One man’s unique selling proposition is another’s opportunity to knock the competition, and in answer to Number Nine Visual Technology Corp’s 128-bit graphics accelerator (CI No 2,808), Richardson, Texas-based STB Systems Inc has launched its 64-bit accelerator with ‘exotic’ memory, which it says obviates the need for expensive 128-bit technology. STB claims new Dynamic memory techniques enable it to produce improved bandwidth with 64-bit chips, and says that this new 64-bit technique runs faster than standard 128-bit. The company has launched the Powergraph 64 Video, a multimedia board based on its 64-bit architecture. The Powergraph 64 has large screen display, with resolutions of up to 1,600 by 1,200, refresh rates of up to 160Hz to eliminate flickering and true 24-bit 16.7m colours. It uses S3 Inc’s 64-bit graphics engines the Trio 64V+, and enables use of digital video, live television connection and playback of MPEG videos and full motion video games. It supports Windows95, NT, OS/2 Warp and AutoCAD, and is available in either PCI or VESA local bus configurations with 1Mb or 2Mb high speed Extended Data Out Dynamic RAM. STB has also launched the Action television television adaptor board and Sound Rage32 three-dimensional stereo sound board. The Sound Rage32 is STB’s first commercial sound board, but a previous board was part of Microsoft Corp’s games developer’s kit. For the future STB is focusing on the desktop videoconferencing market, and said it hopes to have an ISDN interface for desktops by 1997 for less than $400. The Powergraph 64 Video costs $190 for 1Mb and $250 for 2Mb, and the Action Television tuner adaptor board is shipping at $200, the firm says.
