Tri-Star Computer Corp. Announces Strategic Partnership With Dynamic Pictures Inc.PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 1998-- Expands product offering with Oxygen 3D graphics accelerators and PowerThreads technology for multi-threaded OpenGL Tri-Star Computer Tuesday announced a strategic partnership with Dynamic Pictures(R) Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-performance 2D and 3D graphics acceleration hardware and software products for Windows(TM) NT workstations. Tri-Star will integrate the Dynamic Pictures Oxygen(TM) 202 and Oxygen(TM) 402 graphics accelerators, featuring Dynamic Pictures' revolutionary PowerThreads(TM) technology, into Tri-Star StarStation and PowerStation models. The Oxygen accelerators offer robust performance for 3D graphics tasks requiring Gouraud shading In 3D graphics, a technique developed by Henri Gouraud in the early 1970s that computes a shaded surface based on the color and illumination at the corners of every triangle. Gouraud shading is the simplest rendering method and is computed faster than Phong shading. , z-buffering, texture mapping In computer graphics, the application of a type of surface to a 3D image. A texture can be uniform, such as a brick wall, or irregular, such as wood grain or marble. The common method is to create a 2D bitmapped image of the texture, called a "texture map," which is then "wrapped around" , alpha blending In computer graphics, the combining of the alpha channel with other layers in an image in order to show translucency. The alpha channel is an additional eight bits used with each pixel in a 32-bit graphics system that can represent 256 levels of translucency. , transparency, anti-aliasing and atmospheric effects. "Dynamic Pictures' award-winning Oxygen graphics accelerators and PowerThreads technology maximize the performance of both Intel Pentium(R) II and Digital Alpha-based systems -- making Dynamic Pictures' products a natural addition to build into Tri-Star's high-performance custom-configured Windows NT (Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT is the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it includes built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. workstations," said Thomas W. Larkin, president and chief executive officer of Tri-Star Computer. The Oxygen 3D family with PowerThreads technology accelerates all OpenGL-based applications running on Windows NT, targeting Tri-Star's high-performance CAD/CAM/CAE, 3D animation, post-production and digital media markets. Dynamic Pictures' unique multi-threaded OpenGL(R) implementation, PowerThreads technology, differentiates its accelerators within the industry. This technology is embedded in the Oxygen driver architecture and dramatically increases graphics performance on multiple CPU CPU in full central processing unit Principal component of a digital computer, composed of a control unit, an instruction-decoding unit, and an arithmetic-logic unit. workstations by harnessing the resources of all CPUs for geometry processing Geometry processing is a fast-growing area of research that uses concepts from applied mathematics, computer science, and engineering to design efficient algorithms for the acquisition, reconstruction, analysis, manipulation, simulation and transmission of complex 3D models. . 3D applications that do not explicitly support multiprocessing will also see performance gains when driven by the Oxygen 202 and the Oxygen 402, as PowerThreads technology enables the system to perform parallel geometry processing on a multiple CPU workstation. "Dynamic Pictures is excited that Tri-Star has selected the powerful combination of the Dynamic Pictures Oxygen hardware architecture and our innovative PowerThreads technology to fuel their high-end workstation offerings," said David Everett, president and chief executive officer of Dynamic Pictures. "We are looking forward to a productive, long-term partnership with Tri-Star Computer." Dynamic Pictures sets new performance standards with its mid-range Oxygen 202 accelerator and its high-end Oxygen 402 accelerator. The Oxygen 402 graphics accelerator offers 32MB of SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) A type of dynamic RAM (DRAM) memory chip that has been widely used since the late 1990s. SDRAM chips eliminated wait states by dividing the chip into two cell blocks and interleaving data between them. and has four Oxygen chips for parallel processing parallel processing, the concurrent or simultaneous execution of two or more parts of a single computer program, at speeds far exceeding those of a conventional computer. while rendering and texture mapping. Now with PowerThreads technology, this card optimizes the performance of power-hungry applications such as 3D Studio MAX(R), LightWave(TM) 3D, SOFTIMAGE(R)3D and Pro/ENGINEER(R). Rendering, modeling and object manipulation also shine with the Oxygen 202. Incorporating 16MB SDRAM, dual Oxygen 3D chips and PowerThreads technology, this card provides users with 1280 x 1024 maximum true-color 3D resolution, supporting demanding CAD and animation applications. Dynamic Pictures designs, develops and markets 3D graphics accelerators for desktop workstations and personal computers, targeting customers in the MCAD MCAD Microsoft Certified Application Developer MCAD Mechanical Computer Aided Design MCAD Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (inherited metabolic disease) MCAD Minneapolis College of Art and Design , AEC AEC US Atomic Energy Commission Noun 1. AEC - a former executive agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States Atomic Energy Commission , animation, and visual computing The use of computers for 3D modeling and animation. See visualization. fields. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Dynamic Pictures, the Oxygen 3D family won more awards in 1997 than any other 3D graphics product line. Recent awards include 3D Design magazine's Best of 1997 Award, New Media magazine's 1997 Hyper Award for the best OpenGL accelerator and DV magazine's Award of Excellence. The company markets and sells its products through technical OEMs, distributors and value added resellers. Dynamic Pictures is a privately held corporation Noun 1. privately held corporation - a corporation owned by a few people; shares have no public market close corporation, closed corporation, private corporation with headquarters at 5225 Betsy Ross Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Phone: 408/327-9000. Fax: 408/327-9010. Toll-free: 800/464-3348. Email: info@dynamicpictures.com. Visit Dynamic Pictures on the web at www.dynamicpictures.com. Founded in 1988, Tri-Star Computer Corporation is a privately-held company that manufactures high-quality, high-performance Windows NT workstations and servers. Tri-Star workstations and servers are used mainly by graphics intensive software users in the CAD/CAM/CAE, 3D animation, post-production, desktop publishing and digital media markets. Tri-Star workstation prices fluctuate with changes in component pricing. Pricing noted in news releases reflect the prices current at the date of each release. Please call for an up-to-date quote. Tri-Star's standard and customized workstations are primarily sold to end users via direct mail catalogs and selectively through specialized Value Added Resellers. Company headquarters are at 3832 East Watkins Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85034-7265. Tri-Star can be reached at 602/707-6450 or by fax at 602/707-6451. For sales information call 800/800-1929. Tri-Star BBS (1) (Bulletin Board System) A computer system used as an information source and forum for a particular interest group. They were widely used in the U.S. : 602/707-6465 and web site: www.tristar.com. -0- NOTE TO EDITORS: StudioStation and StarStation are trademarks of Tri-Star Computer. Dynamic Pictures and the Dynamic Pictures logo are registered trademarks, and Oxygen and PowerThreads are registered trademarks of Dynamic Pictures Inc. All trademarks are registered trademarks of their respective owners. CONTACT: Tri-Star Computer Corp., Phoenix Kelly Quinn, 602/707-6450 ext. 4442 kellyq@tristar.com Sales information, 800/800-1929 or Dynamic Pictures Inc., Santa Clara Danny Shapiro, 408969-2107 danny@dynamicpictures.com |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion