Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

S3's DeltaChrome Examined

Posted by Hemos on from the output-with-the-gods dept.

sand writes "Firingsquad takes a look at DeltaChrome, which is a graphics chip from S3. The core runs at 300MHz and offers pixel and vertex shaders that go beyond DirectX 9, just like Nvidia GeForce FX. The really cool feature though is the integrated HDTV encoder, you can output from your PC or laptop directly to an HDTV or 1080p projector!"

10 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. HDTV resolution? by Ron+Harwood · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What is the resolution of HDTV?

    --
    BlackNova Traders
    1. Re:HDTV resolution? by TheEnglishPatient · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Much of the above helpful info is only true if your tv system uses NTSC which those of use in Europe don't.

  2. Cool by mschoolbus · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wonder if S3 is on the way back again in the market. I am starting to design a media station like system using a projector for my future house. Are there any decent frameworks out there for designing a network capable media center?

    More power to them for bringing some more competition into the market (again)...

  3. Nothing too exciting here... by guido1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Culling a bit out of the article...

    --They won't say exactly how many, but the new card will have approx 1/2 the gates of Nvidia's FX.
    --It will run at 60% clock (300Mhz) of high-end cards (FX again, as well as ATIs Raedon (sp?).)
    --It will use DDR SDRAM.
    --It won't be availible until end of Q2. (5 months or so.)

    To be faster, you either need: (1) more gates, for more work per cycle. (2) More cycles, for more work per time. Looks like they have neither of these, plus they're not getting ultra-high bandwidth out of their memory... And it won't be availible for months...

    With the NVIDIA FX coming out early Feb, it won't capture the high end...

    What is the market for this thing?

    1. Re:Nothing too exciting here... by oliverthered · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Or 3).
      Implement better culling &co so that you don't have to draw so much.

      --
      thank God the internet isn't a human right.
  4. Let me get this straight.... by LordYUK · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It doesnt do really do anything more than the current run of cards does (ATI AIW 9700 pro), it does LESS than the upcoming run of cards (GeforceFX), AND its scheduled to come out like, 3-5 months from now, long after the ATI has dropped in price and the GFX has pushed down prices of the Ti4600?? ::yawn:: wake me when there is real news.

    --
    This is my sig. Its pathetic.
  5. PowerVR by 13Echo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    We've all had ViRGE chips in our machines at some time or another. I can't say that I've every really cared for the S3 products. Drivers and tech support have always been poor. The chips have always fought over the bus and lagged down PCI devices such as soundcards. Savage 2000 was disappointing. The drivers and slow 32 bit rendering made it a horrible card to have, even for games based on the aging Quake 3 engine. I sure hope that they can change things in the future. They've always been able to put themselves into the value and OEM markets, especially since they were purchased by VIA. It's an easy way to slap these chips into integrated mobos, as long as they can put out performance that is better than the low-end nForce products.

    It's nice to hear about new products from alternative companies. What I am really looking for is a new product based on PowerVR's technology. I've really gotten a lot out of my Kyro II over the last two years, and the drivers have been quite solid under Windows and (now I use) Linux. I think that their series 4 products were canned, after STM anounced that it was selling its graphics business (which licensed PowerVR's series 4 technology). Series 5 was in development, but has had no real press.

    My Kyro II experiences have been very good. The card puts out crisp and beautiful graphics, and rendering is fast. Unfortunately, it's time to upgrade for the up and coming games. Products from ATi and nVidia seem to be on my list, but I will probably end up waiting until the next nVidia chip gets released. Competition will drive down the R300 price.

    Competition is a good thing, especially if the manufacturers provide Linux drivers. ;)

  6. Someone Tell Me... by LordYUK · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Okay, as far as I see it the video card race works like this: nvidia or ATI releases high end card at 400 bucks or so, and 1-3 mid-low range cards. The competitor follows suit, prices fall about 15-20 bucks every month or so, until the "next card" comes out, then prices plummet, and it all starts over. Sometimes a 3rd party enters (like S3 right now) and offers what is basically crap comparted to whats out, doesnt offer THAT big a price difference, and goes away, If a company REALLY wanted to take the "crown", wouldnt it make sense to release a card as good or better, at a rediculous price point, but still make money? like a 9700 Pro equivalent at 2/3's the price or something? Give me the SAME specs and good driver support, and I dont CARE who makes my card. Note, I have no idea the production costs involved with these cards, this is just an observation... feel free to correct me...

    --
    This is my sig. Its pathetic.
  7. Remember AlphaChrome? by nenolod · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They were making a big deal out of Alpha Chrome... it turned out to be vapourware. I have a feeling Delta Chrome will turn out to be the same.

  8. Linux Support? by Erwos · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd like to hear if the thing will have decent Linux support. 200 FPS at 1600x1200x32 in Quake3 in Windows means absolutely nothing to me if it can't do 3D acceleration in Linux.

    So, two questions:
    1. Will we see good 3D-accelerated drivers from S3 or funded by them? Open-source or not is irrelevant to me as long as they work well (ie, on par with nVidia or PowerVR).
    2. Will S3 let S3TC be used in DRI drivers?

    If the answer to either is no, they can take their chipset and shove it where the sun don't shine.

    -Erwos

    --
    Plausible conjecture should not be misrepresented as proof positive.