph's new wide-format InterView(TM) 28-inch high-definition monitor. (See separate press release, dated May 7.)

-- For top-of-the-line texturing performance, the RealiZm V25 model supports true color at the same 2.5 million-pixel resolution as the Z25, while providing a textured pixel fill rate of 46 megapixels per second -- this is for the highest quality textured pixels: trilinear interpolated, 32-bit texels, Z-buffered, and Gouraud-shaded.

"Nothing could beat the quality, price, and performance of Intergraph's TDZ graphics workstations and their 28-inch wide-format monitor for helping us create a new virtual reality educational tool, like the Mars Rover Simulator, for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center," said David King, president of CG2, specialists in computer-generated graphics.

Multiprocessing Rounds Out Performance

The TDZs -- the first Windows NT-based workstations with dual Pentium II processors -- bring a powerful multiprocessing architecture to the open-systems platform. Intergraph designs the TDZ's motherboard itself, integrating primary peripherals and optimizing system circuitry and drivers to maximize bandwidth for multiprocessing and increasing 3D graphics performance. "There is tremendous industry momentum behind visual computing solutions based on the Intel architecture. Intergraph's TDZ solution brings together Intel's Pentium II processor and Intergraph's graphics and multiprocessing capabilities to deliver a world-class visual computing solution," said Anand Chandrsekher, General Manager of Intel's Workstation Products Division. The TDZ's motherboard supports single or dual Pentium II processors, and single, dual, or quad Pentium Pro processors. "We've been designing industry-leading interactive graphics systems for 28 years," states Patterson. "We know what it takes to make high-performance workstations, and third-party motherboards cannot come close to our feature, performance, and quality standards."

Robust Features at No Extra Cost

The new TDZ 3D Graphics Workstations also come with several major features, bundled at no extra cost:

-- InterSite, a system management hardware/software component, lowers the TDZ's total cost of ownership by reducing system down-time, streamlining system management on the network, and safeguarding valuable data assets. Compliant with the industry-standard desktop management interface (DMI), InterSite features functionality exclusive to Intergraph.

-- Intergraph's exclusive Version Manager automatically pings Intergraph's Web site to verify that driver versions and system software are current and up to date. The utility allows the user to download new drivers for any drivers that are found to be out of date.

-- A Hardware Monitor security and alerting component detects unauthorized chassis intrusion and senses temperature and power anomalies to help prevent a crisis or loss of data.

-- A WatchDog monitoring system works in conjunction with the Hardware Monitor to report connection status and system errors and to monitor an extensive set of system parameters. Together, the two components provide a comprehensive monitoring capability, automatically notifying system administrators about potential problems to ensure fast, proactive response.

-- SMART disk drives with self-monitoring and analysis technology predict an impending failure up to 72 hours before it occurs and will notify the system administrator for action.

-- Microsoft's ergonomically designed IntelliMouse facilitates navigating in 2D and 3D applications and browsing the Web. The IntelliMouse features a unique push-button wheel that not only makes it easier for users to zoom in and out in 3D mode -- plus scroll up and down more freely in all applications -- but also surf the Web more effectively.

-- 3D surround sound technology heightens the realism of the multimedia experience with wrap-around sound effects. The enhanced 3D audio technology allows the listener to be immersed in realistic, high-quality 3D sound.

Price and Availability

Intergraph's new TDZs are available in May. The TDZ-320 with a 200 MHz Pentium Pro processor starts at $6,995; the TDZ-325 with a 266 MHz Pentium II processor starts at $8,395; the TDZ-425 with dual 266 MHz Pentium II processors starts at $9,995; and the TDZ-610 with quad 200 MHz Pentium Pro processors starts at $21,600. All systems include RealiZm 3D graphics, 32-512 MB of memory (128 MB-1 GB in TDZ-610), and a 2, 4, or 9 GB disk, monitors optional. All configurations come with Windows NT preloaded. For more information or for ordering, contact Intergraph at 800-763-0242. Visit Intergraph on the World Wide Web at http://www.intergraph.com/ics .

Intergraph Background Information

Intergraph Computer Systems is the world leader in 3D graphics technology, products, and services for Windows NT. Intergraph develops, manufactures, sells, and supports computer systems for the creative, technical and business desktop as well as servers, networking, and interoperability products for IT solutions. Hardware products include Pentium/Pentium Pro/Pentium II processors/Windows 95/Windows NT-based PCs, graphics workstations and servers. A member of the Fortune 1000, Intergraph is the world's largest company dedicated to supplying interactive computer graphics systems. -0-

Intergraph and the Intergraph logo are registered trademarks and InterView, InterSite, TDZ, Intense 3D, and RealiZm are trademarks of Intergraph Corporation. Intel, Pentium, MMX are registered trademarks of Intel Corp. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

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