STB Velocity 3D Redefines 3D Accelerator Market; Aggressive Pricing Strategy and No-Compromise Performance Makes Velocity 3D the Leader in 3D Video Accelerator Category.

RICHARDSON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 1996--STB Systems, Inc.(R), (NASDAQ-STBI) made waves throughout the graphics card industry today when it announced the Velocity 3D Windows(TM) and Multimedia Accelerator with an extremely aggressive price. Along with category leading performance, STB is introducing the new graphics adapter with hardware 3D for $249 with 4MB of memory and $349 with 8MB.

"Only a year ago the highest performing video cards were limited to workstation applications, an area of the market where high prices are accepted. A 4MB product recently cost over $500 and an 8MB card was around $1000," said J. Shane Long, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "The recent declines in memory prices coupled with our continually increasing volume allows us to introduce the Velocity 3D, a card with workstation like performance, at less than half that price."

The Velocity 3D features 2D/3D hardware acceleration, accelerated full- motion video playback, and support for Microsoft(R) Direct X(TM) API. It is offered with 4MB of EDO VRAM and has an optional daughter card that supplies an additional 4MB of DRAM for a total of 8MB. The VELOCITY 3D delivers up to 16.7 million colors for photo-realistic images and ultra-high resolutions to 1600x1200 with refresh rates up to 160Hz.

Preliminary testing has the Velocity 3D performing at previously unprecedented speeds in benchmark tests, as well as 2D and 3D applications. This is a result, in part, of the combination of a 64-bit 2D acceleration engine, a high performance 3D rendering accelerator and a high performance Digital Video Engine delivered by the S3(R) ViRGE VX(TM) graphics controller ASIC employed by the Velocity 3D.

Accelerated 3D, 2D and Full-Motion Video 

The new graphic adapter's hardware 3D capabilities deliver extremely realistic perspectives by combining Gouraud shading, perspective-correction, bilinear filtered MIP-MAP texture mapping, Z-buffer support and double-buffering technologies. The result is immersive 3D gaming worlds, extreme detail in 3D modeling or presentation programs and breathtaking graphics in other 3D applications.

The Velocity 3D's 64-bit 2D acceleration engine excels where previous hardware 3D cards had failed. The 2D performance surpasses the best marks set by previous generation products. The Digital Video Engine provides bilinear interpolated playback that can be viewed in an icon size window or scaled up to full screen. In addition to supporting Microsoft ActiveMovie(TM), the Velocity 3D is designed to work with upcoming multimedia related products from STB that will support DVD/MPEG 2 and Intel Intercast streams.

The VELOCITY 3D is being incorporated as a manufacturer's standard graphic accelerator in many of the world's most popular Intel Pentium (TM) and Pentium Pro(TM)-based personal computers. This new STB accelerator will be released for sale in September of 1996, and will be available at leading computer retail outlets nationwide. The Velocity 3D comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Simply the Best!

STB Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ-STBI) develops and sells graphic adapters used primarily in IBM-compatible desktop personal computers. STB is one of the largest independent suppliers of graphic adapters worldwide. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Richardson, Texas, STB Systems, Inc., has established a tradition of designing award-winning graphics controllers and writing specialized video drivers which provide maximum software performance and compatibility.

CONTACT: STB Systems

Brian Burke, 214/234-8750, ext. 113

or fax, 214/234-1306, or [e-mail].